A spacious family room is also a sunny gathering place, with brick fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and large corner windows overlooking the garden. To capture the feel of a vacation in Italy, retreat to the charming solarium. With its high ceiling and bi-fold doors opening to the deck, this room has a verdant view of the trees and hills beyond. Completing the downstairs is the convenient laundry room with ample storage, and a compartmented bathroom with shower.

Upstairs are four light and airy bedrooms. The master has a hardwood floor, high beamed ceiling, large corner windows with views, and a spacious cedar-lined walk-in closet. Two more inviting bedrooms have views and unique character. The fourth bedroom, with built-in bookshelves, was created without permit. The updated bathroom has a tiled tub/shower combination.

This gorgeous half acre site has outdoor spaces for everyone, with patios, meandering walkways, vegetable gardens, and views. The deck is conveniently situated for barbeques and al fresco dining. The lower patio has a stone fireplace for chilly evenings. The upper stone patio offers the most spectacular views. The garden areas include raised vegetable beds, fruit trees, and roses. There is a charming separate studio with electric lighting, that could be an office or exercise room. The ample level areas offer the opportunity for play structures or gathering spaces from which to watch the sunset while sipping a glass of wine. In addition to the two car garage, there is a detached carport.

82 La Cuesta is a truly special property, to be enjoyed as is, with its unique charm and character, or to update and create a personalized romantic retreat. This lovely home lends itself beautifully to indoor/outdoor living, both for a growing family and for guests who will fall in love with this country retreat.

Flanked by stately brick pillars, the private driveway winds up to this delightfully private home, originally constructed in 1951. A rhododendron-lined path leads to the inviting front courtyard terrace. Inside, the formal entry opens to a gracious living room. With gorgeous picture windows framing green vistas, oak hardwood floors, vaulted coffered ceiling, and corner fireplace with raised brick hearth, this room is ideal for entertaining or large family gatherings. Adjacent is the spacious dining room, also with hardwood floor. A lovely bay window has an Andersen wood sliding door leading to the garden. The tastefully updated kitchen features granite counters, hardwood floor, and ample storage cabinets. The sunny breakfast nook is the perfect place for morning coffee, with a large picture window offering views of the majestic oak trees. A fabulous wall of windows anchors the cozy family room. With a brick fireplace, built-in wet bar, and door to the patio and yard, this is the heart of the home.

The master bedroom wing features the private master suite. This inviting room has plantation shutters and offers two closets as well as convenient built-in drawers and shelving. The elegant travertine marble master bathroom is stunningly appointed with double vanity sinks, jetted tub with marble surround, and travertine shower with frameless glass door. The second bedroom in this wing has a large corner window with plantation shutters and two closets (including one walk-in). The delightfully renovated en suite bathroom has tile flooring and Toto toilet.

The second bedroom wing has two charming bedrooms, each with two closets, hardwood floor, and Andersen wood sliding door leading to the deck and garden. The hall bathroom has a combination tub/shower and a separate compartmented toilet. The cheerful laundry room has ample cabinetry, laundry sink, and a lovely window.

The beautiful yard offers park-like vistas from all rooms of the home. The courtyard is a sheltered retreat for relaxing or entertaining, the level lawn provides play space, and the gorgeous rear yard, envisioned by acclaimed landscape designer Ted Sutton, is lovely year around. There is an attached two car garage with remote opener and interior access. Additional features include two zone forced air central heating and air conditioning, new fireproof shake roof in 2008, security alarm system, extensive underpinning (including 60 pipe piles) and drainage by Ned Clyde.

Rarely does one find a serene retreat that displays such understated elegance while epitomizing all the warmth and intimacy inherent in the word “home.” Offering a magical setting that affords endless space to roam and explore coupled with a spacious and wonderfully adaptable floor plan, 3 Orchard Road is the one-of-a-kind property you have been waiting for.

Click here to view the tour video of 3 Orchard Road, Orinda.

The dramatic two story main entry opens to the sweeping staircase. The gracious formal living room has a fireplace. The adjacent elegant formal dining room overlooks the garden. The well designed kitchen has been beautifully updated with Corian counters, top quality appliances, and room for an informal eating area. Adjoining the kitchen is the inviting family room with fireplace and access to the back yard. The downstairs office could be utilized as an extra bedroom. Upstairs are five spacious bedrooms. The roomy master suite has a lovely view and ample closet space.

The home has central air conditioning, double pane windows and doors, security and fire alarm. There is a functional utility room, and spacious three car garage. The fully fenced private back yard has been beautifully landscaped with seasonal color, attractive patio, and great lawn area.

