Mansion Has Welcome Mat For Visitors At Home Show
Scattered-site home shows like the one opening today in Spokane usually require buyers to possess basic orienteering skills, plus a full tank of gasoline.
To some extent, that’s the case with this year’s Showcase of Homes. Its 19 residences punctuate a scenic-but-circuitous 90-mile route stretching from Medical Lake to east Mission, and Bigelow Gulch to Bella Vista.
But those who prefer drooling to driving can head straight for Five Mile Prairie, park the tour bus at 8640 N. Cedar and check out Barcelona No. 1, a four-bedroom estate that almost qualifies as a complete home show by itself.
For starters, there are the “grounds” (houses have yards … mansions have grounds). Guests are greeted by a granite-and-basalt waterfall as they stroll along the paver-brick sidewalk. Around back, there’s the swimming pool, hot tub and a breathtaking view encompassing everything from Mount Spokane to the Palouse.
Just past the custom front door is a crystal chandelier - one of two that caught the owners’ fancy while they vacationed last year in Athens (Greece, not Georgia).
To the immediate right, through French doors, is her office, its walls lined with cherry cabinets. (His office is down the hall). The first floor also includes living and dining rooms, a spacious laundry room, family room (with 53-inch television) and kitchen - one of three. (Did we mention the two wet bars?)
Upstairs is the master suite. At 1,000 square feet, it’s roughly the size of Habitat for Humanity’s home-show entry at 951 E 10th. The suite features a refrigerator, private deck, and elevated bed. A cabinet at the foot hides a TV that rises and rotates at the push of a button. (Another television serves occupants of the suite’s jetted tub.)
Across the hall is a smaller bedroom-bath combo. There’s also a maid-caretaker’s apartment over the three-car garage, with kitchen, living room, bedroom and private stairway.
Down two flights in the daylight basement are all the usual amenities: a 12-seat, $60,000 home theater with 110-inch screen; a complete guest suite (with two-person jetted tub); exercise room; wet and dry saunas; shower, another jetted tub; wine cellar; wet bar; and kitchen. Oh yes, and a third big-screen TV, this one a 60-incher.
The home is equipped with three furnaces, six hot water tanks and 20 gas outlets.
Builders Larry Barcellos and his son, Larry Jr., began work on the 7,500-square-foot home a year ago, but finishing touches still kept the pair and their crews up all night earlier this week. At one point, more than 40 trucks and vans lined the driveway outside.
Larry Jr. explained that the new owners agreed to participate in the show because it meant saving close to $50,000 on promotional materials. Now that the home is finished, they’d even consider selling it.
How much? Well, you know what they say: If you have to ask. …
Actually, the price is a flat $1.75 million. Barcellos construction will gladly build you another just like it for less than half that, but you’ll have to come up with your own grounds … and wait another year.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Showcase of Homes The Showcase of Homes runs today through June 25. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays and 3-9 p.m. weekdays. Tickets are $5, and are available at all 19 homes. Children 12 and under get in free. A map showing the homes appears on page A10.