Given Seattle’s ultra-casual reputation, it seems fitting that our area counts so many unassuming celebrities among its ranks—from Dave Matthews to Ben Gibbard, many of our local claims to fame could easily be mistaken for just another Pacific Northwesterner in a band tee and a flannel. Pat Monahan, the lead singer of Train, flies even further under the radar: “​​My manager thinks that my true genius is that my music’s famous but I’m not,” the "Drops of Jupiter" singer told 425 Magazine. “I can live a normal life.”

But it can’t exactly be said that he’s been living in a normal house. Situated on the waters of Lake Sammamish, Monahan’s newly listed Issaquah home spans three stories and more than 5,500 square feet, and rings in at over $8 million.

It boasts a list of luxury features, like a dock, a heated deck, a stone wine cellar, and an elevator, which Monahan uses to stock said wine cellar and zip suitcases upstairs after returning home from that soul vacation. Or, more likely, a nationwide tour.

Still, as celebrity homes go, Monahan’s skews relatively down-to-earth. The above-ground hot tub looks like one you might find in your neighbor’s backyard. Warm wood cabinetry and built-ins tend more homey than grand. (Speaking of grand: Monahan’s pictured Schimmel piano—though it would likely take some serious negotiating to add it to the sales agreement—is an upright.)

Organic, distinctly Pacific Northwest influences abound, with fir-wrapped beams and natural stone featured prominently throughout. Paired with Craftsman touches, like thick trim and coffered ceilings, the space feels a bit like a high-end lodge—an effect no doubt bolstered by the property’s five fireplaces. Even the primary bathroom’s soaking tub sits hearthside.

The home’s main selling point is, of course, its waterfront. Monahan and his wife had the bulkhead removed, creating an impressive expanse of beach below the impeccably landscaped yard. A downstairs bathroom that opens directly onto the patio offers a blessed reprieve for sandy feet.

On warm days, massive doors combine the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The heated deck—and yet another fireplace, this one part of a patio kitchen—make taking in that $8 million view perfectly pleasant, even on chilly nights. The firepit right at the water’s edge works, too. 

Thanks to the home’s location near the lake’s ancient underground forests, boat traffic generally steers clear. “It’s very quiet in that part of the lake,” Monahan says. And that’s just how he likes it. 

Listing Fast Facts

18806 SE 42nd St, Issaquah, WA 98027
Size: 5,537 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
List Price: $8,198,000
List Date: 9/10/2024
Listing Agent: Todd Rauch and Karl Lindor, Windermere Real Estate East