Vintage 1936 French Country Estate Home in Berkeley Has People Freaking Out
Scenic hilltop view in the San Francisco Bay area Matthew James Ferguson via Shutterstock
Well-kept historic homes can be absolute gems, especially when owners haven't ruined their authentic looks with quick, trendy remodels. There's a really popular modern trend towards minimalism that I can't stand, even in really nice modern homes. Where's the exposed wood, the colorful tile patterns, the stained glass windows? You don't find features like that in most modern homes that aren't custom made. Instead, you've got to look back to the past.
No wonder this gorgeous 1936 French Country Estate-style home in Berkeley, California, has everyone freaking out. From the outside, the house looks charming, but it's when you step inside that this unique vintage home really starts to shine!
Before Bay Area realtor @mattpetullo approached the house, he took a moment to show off the home's private paver driveway. This 1930s home is built on 13,000 square feet of secluded space overlooking the San Francisco Bay, and the long, tree-lined driveway nestles it away from the noise and bustle of the nearby road. Matt was already off to a great start before he even stepped inside!
Exteriors To Die For
The home's gorgeous French Country aesthetics and stucco exteriors, combined with the ample outdoor space and jawdropping bay views, captured the feeling of being at a retreat in the Mediterranean- that sunny courtyard patio reminded me of an ancient Roman villa. Compared to the rest of the home, the back deck looks a bit more modern and generic, but it makes up for it with spaciousness, gorgeous scenery, and a hot tub! All you'd need to cap off a sunset-splashed evening out here is a cool glass of white wine, ooh la la.
A Showstopping Interior
More and more breathtaking details were revealed as Matt moved through the home: beautiful exposed wood cathedral ceilings, an original red-brick fireplace, and massive windows- including multiple corner windows- to fill the space with natural light. There were even little fun features from the era, like a little pass-through window between the kitchen and the dining room. All of this leads up to what is arguably the home's showstopper: that gorgeous primary bathroom.
This is vintage California glamor at its finest. The red tile coating the big shower and sink is simply striking, and as Matt remarks, it almost resembles red brick like that of the home's fireplace. The sink has all its original brass features intact, including a very convenient shaving and toothbrush station (honestly, more modern bathrooms should have this). All of this is topped off with two brilliant Art Nouveau-inspired stained glass windows. They just don't make bathrooms like this anymore!
Though the whole house was lovely (with one notable exception), Matt's followers went gaga for that incredible bathroom.
"OMG the bathroom is magical," admired @jalofasho.
"The way my jaw dropped when I saw that primary bath. Love California homes," another viewer remarked.
The only part that people weren't fans of? The basement. Don't get me wrong, it's still very nice as far as basements go, but that weird, dark "storage space" was, admittedly, pretty creepy.
"I AM NOT GOING IN THAT BASEMENT AT NIGHT," @barretbelmar declared.
Matt, however, wasn't too phased by the dark. "Use a lantern," he clapped back.
Buying This Beautiful Bay Area Home
As Matt Petullo noted, this home at 748 Keeler Avenue is on the market for just shy of $1.4 million, and is listed under Sari Cooper of Red Oak Realty. The property also has a Zillow listing, which includes breathtaking photos of the view from the back deck at sunset. With its unique vintage charms, jawdropping scenery, and great location, I doubt this 1930's gem will stay on the market for long!
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