Architect Hal Moldstad's Bainbridge Residence Up For $3.5M

If there's someone closer to the middle of Bainbridge, this property probably shares a fence line with them or can lob a tennis ball there. Two houses, one per tax parcel, each custom designed by and for architect Hal Moldstad, are for sale as one property for $3,500,000. He probably also designed the most uncommon building on site, not just a tennis court but a tennis arena, a covered court that allows year-round play. About the only drawback is a height limit to your lobs. Even with that many buildings there's plenty of room on the ~9 acre lot for an ornamental water- and landscape feature, what looks like fenced pasture, and a lot of lawn. Figuring out the houses, though, requires pulling out data from the listing. It's listed as 6 bedrooms and 5 baths, and the second house is listed as 2 bedrooms and 2 baths; which either means the main house has a half dozen bedrooms or only 4. In any case, the listing also calls out, 3,571 square feet of living space, so there's lots of living room.

The main house celebrates wood, including its imperfections. The wall panels, cabinetry, and flooring are particularly not clear, but are full of knots, live edges, and organic wood grain emphasized. The structural and functional installations, like the ceiling beams and bathroom treatments, use finer wood; so there is some variety within the house. No big blank walls of white sheetrock. Every room is styled, even the artist studio, which is appropriate. There's even a catering kitchen, handy for those on-site tennis tournaments.

The second house is a bit more modern, definitely more open, but also an example of an architect exercising the craft. The great room with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams is brightened with skylights. The wall materials are more conventional, but decorated with colors bold enough to notice but not so bold that they distract or detract. The upstairs bedroom, however, shows off innovation in the beds. They're built-in, like trundle beds, with the foot of the bed in the enclosure. Just make sure no one's inside if the beds slide into the wall.
· 8929 & 8921 Mandus Olson Rd NE, Bainbridge Island [Windermere]
Written by Tom Trimbath