Bellevue: Neutral Bliss in Medina

It was an accident, really. Having planned on seeing a condo, I was driving around West Bellevue when an “open house” sign lured me into Medina. Geographically, Medina is really just part of West Bellevue, but it has its own government and is technically its own little city. While you can still find a decent house for under $500,000 in Bellevue, Medina’s current inventory of homes for sale features a lowest price of $1,395,000. Put it this way: Bill Gates lives in Medina.

It’s pretty normal here to expect one impressive home after another. When I followed the yellow brick road (okay, it was pavement) to this house, I ended up in front of a brand new, contemporary beauty. Lodge warmth with Italian elegance. Rustic yet refined. It was a stunner right from the start. Hardscape and landscape here are as perfectly designed as the house. Inside and out, the straight lines are softened to the exact right temperature by lighting and a color palette alone that could win awards. I found the kitchen refreshingly different: linear, wide, with a long island down the middle. So easy to picture having fun cooking here.

Cabinets and built-ins I’d be proud to call my furniture are in place throughout, and are made of “distressed Alder,” another element of warm yet neat and modern design. The sinks in the bathrooms, as well as the tub are a warm mid-tone grey, a color which couldn’t look more perfect in this home. Similar situation with the subtle character of the walnut floors. And the framed ceilings, with their soft bordering lights, were pretty spectacular.

One little thing that I noticed here (that I wish more houses would have) is opaque-patterned glass in the lower half of the windows over the jetted tub (in the master bath). Lets you enjoy light, privacy and clean design without putting up window coverings. I think they thought of everything here. And I could barely get myself to leave.

STATS:
Price: $2,000,000.
Location: 2039 78th Ave NE, Medina, WA 98039
Last sale price: $519,500 (in 2004)
Square footage: 3,400 sq. ft.. Lot size: 8,118 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 4
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=206076