In all, 1230 Tulane is the ideal spot for a growing family, perfectly designed for both formal and informal entertaining, indoors and out, as well as functional day-to-day family living.

Click here to view the tour video.

This charming one-level home exudes curb appeal. The covered front porch overlooking the front lawn is a peaceful spot to relax. The tiled entry foyer leads to the living room, with vaulted beamed ceiling, raised hearth brick fireplace, and large windows overlooking both front and rear yards. There is a sliding door for easy patio access. The spacious kitchen is the heart of the home, with granite counters, and a center island/breakfast bar. The delightful brick hearth exemplifies the warmth of the home. The large eating area could also be used as a play area or sitting room, with access to the back yard.

The main bedroom wing has three inviting bedrooms, including the master suite. The secondary bedrooms are both light and sunny, with well-appointed closets. The luxurious master suite features a gorgeous updated sky-lit bathroom with granite counters, dual sinks, jetted tub with shower. There is a large walk-in closet and a sliding door to the patio. The hall bathroom has been elegantly updated with custom tile work and a Kohler jetted tub with shower. The fourth bedroom is on the opposite side of the house for privacy, and offers views of the yard. This wing also has a convenient half bath with granite counter.

The .42 acre site includes a fully fenced rear yard, easily accessible from all the main rooms of the house. The private patio is ideal for al fresco dining, and the lawn invites play time. There is an attached two-car garage, with remote control door, and interior access to the kitchen. Additional features include forced air heating and air conditioning, dual pane windows throughout, fully irrigated front and rear landscaping.

This meticulously updated idyllic retreat is a genuine find in the heart of Lafayette, and represents a lucky family’s perfect introduction to the California lifestyle.

An inviting brick path leads to the front door, which opens to the tiled entry foyer. The spacious living room, with planked tongue and groove ceiling and hardwood floor, features a brick fireplace flanked by bookshelves. The adjacent formal dining room, also with hardwood floor and planked ceiling, offers lovely pastoral views. The heart of the home is the tastefully updated kitchen, with recessed lighting, hardwood floor, and custom vertical grain oak cabinetry. Appliances include Subzero built-in refrigerator, GE double oven, and Kitchenaid dishwasher. The step-down eating area shares the gorgeous view and has a convenient desk area with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Doors lead to both the front deck and rear deck, providing an ideal flow for entertaining or active families. With its vaulted wood ceiling, brick fireplace with gas starter, built-in media shelving, door to deck, and oversize picture windows framing the wooded hills across the creek, the family room is reminiscent of a Yosemite lodge, and provides the perfect venue for cozy evenings around the fire.

The private master bedroom retreat, with hardwood floor, features a romantic bay window. There is an en suite bathroom with shower and hardwood floor and two closets, including a large walk-in. Each of the three additional bedrooms has its own character – one, with vaulted ceiling and a wall of windows, retains a sense of rustic charm. Another, currently used as a study, has hardwood floor and French doors. The third has views and a built-in desk. The well-situated hall bathroom has a combination tub/shower and hardwood floor. A convenient powder room completes the main level.

The lower level of the residence provides great versatility. Currently used as a combination office/artist studio, the downstairs “bonus” room could also be a comfortable play room. There is ample built-in cabinetry as well as easily accessible deep storage areas for larger items. The spacious laundry room has a sink and access to both the yard and the garage.

The gorgeous private grounds provide a unique opportunity for escape in the heart of Orinda. The expansive deck, accessible from both dining area and family room, is perfect for al fresco dining and entertaining or lazy summer afternoons of relaxing and reading. The professionally landscaped front garden features an automatic timed irrigation system. The large level lawn, also fully irrigated, provides a lovely setting for croquet or kicking a soccer ball, while the natural wooded site represents an open invitation to explore.

Additional features of the home include attached garage with interior access, separate storage room, ample off-street parking, newer fire-retardant composition shingle roof, newer water heater, security alarm system, two zone forced air heating, custom Pella wood windows throughout main level (except dining room), redwood siding, fully fenced yard with remote-controlled entry gate. 237 La Espiral is truly the home you have been waiting for – a magical setting that affords endless space to roam and explore coupled with a traditional floor plan that will bring to life cherished family scenes in this one-of-a-kind home.

The long driveway, leading past the tennis court, ends in a broad circular drive in front of the house. The front entry opens to a wonderful living room, with stately brick fireplace, hardwood floor, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens and pool. Adjacent is a charming library alcove with built-in bookshelves and a door to the patio – the perfect place to escape for an idle afternoon. The formal dining area shares the garden view and has glass French doors leading to the very large family room. This versatile space, with vaulted beamed ceiling, tiled floor, built-in desk and wet bar, and stone fireplace with wood mantel, serves as a marvelous indoor/outdoor transition space, with several sets of doors opening to the yard. The charming sunny kitchen has space to accommodate contemporary amenities.

