8801 Fernwood Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20817 (MLS# MDMC2071420)

Prominently positioned yet discreetly tucked away on a quiet, winding section of famed Fernwood Road in legendary Bradley Hills Grove, this is one of those truly special homes where not a single detail has been overlooked. Painstakingly reinvented with obsessive attention to detail and the finest international materials, all 15,000 square feet of living space has undergone a complete transformation — the result of which is an estate with an old soul clad in contemporary finishes. The driveway, with its intricately inlaid criss-crosses of grass, evokes a distinctly Californian charm conveying a sense of airiness carried throughout the home. Light floods the 19 foot greeting hall and gives way to a stunning open-slab glass staircase whose transparency allows light from the double-height wall of windows beyond to permeate inwards. Fine workmanship and top-notch materials are evident everywhere, an example of which can be seen with custom built imported interior doors. Elegantly proportioned formal spaces live up to the substantial square footage, enabling entertaining on the grandest of scales. Yet, the thoughtfully designed floor plan is equally apt at accommodating everyday living. As the heart of the informal space, the chef’s kitchen boasts an oversized quartz-topped center island and two large windows letting in abundant natural light. Sleek European style cabinetry conceals a full suite of top-of-the-line Miele appliances, including a 48-inch commercial range and twin wall ovens. A large primary suite completes the main level, facilitating multigenerational living. Reaching the upper level via stairs or one of two elevators, the second primary suite, with its raised ceiling, has three sets of French doors which reveal sweeping views of the rear garden and pool. Its spa-inspired bath features twin floating vanities, a freestanding tub, a walk-in shower concealed by custom smoked-glass doors, and, along with every other bathroom in the home, radiant heated floors. The custom dressing room is equally minimalist with dark mirrored doors concealing all shelving and a large center island. Amenity-rich, the estate boasts a fully-equipped covered outdoor kitchen with Wolf appliances, as well as an extensive stone terrace. The terrace steps down to an immaculate patio housing the newly resurfaced outdoor pool with automatic retracting cover and a charming gazebo beyond. The indoor swimming pavilion, gym, hammam, and steam room affords year-round usability. Back outside, manicured lawns extend into the treeline, which creates a canopy of privacy along all 2.77 acres of space — a hardly believable acreage for close-in Bethesda. Built like a fortress from concrete and steel, commercial grade systems work behind the scenes to run the estate, not limited to twin generators, a new roof, new sprinkler system, new contemporary garage doors, no less than eight HVAC units, and a comprehensive audio/visual system encompassing surround sound as well as security video surveillance. Unparalleled in design and execution, 8801 Fernwood Road is premium in every square inch. Combined with its rare large lot in an incomparable location blending privacy and accessibility, this is a home for the most discerning buyer and undoubtedly one of Bethesda’s great estates.