Bellevue: Modern Vision at the Park

Like my previous blog, this was the second of two exciting and wonderful properties I discovered last weekend. Both this house and the previous were built in 2005–that must have been a particularly inspired year for homebuilding.

The location of this house is almost unreal. Chism Beach Park, a sweet little park right on Lake Washington, is entered via a winding downhill road. There’s a point where you can continue heading down to the park or you can veer right onto Shoreland Drive East. I took that road and found a contemporary vision perched on a hill overlooking the park. Here, you are practically in the park, with water views, and a little more than a stone’s throw from downtown Bellevue. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Actually, it does get better. Outside, the house is one of those contemporary, smooth, abstract blends of curved and straight lines–the kind of architecture us modernistas can really appreciate. Up the steps to the front door, you are immediately soothed by the built-in water fountain (water falling on square forms). Inside, you can continue the tour on foot or by elevator (yes, elevator).

There was something about this stunning house that reminded me of the coast of Massachusetts, north of Boston. The rooms are large and beautifully done, with every feature you could possibly want, and a pleasing blend of rustic, woodsy warmth and clean, modern openness. But the existence of intimate passageways and short stairways between rooms and levels felt like the best parts of an older, European-influenced New England style. The water views no doubt contributed to this.

Every room here feels like its own story. But I can’t write this without mentioning the shower in the master bath. It’s an open shower, with just a curved wall separating it from the rest of the bathroom. And skylights above it! Dreamy. And speaking of bathrooms, this house has the nicest powder room I’ve seen to date: it actually has a built-in cushioned bench, connected to the vanity, and skylights above. Another first for me was the master closet, big enough to have an island of storage drawers in the middle.

The listing notes mention all sorts of high-tech features, like “Cat5 cabling with 3 Wireless Access Points,” stereo sound throughout, motion light detectors in all the hallways, closets and storage areas, five separate zones for heating and a/c, an Anti-Fire sprinkler system inside, outside and under the house, and a tankless hot water system (useful for when you get in that shower and don’t want to come out). And less high-tech but highly useful in stormy weather, a 40KW backup generator.

It will be open again this Sunday, February 18, from 1:00 to 4:00.

STATS:
Price: $2,188,000.
Location: 918 Shoreland Drive SE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Last sale price: $115,000 (in 1985)
Square footage: 3,900 sq. ft.. Lot size: 20,000 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2.25
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=288977