There are two bedroom wings, each with two bedrooms. One wing, to the right of the entry, includes the large master bedroom with en suite tiled bathroom. There is a second generous bedroom and additional full bathroom. The other wing houses a large bedroom with its own en suite tiled bathroom as well as the fourth bedroom, currently used as an office with an unusual deco-style built-in desk. The fourth bathroom is also in this wing.

Among the many delights of the home is the 25 seat art deco movie theater, hidden behind a door leading from the family room. The home’s original owner, a family connected to the movie industry, installed this theater, very much in the style of the beloved Orinda Theater. With custom painted wall murals, etched glass sconces, and plush velvet seating, the theater is a unique entertainment center for young and old alike.

The amazing 2.33 acre property is a rare level park-like jewel. There is a fenced tennis court in the front of the house. The rear gardens, reminiscent of a mid-century resort, feature a large swimming pool surrounded by lawns, a brick fireplace, and ample patios. The gracious pool house includes a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen with original Wedgwood stove. Upstairs from the pool house, there is a large attic room for storage. The detached four-car (tandem) garage is accessed via the driveway in the front of the property. With a serene creek running along the rear perimeter and surrounded by mature vegetation, this property is truly a private paradise to be handed down from generation to generation.

The covered entry is reminiscent of an elegant plantation home, and the heavy custom front door leads to a large open marble foyer lit by a dramatic round skylight. One is immediately struck by the sense of volume in this home, as one grand space flows to another. Elevated above the entry is the spacious grand piano-size living room, with recessed lighting, fireplace with marble surround, sliding door to expansive deck, and breathtaking views of the valley. The formal dining room is conveniently accessed from both living room and kitchen, and shares the dramatic views. Truly an architectural and artistic masterpiece, the Fu Tung Cheng designer kitchen, completed in 2004, has been featured in national publications. Its minimalist Asian-inspired sensibility is accentuated by bamboo floors and recessed lighting, and a built-in seating area from which to enjoy the view. Appliances will delight the most seasoned professional: a sleek 6 burner Kuppersbusch cooktop, Miele grill, Kuppersbusch double ovens, Subzero Euro-style compartmented refrigerator and freezer with separately accessed drawers and doors, and Subzero wine refrigerator. Stainless steel sinks are extra-deep with incorporated drain racks and removable butcher block cutting board. The unusual designer center island incorporates a second sink and cutting board. The bright and sunny family room opens to the kitchen and has a corner fireplace with marble tile surround and hearth, recessed lighting, bamboo floor, sleek built-in media cabinetry, ideal wall for flat screen television, and sliding door to the large deck.

The private master bedroom suite is conveniently located on the main floor and offers unobstructed views of the valley. There are two well-appointed closets, and a large elegant marble-tiled bathroom with double sinks, lighted vanity dresser, tiled shower, jetted tub, compartmented toilet and bidet, and door to the yard. Also on the main level are three additional inviting bedrooms, one with an ensuite tiled bathroom with combination tub/shower. The full bathroom shared by the remaining bedrooms is also tiled, with a combination tub/shower. The library (shelving and ladder excluded) could also be used as a seventh bedroom, as it has a walk-in closet. The guest powder room, marble-tiled, is conveniently located off the entry foyer. Upstairs, there are two more sunny and cheerful bedrooms. One has a sky-lit ante-room, which could be a very large walk-in closet or small study or play area. The other has access to a storage room with extensive built-in shelves. The two bedrooms share a tiled bathroom with a combination tub/shower.

Downstairs, spacious guest/au pair quarters include a living room with area plumbed for studio kitchen, bedroom, tiled bathroom with shower, and private level-in entrance from front of house. The downstairs laundry facility includes a Whirlpool duet washer and dryer and extensive storage cabinets. There is a four-car garage with separate remote-controlled doors, two furnaces and air conditioning units with six heating/cooling zones. Security is provided through a 29 zone security system, with a gated driveway and intercom. Additional amenities include dual pane windows throughout, extensive attic and under-house storage, copper gutters in front of house, clear all-heart redwood exterior, floor
safe, and wine closet. The vast property, currently designed for minimal maintenance, offers ample possibilities, including potential pool site, areas for children’s play, or vineyards.

This estate home truly occupies a corner of paradise. It is an ideal environment for a growing family, a spectacular setting for executive entertaining, an idyllic sanctuary for retirement… a property to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation.