Pristine, upscale midcentury soaks in plenty of light
12839 SE 45th Place in Bellevue is a beautiful example of a classic Pacific Northwest midcentury modern home, but it really shines with its airy, open design. It goes beyond the usual wall of glass: Larger-than-life clerestory windows and carefully placed skylights in the sloping roof bring in natural light from multiple directions.
The 1964 floorplan remains intact. A semi-open circle of living room, dining room, and generous eat-in kitchen—plus three of the home’s five bedrooms—get warmth from a gentle low-vault ceiling with exposed-wood beams. Below, a daylight basement holds a den with built-in office, two more bedrooms, and multiple utility rooms.
That light touch preserves a playful interface between indoors and out. A secluded hot tub courtyard, covered by a kind of extension of the ceiling vault, creates a second loop from the master bedroom to a den off the kitchen. There’s a central staircase between the two levels, or a stair climb from lower courtyard to the west-facing view porch off the living room. It makes the outdoor spaces less an amenity and more part of the circuitry.
Bonus: It’s just one of 11 homes in the Gayland Place subdivision, with access to a community clubhouse, pool, and sports courts.
Listed by John Kristonis and Karl Lindor • Windermere | Priced at $1.49 million
