10102 Parkwood Terrace is a stunning transformation of an original “Trade Secrets” redwood-clad home by Carl Freeman backing to Rock Creek Park in Bethesda’s Parkwood neighborhood. The sellers, who purchased the home from the long-time second family of owners, have transformed the original 2 bed/1.5 bath home into a 3 bed/2.5 bath 1,716 square-foot California-inspired mid-century modern space. The home is thoughtfully updated while retaining some of the original vintage features.

Freeman, a leading innovator in modern housing and a main force in bringing the “California contemporary”-style to Washington, built the home based on 42 Trade Secrets meetings of builders and architects sponsored by Life magazine and the National Association of Home Builders. The design was built around the country by different developers.

The 1954 house, built with brick and redwood siding, sits on a premier .25 acre landscaped lot backing to parkland and the Rock Creek bike/hiker trail, which can be directly accessed through the property’s private backyard gate. The property is exquisitely landscaped in front and back featuring numerous mature trees as well as plants and shrubs that bloom from late February to late October. The home’s numerous gardens feature native perennials, shrubs and grasses.

The home was designed to be more private to the street and open on the back with its 36-foot-long wall of glass looking out to the backyard and park, a hallmark of mid-century California design.

The expansive, open living-dining-kitchen area, looks out to the backyard and patio through the wall of glass (4’ by 8’ panels that can be seen repeated in the back fence design). A library/reading area was designed to be easily closed off to create an additional bedroom. The living room features a brick fireplace surrounded by tongue-and-groove redwood that creates the inside-outside connection, matching the exterior cladding.

The kitchen features beautiful Porcelanosa ceramic backsplash, extensive Quartz-clad countertops and plenty of storage space amid the vintage red oak cabinets stained in walnut. Top of the line stainless steel appliances include a Liebherr refrigerator, Miele oven and dishwasher, and Bosch gas cooktop and undercounter microwave.

The original carport was transformed into a custom primary suite with redwood accent wall window trim, Douglas Fir pocket doors and mid-century appropriate cork flooring. The rest of the house features Tennessee white oak wood flooring. The Porcelanosa-designed bathroom features glass-enclosed walk-in shower, Toto dual-flush toilet and George Kovacs lighting. The walk-in closet is outfitted with a custom ELFA design. The suite features radiant flooring throughout with two thermostats to control main room and bathroom independently. The suite looks out to the backyard and opens via Anderson sliders to a Trex deck.

The two original bedrooms, currently used as offices, include the original built-in floor-to-ceiling storage wall of closets and shelves with sliding doors made of striated Weldtex, a vintage plywood.

The half bathroom is renovated with Porcelanosa river stone flooring, sink and toilet. The second full bathroom in well-preserved vintage condition with Douglas fir ceiling.

The home is conveniently located, just two blocks from Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, and minutes to NIH, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, downtown Bethesda, several Metro stations, and has easy access to the Beltway and I-270.