9540 Eric Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA – $417,000
A sunny contemporary garden cottage. Open and airy one-level space has views of lush private gardens from every window. Completely remodeled and updated great room concept with vaulted ceilings, skylights, spacious master suite with sitting area and bamboo floors, wonderful deck and hot tub. Two energy efficient propane fireplaces and Bosch tankless hot water, Posh surround-sound system. Two detached and sunny separate studios. Quiet, friendly neighborhood that is walking distance to Wilkes Elementary School and close to Rolling Bay. See more details…
Buying a house is about more than just purchasing property, it’s about learning what to do with the space you now have. The owners of this g orgeous three-bedroom cottage have maximized efficiency within a small, but well-laid out design by creating a home that perfectly fits their needs. And they aren’t the first ones to discover how easily this house can be transformed.
The cottage used to be a simple 1970’s house before the previous owners vaulted the ceilings, built two large skylights in the great room, added new bathrooms, and rebuilt the kitchen. The result now is a free-flowing, open floor plan that the current owners consider the highlight of the one-level cottage and “so friendly to a contemporary family living with the kitchen as the hub of the house.”
Sophisticated touches like bamboo flooring in the master bedroom and cherry-stained kitchen cabinetry leave you with a sense of quality and style that most don’t associate with affordable homes. A freestanding propane fireplace heats the great room and a built-in surround-sound system can fill the house with music.
An artist’s studio was erected in the surrounding gardens in the original redesign, and the addition was so rewarding to the current owners that they chose to build a second companion workshop. The separate work spaces add a large amount of usable living ar
ea and create a peaceful haven for hobbyists and artists.
The concrete pathway to the house is thoughtfully done with a slight upward slope to the front door – there are no steps if one should have this requirement. Both bathrooms are spacious and could easily be converted to accommodate persons with limited mobility.
Surrounding the house and studios are stunning and well-tended gardens brimming with Japanese maples, strawberries, and daffodils. Quiet nooks for reading can be found between the terraced planters and garden beds, but you’ll find plenty of room for kids to play on the rolling grass as well. Sliding glass doors in the dining room, third bedroom and master suite lead to a large deck overlooking the backyard.
Beyond the property is a quiet, family-filled neighborhood. School-aged children living on the cul-de-sac can take advantage of the short walk to the elementary school, something the current owners feel is a fantastic part of living in the area. “We like that the neighborhood is full of families and children. It is such a quiet cul-de-sac, a place where we feel safe to have young ones pop over to the neighbor’s house to run through the sprinkler, walk to a piano lesson or ride their bike.”
Whether you’re looking to downsize or expand to accommodate your family, this cottage demonstrates how a seemingly small house can contain a perfect home.
Property Profile:
- 3 bedrooms / 2 baths
– 2 Workshop/Art Studio Outbuildings
– Approximately 1,592 square feet on .35 acres
– Expansive Deck w/ Hot Tub and Seating
– 2 Energy Efficient Propane Fireplaces
– Wood exterior, composition roof
– City water, 4 bedroom septic
– 2009 taxes: $3,803
– MLS #102758
