Built in 1988 on Meydenbauer Bay on the shores of Lake Washington, this very traditional three-story 7,300 square foot brick and stone Tudor style residence graced many postcards of the Bellevue skyline as pictured below. The owner had a definite preference towards a traditional styled home, so the detail in the interior and exterior were focused on this style. The home featured heavy timbers that were hand hued with tall massive exposed timber ceilings. The walls have large wainscoting base moldings, and the large rooms are very traditional in their functionality. The home, including the decks, is built of brick and steel construction to last indefinitely.
Coming down a very steep driveway gives way to a flat parking area and a three car garage with about four steps down to the front door. Most of the homes functionality is on the main level including the laundry, pantry, kitchen, kitchen nook, dining room, living room, family room, and formal English study. The master bedroom and additional bedrooms are located upstairs. Downstairs on the beach level is the beach bath and changing room, a recreation room, and an extra guest suite. Every inch of space in the home was detailed in the original design down to the level of the drawers. For example, the owner wanted drawers specifically made to hold table clothes and a special device called a Mangle designed into the laundry room used specifically to wash the table clothes. The home also has a wrapping center to store wrapping paper, ribbons, and supplies with space to wrap gifts.
The site was half of a larger lot that was subdivided into two pieces. The division left a long and skinny piece along the beach with a steeper incline than would ordinarily be used for a home of this scale. The challenge was to work the design of the home up the hill and retain the style of a tutor home. The tall and skinny home had to seem traditional. An additional challenge with a beach front home is that the focus of the important rooms such as the master bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and living room are placed on the view. Because these spaces were all competing for the view of the water in the same direction, the arrangement was difficult and required some stacking of rooms as opposed to a horizontal layout. The final challenge was to remain within budget. To do so, 1000 square feet had to be trimmed out of the original design while retaining all the important features and detailing. In addition, the rounded stairs of the original design became square to save an additional $50,000. - Courtesy Reid Morgan
