1823 38th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

This home was designed by Stephen Sullivan and custom built in 1991 for owners who desired a house with all the amenities associated with comfortable, contemporary living and the character of dwellings they admired in San Franciscos Pacific Heights neighborhood. The architect accommodated them on both counts. Shingled exterior walls, symmetrically placed bay windows and a tall presence from the street evoke the foggy city by the bay. The house was built with an unwavering commitment to quality and exceptional attention to detail. An extensive remodel in 2008 made further refinements, including new fixtures and an abundance of built-in cabinetry.The house sits high above brick-trimmed retaining walls at street level. It occupies a lot that retains a number of beautiful old trees original to the site. A herringbone-patterned brick walkway cuts through a front courtyard bordered by flowering dogwood, magnolia and maple. Wide front steps lead to the main entry, which has a paneled front door flanked by sidelights.A center hall with distinctive, hand-painted walls introduces interiors with fine traditional detailing like deep crown molding and dark-stained hardwood floors. French doors open to a living room that has the feel of a library, thanks to a wall of built-in cabinetry and shelving. A wood-burning fireplace has a gas starter and an elegant marble surround. A big bay window looks out to the surrounding treetops. Situated on the opposite side of the entry is a spacious dining room, also endowed with a bay window. An open floor plan connects the dining space with a large chefs kitchen, creating an ideal setting for entertaining. Situated a few steps below the dining room, the kitchen has areas for informal living and dining, plus a built-in desk. Ten-foot ceilings and soffit lighting give the room a light, airy feel. The kitchen has granite counters, tile floors and traditional cabinetry. A long center island with a cherry finish provides great work and storage space. It also holds a sink and Miele dishwasher. Other top-notch appliances include a Viking gas range, Sub-Zero side-by-side refrigerator and Miele double ovens. A wall of windows looks out on a lovely, fully enclosed back yard with a magnificent old magnolia tree. Other features include a pergola topped with grapevine, a patio with raised planters and wisteria-draped arbor, and a fenced dog run. Positioned along a back hall off the kitchen are a big coat closet, powder room with pedestal sink, walk-in pantry with built-ins, and utility room with a work sink, front-loading Maytag laundry facilities and laundry chute. A door opens to an arched breezeway connecting the house with a one-car garage accessed from the alley.A split staircase illuminated by a tall window at its landing leads to the second level, where there are three bedrooms and two full baths. A spacious hall at the top of the stairs has two linen closets and a sitting area with a wall of built-in cabinetry. The master suite is endowed with its own sitting area and a bay large enough to hold a desk. The master bath has a claw foot tub, glass-walled shower, pedestal sink and a panel of windows with peek-a-boo views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. A door in the bath opens to a walk-in closet with built-ins. Both of the other bedrooms are ample in size, but one is particularly large. It has a high vaulted ceiling, wrap-around windows and two closets with double doors. The second bath has a tub with a glass door and tile surround and double sinks set in a honed granite counter. A fourth bedroom is located on the lower level, as is a large rec room. The rec room has woodwork of vertical clear grain fir, built-in cabinetry for media equipment and French doors to a private sitting area in one corner of the front courtyard. A full bath with a vanity topped in soapstone serves the lower level. A large mechanical room affords plenty of storage space.There are in-ceiling speakers in the living room, kit