839 Miramar in Berkeley’s Thousand Oaks Neighborhood

3 Bedrooms 1+ Baths $800,000 – Photo Portfolio at 839Miramar.com

Open Sunday – Mother’s Day – 20 May 2012 – 2:00 to 4:30 pm

839 Miramar is a spacious Thousand Oaks home on a peaceful tree-lined street … near everything that makes the neighborhood special – shops, cafes, restaurants, book stores, parks, and more!

The Walk Score? 88! Very Walkable.

Chances are you might not have ever heard of Miramar. Miramar connects Capistrano with San Lorenzo … and is only one block long. Search google maps for Laurel Lane and Station Place for two other unusual neighborhood streets.

One of our earliest memories was when they closed the street for Halloween. The kids have all grown, but the nearby Thousand Oaks Elementary School keeps the tradition with an parade up and down Solano!

Our Thousand Oaks Neighborhood web site

What awaits you at 839 Miramar?

A spacious 3 bedroom 1+ bath home with updated kitchen, spacious dining room with skylight, separate laundry (that’s where the half bath is), lots (lots!) of storage … and even 2 off-street parking spots.

Did I mention the three separate outdoor areas?

Wonderfully planted front garden … check out my very first HDR – High Dynamic Range photos of the plantings

An outdoor patio with built-in table next to the kitchen … perfect for BBQ

The french doors off the dining room  open to a private patio (that’s where I’d have morning coffee) .. and the enclosed side yard with grass, raised garden beds, and corner hydrangea

It’s a charming neighborhood with terrific neighbors (Ira here – we’ve lived a few blocks away for 30 years!) … friendly, conscientious folks who have organized to be prepared for emergencies … and even have an annual block party.

839 Miramar is sited for lots of privacy (unusual for corner lots).

Some of our favorite restaurants are almost literally a block away (some journeys will go for 2 or 3 blocks). Cugini for friendly Italian dining; Rivoli for special occasions, Talavera (great mole poblano) … and even a place for ice cream.

The Solano Stroll is in early-mid September – it’s a mile-long block party filled with music, crafts, food, people, dogs and community organizations.

And last, but not least … easy highway access and a great location convenient to Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, and El Cerrito

839 Miramar in Berkeley’s Thousand Oaks Neighborhood

3 Bedrooms 1+ Baths $800,000 – Photo Portfolio at 839Miramar.com

839 Miramar is a spacious Thousand Oaks home on a peaceful tree-lined street … near everything that makes the neighborhood special – shops, cafes, restaurants, book stores, parks, and more!

The Walk Score? 88! Very Walkable.

Chances are you might not have ever heard of Miramar. Miramar connects Capistrano with San Lorenzo … and is only one block long. Search google maps for Laurel Lane and Station Place for two other unusual neighborhood streets.

One of our earliest memories was when they closed the street for Halloween. The kids have all grown, but the nearby Thousand Oaks Elementary School keeps the tradition with an parade up and down Solano!

Our Thousand Oaks Neighborhood web site

What awaits you at 839 Miramar?

A spacious 3 bedroom 1+ bath home with updated kitchen, spacious dining room with skylight, separate laundry (that’s where the half bath is), lots (lots!) of storage … and even 2 off-street parking spots.

Did I mention the three separate outdoor areas?

Wonderfully planted front garden … check out my very first HDR – High Dynamic Range photos of the plantings

An outdoor patio with built-in table next to the kitchen … perfect for BBQ

The french doors off the dining room  open to a private patio (that’s where I’d have morning coffee) .. and the enclosed side yard with grass, raised garden beds, and corner hydrangea

It’s a charming neighborhood with terrific neighbors (Ira here – we’ve lived a few blocks away for 30 years!) … friendly, conscientious folks who have organized to be prepared for emergencies … and even have an annual block party.

839 Miramar is sited for lots of privacy (unusual for corner lots).

Some of our favorite restaurants are almost literally a block away (some journeys will go for 2 or 3 blocks). Cugini for friendly Italian dining; Rivoli for special occasions, Talavera (great mole poblano) … and even a place for ice cream.

