We have loved living in our “tree house.” Sitting in the living room eye level with the oak tree branches with the gas fireplace roaring is one of our favorite spots. The view from each window feels like a painting. Coming home each day feels like coming home to a vacation home in the mountains…only without the long drive and traffic!
This is a great home for entertaining. We have hosted friends for many sit-down dinners in our dining room, where the chef has easy access to the kitchen and the two ovens make cooking a breeze. We have also hosted big gatherings on the patio, where folks can sit on the patio or at the redwood bar and enjoy the views of the majestic large oak tree and redwood trees, while having a glass of wine.
And it’s perfect for our family as well…nothing beats soaking in the hot tub under the string lights, surrounded by our towering redwoods. The backyard is very private with no one else’s backyard backing up to your backyard. Again…the magical and relaxing vacation feeling without the drive!
Los Cerros is the best-kept secret in Orinda. We have all the benefits of a private cul-de-sac – no through traffic, quiet friendly neighbors – while living only minutes from downtown Orinda. If you forgot to buy an ingredient for dinner, Safeway is right down the road, and you can be sitting in Orinda Theater within 10 minutes of deciding to catch a movie. You also have options for the short commute to San Francisco by car
or by Orinda’s convenient BART station.
We have retained the artistry and craftsmanship of 14 Los Cerros, even while we did extensive updating throughout the entire house. We learned from the previous owner of the home, an artist, that all the beautiful redwood trim was milled from one large tree in Marin, selected specifically for this home. No stain was needed – just one clear coat to bring out the lovely natural tone of the clear heart redwood.
Your four-legged friends will love this house too. We have a dog run on the side of the house, with pet-friendly artificial grass and a doggy door. The back yard is fully fenced so they can roam the entire almost half acre. And the artificial turf in the back yard is also pet-friendly, with good drainage. (The easy indoor-outdoor
access works well for all of us two-legged creatures as well!)
We have appreciated how this house helps us stay organized. There is a large storage room off the garage that is completely separate – so there’s no need to maneuver around your parked cars to access your stuff. We hired California Closets to outfit the walk-in closet in the primary bedroom retreat, so there’s a place for everything. (And then I added my favorite Pottery Barn light fixture so it doesn’t feel like
just a closet!)
And even though you feel like you’re on vacation every day, if you ever do feel like you need to leave (maybe to visit family?), it’s easy to lock and go. We have an ADT security system with cameras, so you can check on your home remotely any time.
We hope that the next owners experience as much joy and fun in this house as we have had for the last 10 years!
