Restored, updated landmark Victorian mansion for sale

Seattle is known more for its grand, old Craftsman houses than for Victorians. But the landmark Charles R. Bussell Residence, which just hit the market, is a notable exception.

Real Estate developer George S. List built the mansion, at 1630 36th Ave., in 1892, and sold it to businessman Charles Bussell and his wife E.V. "Nina" Bussell in 1900, according to an essay that Dave Wilma wrote for HistoryLink.org.

Thomas G. Bird designed the house, also known as the Madrona Castle. The entrance faced Lake Washington, rather than the street, which was Lincoln Avenue and later Aldine Street before ending up as 36th Avenue. Visitors entered through a wrought-iron gate and walked around the house on a path to the entrance.

"The home featured landscaped lawns, scalloped shingle siding, a circular tower, and woodwork of scrolled brackets," Wilma wrote. "The interior was equally well appointed with paneling, wainscoting, stained and leaded glass, and tiled fireplaces."

In 1928, new owners, inspired by the Mediterranean look of Rudolph Valentino films, faced the exterior with stucco to create a Spanish hacienda look, Wilma wrote. The stucco came off in 1994.

The current owner has restored the house using such elements as a gas fireplace from an old bank, a stamped-tin ceiling and stained glass modeled on existing windows. The owner also updated the kitchen, converted a bedroom into a large master bathroom, and added unique touches, such as four brass gargoyles by Chinese sculptor Zhao Gou Wei.

View of 1630 36th Ave. View of 1630 36th Ave. Photo: Courtesy Bruce Phares And Mark Besta/Windermere Real Estate Photo: Courtesy Bruce Phares And Mark Besta/Windermere Real Estate Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Restored, updated landmark Victorian mansion for sale 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

The house is 5,350 square feet, with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a finished attic, a turret room, a wrap-around porch and a cabana on about a third of an acre, with an outdoor hot tub, a patio, and views of Lake Washington, Bellevue and Mount Rainier. It's listed for $2.962 million.

Click through the gallery above for a virtual tour, which includes more details about the mansion, and a video.

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