Area: The Highlands
Address: 153 NW Highland Dr View local map
NWMLS: 28123812
List Price: $2,200,000
Status: Available
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Heat: Gas, Forced Air
Taxes: 2008 - $22,371
Year Built: 1969
Square Feet: 4,420 per King County Records
Lot Size: 54,014 per King County Records

This exceptional property offers one of the most distinguished gardens in the Pacific Northwest and a noteworthy contemporary home as well. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1934 for the Donald E. Frederick estate, the beautifully maintained gardens retain their original splendor. One aspect of the grounds, the formal walled garden, was featured in the centennial issue of Washington magazine. The home that now looks out on the gardens was designed by architect Morley Horder and built in 1969.

The two-story house is a simple cube with a flat roof and walls of poured concrete punctuated by vast expanses of glass. Rather than competing with its remarkable surroundings, the house provides a contemporary counterpoint to them. The structure's only adornment is a colonnade that wraps around all four sides of the house. The colonnade gives a refined elegance to the exterior, and a pair of vine maples at the main entrance soften the façade. The house has been extensively remodeled, the most recent of which endowed the interiors with fine traditional detailing and a warm, cohesive color palette. An open floor plan maximizes views of the property's exquisite grounds. Massive double doors open to a dramatic two-story atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and teak parquet floors finished in a rich, dark stain.

The atrium houses both the entry and dining areas; a second floor bridge delineates the two spaces. The dining area looks directly out on the formal walled garden. A closet for wine storage is tucked under the stairs off the dining area; the entry area is equipped with a powder room and coat closet. Adjacent to the dining area is a living room with two walls of glass. One wall enjoys views of the formal walled garden. The other overlooks the teahouse, a stunning structure with limestone walls and a slate roof, and 'the blue pool,' named for its brilliant turquoise blue tile. The living room has crown molding and a wood-burning fireplace with a black marble surround and traditional wood mantel. Positioned just off the living room is a study with a fireplace, built-in cabinetry, and picture window framing the teahouse and blue pool.

The kitchen and a recently updated family room are located on the other side of the atrium. The compact, well-organized kitchen has traditional raised panel cabinetry, verde marble counters, and oak parquet floors. Appliances include a SubZero refrigerator, KitchenAid dishwasher, Thermador double ovens and 5-burner gas cook-top. A long island holds the cook-top and a prep sink; it also offers great workspace and counter seating. Just off the kitchen are a walk-in pantry and utility closet, as well as a mudroom next to a door providing access to an intimate brick patio. The family room has two walls of built-in cabinetry. One wall has cabinetry for a big screen TV and a built-in desk; the other has a wood-burning fireplace with a gas starter, verde marble surround and hearth. A wall of glass with sliding doors affords the kitchen and family room views and access to the walled garden.

The entry area's staircase, recently rebuilt with teak stairs and handrail, leads to the second floor, where there are three bedrooms, two full baths and an office. The master suite is privately situated at one end of the bridge that bisects the atrium. The master bedroom has the airy feel of a treehouse, thanks to an open wall overlooking the living room and wrap-around, floor-to-ceiling windows with splendid garden vistas. The master suite is endowed with crown molding, a marble-trimmed fireplace, and a walk-in closet. The master bath, sumptuously appointed in gray marble, has a glass-walled shower, vanity with double sinks, water closet, and Jacuzzi platform tub that looks out on the teahouse and blue pool. Two additional bedrooms and a home office with built-in cabinetry are positioned on the opposite side of the second floor bridge. A full bath with double sinks and a skylight serves this wing of the house. A utility room with laundry facilities is also located in this area.

An aggregate veranda surrounds the house, protected from the elements by the colonnade. Three cast stone benches on the veranda were fashioned out of the fascia, or horizontal molding, salvaged from the old estate house to which the gardens once belonged. The formal walled garden, bordered by boxwood hedges and brick pathways, is geometric in design. Azaleas original to the garden produce a dazzling display of salmon and coral hues each spring. The gardens also offer an extensive selection of magnolias, rhododendron and dogwood, which bloom in sequence.

Other features include a perennial garden and a rose garden with more than 75 bushes. A dense screen of tall evergreens, some of them specimen cedar, provides a stately backdrop. A maze of gravel pathways leads to other parts of the 1.24-acre property, including the teahouse with its own garden and the nearby blue pool, which is endowed with a fountain. This magical setting is perfect for intimate gatherings. The grounds also offer a large parking area in front of the main entry, a detached 2-car garage with a storage room, and a double fenced kennel. This Seattle jewel is located in The Highlands, one of the city's premier gated communities prized for its outstanding residences and pristine woodland surroundings.

If you're interested in this home, please email us at twobobs@seattlefineproperties.com .