West Seattle’s Villa Heidelberg sold; ‘estate sale’ starts Thursday

Last night, Judy Burbrink (above left) hosted her final guests as operator of the Villa Heidelberg bed and breakfast southwest of The Junction. Three years after first listing it, she has finally sold the stately century-old view home, with the help of Prudential Northwest Realty‘s Jeralee Knittel (above right).

(King County Archives photo)
But the new owners will not be operating it as a B&B; it will go back to its origins as a family home. Judy is moving into a condo that just doesn’t have enough room for everything she’s built up over 14 years of operating the B&B – considering, as she says, she moved in with 23 years of stuff from her previous home on Gatewood Hill – so a big three-day “estate sale” (“living estate sale,” Judy jokes, “since nobody died”) starts later this week. When we stopped by this afternoon, the packing and sale preparations were already under way, but we were invited to look around:

Furniture – including six bedrooms’ worth! – serving ware, even Christmas decorations will be on sale

Some items are already gone – Burbrink says some of the guests have snapped up certain items and traveled back home with them, so “little bits (of Villa Heidelberg) are all over the country.”

40 lawn chairs and even appliances and rugs are part of the sale, scheduled for 10 am-6 pm Thursday and Friday (May 30-31), then skipping a day and concluding noon-6 pm Sunday (June 2nd).

As a small sign out front notes, whatever you buy, you have to take away the same day. This closes 27 years of B&B operation on this site, according to Burbrink, who adds that it’s almost exactly 14 years since she took it over – her purchase closed on June 10th of 1999; she will be handing the house over on June 5th. “I’ll miss all the nice people,” she says wistfully. She was only the fifth owner of the home in its century-plus existence; it was built, as the history is told online, as a home for a family, which Judy says had eight kids, noting that the buyers have children too. P.S. If you plan to check out the sale, the house is at 4845 45th SW.

Cindi May 28, 2013 (9:43 pm)

I remember this house cause I use to walk by it all the time. I lived down a couple of blocks on 47th and could see it from our backyard. I loved the backyard of it. Wish it would still be a B&B though. Hope the new owners don’t ruin the yard at all. Such an awesome yard.

Genessee neighbor May 29, 2013 (5:25 am)

Such a beautiful home. Lucky new owners.
Wish I was in town to visit the sale. Good luck Judy.

Ray West May 29, 2013 (6:46 am)

This is such a lovely home. I visited it on one of the Homes With History tours some years ago. It must be difficult to leave it. A shame it will no longer be a B&B, though. It was a nice addition to West Seattle business.

WSB May 29, 2013 (7:12 am)

Judy said she had a prospective buyer a year or so ago to keep it as a B&B, which was her stated intention when she talked with us about putting it on the market in 2010 (linked in this story) – but, she said, they couldn’t get financing.

cindy May 29, 2013 (7:42 am)

I know the new owners very well – a lovely family who have lived in West Seattle for a long time. I can guarantee that they will honor the history and beauty of this house as they make it their new home. The West Seattle community is lucky to have a family like this! Best wishes to Judy as she moves on to her next adventure as well.

Katherine May 29, 2013 (10:18 am)

21 years ago, we held our wedding here on a beautiful September afternoon. I also walked past the house almost every weekday going to and from grade school, jr. high and high school. Lucky Family.

Gini Johnson May 29, 2013 (10:19 am)

As the selling agent of this outstanding home I can assure everyone that the Villa will transformed into a stunning masterpiece. The yard will be beautiful. We will all be in awe of it’s beauty.

Margaret May 29, 2013 (11:24 am)

We were married there 16 years ago, and Judy was our caterer! Such a lovely setting. We wish the new owners well, and best wishes to Judy, too!

I. Ponder May 29, 2013 (1:19 pm)

what was the sale price? Seems relevant and newsworthy.

fauntleroy fairy May 29, 2013 (8:20 pm)

@ I Ponder –

You can look up the sales history, appraised value, etc. on the King County “parcel viewer” page by using the address, intersection names or parcel number. Might not show up for a few weeks though.

Clay Eals May 29, 2013 (8:39 pm)

We at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society congratulate Judy Burbrink on this happy denouement, and we are delighted that the new owners apparently will treat this treasure of a home with great respect. Our organization’s ties to Villa Heidelberg stretch back decades. A West Seattle touchstone, it was a highlight of more than one of our “Homes with History” tours and the site of several volunteer recognition teas. To experience the Villa Heidelberg was to glimpse into a century-old past and, quite simply, a rare treat. Judy has been a conscientious, generous and loving steward and a great friend of the historical society. We wish her and the new owners nothing but the best!

Clay Eals, executive director
Southwest Seattle Historical Society

G May 30, 2013 (7:02 am)

Neat place and wonderful people. My girlfriend’s parents stayed there when they visited and were treated like royalty. Sad to see it go as a B&B, but it was getting to be to much for them to run. I wish them all the best.

sean May 30, 2013 (7:49 am)

too bad, there goes the only civilized place to stay in West Seattle.

Ray West May 31, 2013 (6:25 am)

By the way, whatever happened to the Homes With History Tour? I always looked forward to it as much as I do the WS Garden Tour. It disappeared several years ago. Wish they would bring it back.

Patricia May 31, 2013 (7:30 am)

Judy – congrats on selling, but I will always remember helping with the SWSHS teas which you allowed us to have as a fund-raiser! Your food was delicious and although tiring, it was such fun working in such a glorious house! Thank you Clay, for stating our appreciation more eloquently!