The Bellevue-adjacent burg of Medina has long taken on a sort of mythological quality—not least because of its watchful security, which keeps famous residences like Bill Gates’s 24-bathroom behemoth squarely in the realm of legend. 

The enclave of massive homes wasn't born for Seattle’s tech titans. Almost a century before the likes of Jeff Bezos settled down on Lake Washington’s opulent shores, Independent Telephone secretary and general manager Edward Webster built this impressive Craftsman home—and with it, the plush lifestyle that would one day become synonymous with the suburban Gold Coast.

Called Medina’s first mansion, the Gables finished its five-year building process in 1908, predating even the town’s beloved (and only) store, which opened in 1910. Then, as today, the grounds set the stage for a stately structure: antique blueprints include detailed landscape plans, showing where to plant white pine, pink hollyhocks, and golden emblem roses. Today, English country garden landscaping—think more roses, plus well-pruned shrubbery—and a stunning covered porch foreground the home’s historic roots before visitors step foot inside. (There’s a pool now, too.)

The current owners’ redesign turns up the volume, just a skosh, on existing moody and masculine elements in a mashup that designer Rocky Rochon calls “English men’s club meets Seattle farm home.” Formidable but unfussy features, like dark wood paneling and built-in cabinets, offer a simple canvas for fussier interior design choices. Even a leopard-print stair runner manages a feat of subtlety against its warm, earthy backdrop, drawing the eye toward a classic Craftsman banister and, beyond it, one of the home’s three fireplaces.

Turn-of-the-century charm extends throughout, and especially shines in the plumbing: one bathroom features a two-faucet, trough-style sink, penny tiles, and an old-fashioned tub, ideal for kids to share (though they won’t really need to, given the house has six). Extra-deep, washboard-ready sinks still flank the laundry room, though now they’re dubbed a dog-washing station. The master bath features two fully separate vanity sinks, each with exposed pipes and its own candelabra sconces. Original radiators, too, give the home a sense of history.

If the main floor emphasizes Rochon’s “English men’s club,” the second story speaks to the home’s lighter side. Delicate shutters keep things bright, but private, in roomy bedrooms with built-in desks. More modern spaces, often intended as hang-out spots for the owners’ four boys, offer tons of flexible room for study or play. The view from up here looks especially remarkable: across the sparkling waters of Lake Washington, you get a glimpse at what life’s like on the other side.

Listing Fast Facts

7735 Overlake Drive W Medina, WA 98039
Size: 8,570 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
List Price: $14,140,000
List Date: 6/25/2024
Listing Agent: Heija Nunn, Windermere Real Estate East