The Solano Stroll is in early-mid September – it’s a mile-long block party filled with music, crafts, food, people, dogs and community organizations.

And last, but not least … easy highway access and a great location convenient to Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, and El Cerrito

1621 Buena Avenue – 1621Buena.com

1919 bungalow 2 bedroom just a few blocks to Northbrae’s shops – Monterey Market, Magnani Meats, Espresso Roma and Goia Pizza. North Berkeley shops, restaurants and BART nearby too!

Updated with chef’s kitchen, 6 burner Viking Range, stainless appliances, quarry tile, breakfast bar, great cabinetry and counter space. French doors to cook’s garden. Recent foundation, seismic, drainage; mostly dual paned windows. Upgraded detached garage.

Open Sunday 4 + 11 Mare 2012 2:00 – 4:30 pm.  See you there!

Live in an Elmwood/Claremont Berkeley craftsman home designed by Julia Morgan

Would you like to live a part of California History?

2900 Derby Street, a two story 4 bedroom 3 bath Brownshingle home is on the market for $1,025,000

Open homes scheduled for Sunday 22 Jan 2012 and 29 Jan 2012 from 2:00 to 4:30 pm

Photo portfolio and Elmwood/Claremont Neighborhood Information a 2900Derby.com

This wonderful craftsman home was designed by Julia Morgan, one of the most important female architects of the early 20th century. The Wikipedia entry tells more about this remarkable woman: She graduated UC Berkeley in 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering. With the urging of her friend and mentor Bernard Maybeck (another remarkable Berkeley architect, she applied to Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and was the first woman to graduate with a degree in architecture from the school.

Although renowned as the architect of William Randolph Hearst’s San Simeon mansion, Hearst Castle, Julia Morgan had a significant architectural influence in the Bay Area, including the Berkeley City Club, Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Turner Building, Baptist Divinity School. Her landmark houses include Ralph White, Macgregor, and Frederick A. Thomas Houses.

On the main level you’ll find the rooms with her signature first-growth redwood paneled walls, window details and built in cabinetry. The key living room feature is the inglenook fireplace with it’s own hidden nook- look for the door on the upper right.

BAHA (Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association) records show it was built in 1904 and in 1920 moved here from 2819 Garber Street.

The updated kitchen and serene back yard has a southern exposure.

All the bedrooms are on the 2nd floor of this two story brown shingle home.

With a Walk Score of 74 (very walkable) this Julia Morgan craftsman home is convenient to the Claremont’s Domingo area restaurants, bakery & cafe and Elmwood’s Theater, Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Mrs. Dalloway’s bookstore, Holy Land and Le Med restaurants and numerous cafes. The bus to Rockridge BART runs along nearby College Avenue; The UC Berkeley Campus – Haas Business School, Boalt Hall, Pacific Film Archive is just to the north.

There’s even a one car garage!

Photos of the nearby neighborhoods:

Elmwood

Claremont

715 Hillside Avenue, Albany Hill – 4 Bedrooms 3+ Baths – $1,275,000

Extraordinary photo portfolio of the home and garden .. with videos and  what makes this home so special at 715hillside.com

The Panorama

This maps comes from data downloaded from the East Bay Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  It show all homes sold through the MLS and doesn’t include private sales.

Click on the map image .. and it will take you directly to our MLS Market Research Report where you can  zoom in and around your favorite neighborhoods.  The report has 7 different maps:

• Sales Price
• Bedrooms
• Square Feet of home
• Square Feet of lot
• Year Built
• Sales by Quarter
• Sales Price/Original List Price ratio

2229 Ashby Avenue at Deakin – Open Sunday 23 Oct 2011 2:00 to 4:30 PM

Photo Portfolio @ 2229Ashby.com

Completely remodeled in 2003, this 1907 two story home has four bedrooms, including a master suite, upper level laundry and a bedroom with skylight. There’s a formal dining room and a sun room, and the kitchen has granite counters, stainless finish appliances and hickory cabinetry

Details include designer colors, and hardwood, ceramic tile & slate flooring

Though the address is on Ashby, most of the home is sited along quiet Deakin Street which has no through traffic because of the traffic barrier at Ashby. The noise reducing dual paned windows make a huge positive difference in livability!!

