Can Modern and Traditional live happily side by side? You betcha. Especially in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood. Located in the northeast part of the city, much of Laurelhurst was originally developed in the 1920s and 30s. Its large storybook Tudors and upscale Colonials beautifully reflect the residential architecture so popular during that period.
But from the 1940s to the present, Laurelhurst has also welcomed many spectacular in-fill residences in the Modernist style. Today, Laurelhurst is a fabulous, eclectic mix, where every home is as individual as its owners.
WATER AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS
Laurelhurst sits on a steep hill. The eastern side of the hill slopes down to Lake Washington, the south to Union Bay. So there are impressive waterfront residences, but there are also many lovely homes stepping back up the hill, with spectacular views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. Underground wiring throughout the area enhances those views.
Laurelhurst’s winding, hilly streets are quiet and inviting. You might hear the snip of a gardener’s shears or the low hum of a faraway seaplane, but that’s about it. Most yards are beautifully landscaped. And there is a large inventory of graceful, mature trees.
BEACH CLUB
Laurelhurst home owners south of NE 50th Street are eligible to join the private Laurelhurst Beach Club, on the shores of Lake Washington. The Beach Club is open June through September. Members can enjoy swimming (lifeguard on duty), volleyball, small craft boating, and more.
A treasured public resource is Laurelhurst Park, featuring tennis courts, ball fields, play area, and large lawns. The park is also home to the brick-fronted Laurelhurst Community Center, built in 1934 (an addition was constructed in 2007). The old portion of the building is an official city landmark.
TWENTY-EIGHT MODERN
Of the sixty homes that sold in Laurelhurst last year, twenty-eight were mid-century Modern. Our own Tanya Thackeray Wilson was involved in three of those Modern home sales. In particular, Tanya was the listing agent on “a fantastic Modern house on a tiny lot.” It was a short sale—but Tanya went all out. She put the same time, effort, and marketing into it that she would put into a traditional sale. The result? The home sold for full market value (almost unheard of for a short sale).
Tanya points out that Laurelhurst is close to both the University of Washington and the Burke Gilman Trail. University Village is just minutes away. And, Tanya says, there’s a great trio of public schools serving Laurelhurst: Laurelhurst Elementary, Hamilton International (Middle) School, and Roosevelt High School.