Irreplaceable Laurelhurst Waterfront Estate on Lake Washington

The atrium entry is the estate's first act of grandeur. Standing granite stone, barrel ceilings, and walls of glass converge in a space that orients the entire home toward the water before a single step further is taken. Golden light moves through nearly every room from sunrise onward — the Cascades, Mount Rainier, and the sparkling surface of Lake Washington composing a panorama that shifts with the seasons and the hour. The great room capitalizes fully on these sight lines, its vaulted wood-paneled ceiling with exposed beams grounding the space in unmistakable Pacific Northwest character while the lake commands the eye outward through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The kitchen is a study in sophisticated functionality: sleek white cabinetry, a granite-topped island, stainless steel appliances, and a dramatic vaulted ceiling overhead — all anchored by a built-in dining nook with a curved banquette that transforms the space into something genuinely livable. A central stone fireplace serves as an elegant room divider between the dining area and the sun-drenched living room beyond, where the view through the glass is nothing short of cinematic.

The primary suite delivers the lake and Cascade views at their most intimate — a private vantage point above the water, served by a thoughtfully appointed bathroom with sage-green cabinetry, blue mosaic tile accents, a glass-enclosed shower, and a walk-in closet with a central island. Guest bedrooms are equally considered, each with its own character, natural light, and connection to the landscape. A dedicated home gym with soaring ceilings and a traditional cedar sauna speak to a commitment to wellness that runs throughout the property.

Outside, the estate reveals its full scale. Expansive view decks and covered terraces furnished for al fresco dining step down through mature, arboretum-like plantings and winding walkways to level lakeside gardens and a walk-in cove. The 95-foot private dock — equipped with a boat lift — extends into the calm water with 155 feet of prime frontage bookending the experience. A four-car garage completes the practical requirements of estate living without compromise. Every element, indoors and out, has been assembled with the same exacting care.

Laurelhurst occupies a singular position in Seattle's residential landscape — a quiet, tree-canopied peninsula extending into Lake Washington on the city's northeast side, bounded by water on three sides and defined by a character that is both deeply established and quietly exclusive. The neighborhood was developed in the early twentieth century as one of Seattle's first planned residential communities, its curvilinear streets and generous lot sizes a deliberate departure from the city's standard grid. That original vision has only deepened with time: Laurelhurst today is one of Seattle's most coveted addresses, a community of architecturally distinguished homes, mature urban forest, and an unusually strong sense of place.

The lakefront itself is Laurelhurst's defining asset. Lake Washington is one of the largest natural lakes in Washington State, stretching approximately 22 miles from Kenmore in the north to Renton in the south, with a surface area of roughly 21 square miles. Its waters are remarkably clear — the result of decades of environmental restoration following the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal — and support an active culture of boating, paddling, swimming, and waterfront recreation that defines the rhythm of life here across every season. From a private dock on this estate, the full expanse of the lake opens to the south and east, with the snow-capped silhouette of Mount Rainier rising above the Cascade foothills on clear days in a view that remains genuinely arresting regardless of how many times it is seen.

The Laurelhurst Beach Club, a private neighborhood institution, sits within easy reach of the property and has served as a gathering point for the community for generations — offering swimming, tennis, and a sense of cohesion that is increasingly rare in urban neighborhoods of this scale. University Village, one of the Pacific Northwest's premier open-air retail and dining destinations, is minutes away, offering flagship stores, acclaimed restaurants, and a farmers market that anchors the neighborhood's connection to local producers and makers.

The University of Washington's main campus borders Laurelhurst to the southwest, bringing with it the cultural and intellectual vitality of one of the nation's leading research universities — world-class museums, performance venues, and a steady calendar of public programming that enriches the surrounding neighborhoods. The Washington Park Arboretum, a 230-acre living collection of trees and plants managed jointly by the City of Seattle and the University of Washington, lies immediately adjacent, offering miles of walking and cycling paths through one of the most beautiful urban green spaces in the American West.

For those who commute, the location is genuinely strategic. Interstate 520 provides direct access to Bellevue and the broader Eastside technology corridor, while downtown Seattle is accessible via multiple routes. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is reachable in approximately 30 minutes under normal conditions. In every direction, the infrastructure of a world-class city is close at hand — while the estate itself remains insulated from it, set behind its own grounds, its own dock, and 155 feet of irreplaceable lake frontage.