Why This Blakely Harbor Lodge is One-of-a-Kind
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This 1.09 acre Bainbridge Island waterfront property was custom built with salvaged pieces from notable Seattle landmarks. In the wake of the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, numerous Seattle landmarks were renovated or rebuilt and several artifacts and high quality materials were hand-picked, collected, and incorporated into this Bainbridge Island lodge over a period of thirteen years (2003-2016). The house was built around accommodating these items and displaying them to their full potential.
Learn about where these historical gems came from and how they were repurposed.
1. ICONIC FRONT DOORS
The home was inspired by British Columbia Tudor style homes, and opens to 5-inch thick solid oak front doors, once home to Seattle’s First Christian Church on Broadway, which was deemed too expensive to renovate following the damage it sustained in the 2001 earthquake. These doors were one of three sets of front doors that welcomed congregations for years.
2. SIGNATURE STAINED GLASS
This stunning 30-foot high stained glass feature also once belonged to First Christian Church, and was originally installed circa 1889 when the church was built. They were created by the famous Povey Brothers, who ran one of the most prestigious glass studios out of Portland, Oregon. The brothers were called the “Tiffany of the Northwest” -- referring to Louis C. Tiffany, American stained glass artist (and son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co.)
The house was designed to incorporate the stained glass windows, and as a result features impressive 30-foot cathedral ceilings. Several other stained glass windows also salvaged from the church are used throughout the house.
3. HISTORIC HARD WOOD FLOORS
This grand two-story great room features floors made of the highest quality old growth fir floors that are ~100 years old. The 20 foot long, 12 inch wide, 1 inch thick straight grain, clear fir slabs were once used as bleachers from several different schools that underwent remodels in the early 2000s: Garfield, Roosevelt, Cleveland, and Stadium High School in Tacoma all had their highest quality boards hand-picked by the builder. You might recognize Stadium HS as the filming location for 10 Things I Hate About You.
Garfield High School, 1920s
Stadium High School, 1910s
4. REPURPOSED CHEMISTRY CASES
Roosevelt High School, 1920s
The sliding glass cabinets on either side of the fireplace, in the media room and in the kitchen were salvaged from the Roosevelt High School chemistry lab, which completed renovation in 2006. Each cabinet features glass doors, that roll on copper rails, to replace hinges - to ensure forever durability. Once used to hold chemicals, they now function as display cases.
5. MAHOGANY DOORS
The 36" doors throughout are made of solid Philippine mahogany and once belonged to the historic Camlin Hotel in downtown Seattle. The now 91-year-old Camlin Hotel was built in the 1920s and hosted numerous notables, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie.
6. CAMLIN CLAWFOOT BATHTUBS
This home also features three porcelain and cast iron clawfoot bathtubs that also originally belonged to the Camlin Hotel. This tub in the master bath also features 100-year-old Pewter and hand blown glass chandelier, with Povie stained glass, which overlooks the harbor pond.
7. COMPELLING KITCHEN
The spacious kitchen has a beamed ceiling and counters made of carrara marble. These cabinets were made from solid growth fir salvaged from Seattle high school renovations.
The slate floors featured in the kitchen and hallways were recycled from old chalkboards once used at renovated Seattle Schools. They were cut into 4’x4’ squares and flipped to form the floor of the kitchen and hallways.
8. ARGENTINIAN CHANDELIERS
This beautiful dining area features one of the vintage wrought iron chandeliers, coupled with another in the billiard's room. While not historically significant, this intricate piece came all the way from Argentina and is ~150 years old.
9. NOTABLE TABERNACLE
While not pictured, the billiards room features the tabernacle from Seattle First Christian Church, the ornate box that previously held the Eucharist.
10. HISTORIC HARBOR
The harbor is a historic landmark and protected area that was once home to the busiest lumber mill in the world that supplied the timber to rebuild San Francisco after the great fire there in 1906.
While this house is filled with pieces of history, it’s not so much about the pieces themselves, but the quality, uniqueness, and character that they bring. Together, they form a welcoming yet and grand environment -- a lovely waterfront retreat across the water from Seattle.
In addition to a beautifully custom crafted home, this 3 bed, 3.5 bath property also boasts a 130 foot low bank waterfront with Blakely Harbor views, a shelf-lined library, an office (that can be converted to a fourth bedroom), a two-car garage, expansive front and back lawns, and unobstructed harbor and Seattle Skyline views.
