With over 3000 square feet on three levels, The “Harbor View Grand” lives up to its name both literally and figuratively. The concert grand piano, the sauna, gas fireplace, and the huge 480 gallon Jacuzzi brand hot tub are just part of what make it so enjoyable. This spacious architect-designed residence was custom built to maximize the incredible 180 degree panoramic view from this property. And does it ever!
The entire east side of the main level is primarily a wall of windows. From the kitchen, dining room, and living room you can enjoy a spectacular view that spans from Mt. Baker to Mr. Rainer. You will see the Cascade mountains, the city of Oak Harbor, the harbor itself, a good portion of Puget Sound, Saratoga Passage, and Penn Cove. Maylor’s Point, Camano Island, and much of South Whidbey Island are also on display. At night, the view is just as stellar. The city of Oak Harbor and all the neighboring territory from Camano Island to south Whidbey put on a sparkling light show for free, to say nothing of the moon as it appears in the sky and glimmers across the water. With such a magnificent view of the water, mountains, city, and neighboring territory, the view here is grand—day and night!
While you will never tire of the view, you will want to enjoy the rest of our home. Hungry? On the main level is a gourmet kitchen full of dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and newer appliances. There is a convection oven, smooth top stove, large side by side refrigerator/freezer, built-in microwave, and a quiet-as-can-be dishwasher. A comfortable breakfast bar seats 2-3 people should anybody just want to sit and have a quick bite.
The nearby living room has a huge, vaulted open beam ceiling with exposed tongue and groove wood that serves the 7’ Baldwin concert grand piano extremely well. (What a great room for music!) We are the original owners of this incredibly powerful yet delicately nuanced instrument and have kept it tuned, regulated, and maintained religiously. This piano is worthy of the best pianists among us. Can’t play the piano? There is an outstanding stereo system that highlights a classic audiophile set of M&K speakers with matching subwoofer that sound incredible!
The lower level has a large family/TV room complete with a wet bar, small fridge, pellet stove, and 50” cable TV which is hooked into another great stereo system. Lots of CDs and DVD’s are also available. This room has a newer sleeper sofa. At the end of the room is a new gas fireplace that will keep you warm and cozy on any chilly day. The lower level also has a 4 person Nordic cedar sauna which can be operated wet (steam) or dry.
Outside on the covered patio is a huge 480 gallon J-375 Jacuzzi hot tub that accommodates 6 people, including one in a full chase-type lounge seat. This deluxe model has a built in radio and many lighting options, a waterfall, and comfortable built in head-rests, and easy opening cover lift that one person can open and close in a jiffy. Talk about relaxing, the 46 jets can be adjusted to just the perfect strength to provide a rejuvenating, relaxing, and pro-quality massage. Jacuzzi engineers even made sure to include jets for a foot massage! We leave the Jacuzzi in operation all 365 days of the year, but no matter when you use it, when you are done you will come out relaxed~
The top level contains the master bedroom/bathroom and the “peak” bedroom. The master bedroom has a king Tempurpedic bed and high vaulted ceiling with a bank of floor to ceiling windows that provide a great view to the north that includes Mt. Baker. The master bath has both a shower and a jetted tub. The peak bedroom with its large vaulted ceiling looks out over the world from the highest point in our home. This room has two beds and is the favorite bedroom for anyone who likes to climb a ladder. Across from the single bed near the base of another bank of windows is a ladder that leads to the loft. Here you will find a cozy and comfortable double mattress bed on the carpet. This bed is the clear choice of younger family members, although a younger couple will find it as romantic as can be! The city lights are in full view when looking out the windows while tucked in bed.
In addition to the gourmet kitchen, elegant living room, and a dining area which has six leather chairs and large travertine dining table, the main level has two well appointed bedrooms, one with a queen bed and the other with a double bed. Both of these rooms have their own flat screen TV’s and DVD players. The laundry room and full bath complete with double sinks are located on this level. There are also extra folding tables that can be set up if 10 or 11 people want to dine at once. (We would put a folding table at the end of the travertine table and could seat 10 comfortably all at once. You can seat 11 but you might need to set up one or both of the folding tables separate from the dining table, or a couple of people can eat in the kitchen.)
Outside the main level on the east side of the house is a large deck with 8 chairs. At the end of the deck is a large round table for six and area suitable for dining should the weather be warm. The view from the deck is truly magnificent and eating in the open air makes the food taste just a little better.
No matter the time of year, the Harbor View Grand is an exceptional place to stay. There are no curtains, just windows galore which makes this home bright and airy no matter the weather outside. A good storm is an event not to be missed when looking out our main windows, the high vaulted ceilings allow you to hear the soothing sound of the rain as it pitterpats away on the roof.
The Harbor View Grand is centrally located high atop a hill in Oak Harbor just minutes from restaurants, shopping, public beaches, a wonderful public indoor swimming pool, Deception Pass State Park, and Deception Pass Bridge. Just 12 minutes from the Harbor View Grand, the Deception Pass park and bridge are scenic beyond words (its the most visited state park in Washington State) and a person can spend hours walking the beach and the wooded trails along the ocean. Five minutes away is NAS Whidbey Island. From our home you can drive to the San Juan Islands ferry in 30 minutes and to the Olympic Peninsula ferry in just 20 minutes. When based at the Harbor View Grand, you can explore all of Whidbey Island—its many parks, beaches, shopping, and dining—and never be more than an hour away. It makes a great central base for exploring the San Juan Islands, the Olympic Peninsula, and the mainland from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia which is only 2 hour drive.
The Harbor View Grand makes for a great getaway for a family, a wonderful rendezvous location for a group of friends, or a restful planning retreat for business or religious groups. If you do not know it already, we love this home and are confident you will, too.
Keywords: home, retreat,