Two decks – one off the kitchen to the yard, the other off the master bedroom.

Need more space? There’s even a huge attic accessible via pull-down stairs!

Spacious garage/workshop and off street parking … all easily accessible via Deakin rather than Ashby.

The Le Conte School playground is just down the street.

2226 Woolsey  on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Halcyon Commons neighborhood.

2 Bedrooms – $425,000 – Open Sunday 9 Oct 2011 2:00 to 4:30 pm … come by!

Photo portfolio at 2226woolsey.com

2226 Woolsey Street, Berkeley CA 94705 – Photo portfolio at 2226woolsey.com

Sweet two bedroom home with lovely back garden and detached garage … and you’re invited to our Sunday Open Houses on 2 & 9 Oct 2011 2:00 – 4:30 pm!

Lovely woodwork and fireplace details, gracious living room and formal dining room. There’s even a vintage refurbished Wedgewood Stove and and small study off the kitchen.

Bonus space below and a detached garage provides workshop space.

On a quiet cul-de-sac near Berkeley and Oakland Telegraph Avenue shops, UC Berkeley, Rockridge & Ashby BART and I-80 and 25 highways … with an amazing Walk Score of 94!

And from the owner to you:

2226 WOOLSEY ST., BERKELEY:  WELCOME PROSPECTIVE BUYERS!

Fifteen years ago I found this gem tucked into an established neighborhood.  The wide open street  & spacious lot were appealing but it was the charm of the bungalow’s architecture with all its nuances that I fell in love.  Restoring the hardwood floors that had long been buried under shag carpeting & restoring the old Wedgewood stove have been a few of the highlights of the improvements made.

It was a challenge & joy digging up the junipers in the front yard & creating a Monet inspired garden where the fragrance of jasmine & rose waft into the front of the home & more tea roses, jasmine and honeysuckle scent the back.  The large boulder by the front patio was purchased as a magical rock  where grandchildren could one day climb & warm themselves in the sun.  Right now, Wilson, the neighbor’s cat has laid claim.

The front yard is open & friendly to complement the temperament of the neighbors  who you’ll find are candid & caring but not intrusive.  Every 4th of July we close down the street & we all spill out onto Woolsey with our barbeques & lawn chairs & celebrate. Some have lived here for over 40 years along side new families who moved in within the last couple which creates an interesting, safe & vibrant neighborhood.

Friends named my car, Walker, because I rarely need to drive given how ideal this location is to 2 Bart stations, Rockridge, Kaiser, Berkeley YMCA, Whole Foods, Andronicos and Cal Berkeley where 2 of my neighbors work & bike daily.  Woolsey is part of the greater Halycon Neighborhood & a monthly newsletter advises activities from yoga to work/social parties in our park to earthquake preparedness classes.

I love my backyard where it is serene. Nature abounds with birds, butterflies & squirrels who have provided much entertainment over the years.  On more than one occasion hummingbirds dance in the spray as I water the plants & those are truly magical moments.  The large Australia Bush tree had been destined to have a tree house & swing when my sons settled down and had families.

I will miss being perched in the alcove or sitting in front of a roaring fire with a good book or waking up to the trees gently swaying in the breeze.  I will miss the easy entertaining with all crowded round the stove or spilling out to the patio below.  I will miss the greetings of my incredible neighbors as I water out front or go for a walk.  As my life transitions, I must leave this gem which is filled with  fond memories & which has been restored it to the best of my abilities.  When the for sale sign went up, the tears spilled as this has been more than a home but a lovely refuge.

May this bungalow and this neighborhood bring you as much joy, love and contentment as it has for my family.