We provide our clients with Hand Crafted Real Estate Service, so like to specialize in hand crafted homes... just like yours!

This week's featured home... A lovely two story cottage in the heart of North Berkeley... an easy walk to all the essentials of life.

We're hosting two Sunday Open Houses - Sun 13 Jul 2008 and Sun 20 Jul 2008 from 2:00 to 4:30 pm... Stop by!

1443 Josephine Street at Vine - $800,000

Sweet two story shingled cottage is near North Berkeley shops & transportation.

Main level includes updated kitchen, living room with decorative fireplace, dining area, one bedroom with full bath & enclosed sunporch entry.

Upper level includes two bedrooms, second full bath & an office/study/guest room.

Updated kitchen & stainless appliances; undercounter lighting; stack washer & dryer.

Upper deck overlooks a magical garden (complete planting & automatic irrigation system plans are included!).

Recently refinished floors, custom verdigris copper glaze finishes in living/dining rooms. Great storage below.

Visit the 1443 Josephine Web Site for an extensive photo portfolio with lots more information about this wonderful house, magical garden, and delightful North Berkeley Neighborhood!

Every once in awhile, we have a home which is unlike anything else, in fact a home which is described as “...one of the most intriguing houses in Berkeley...”

And that is the Berkeley Hills Lodge!

Extensive photo portfolio at http://berkeleyhillslodge.com

Historic and utterly unique! “...one of the most intriguing houses in Berkeley...”

2652 Shasta Road: Four Units: $1,260,000 – http://berkeleyhillslodge.com

Situated in a lovely residential area on wooded and winding Shasta Road, minutes to North Berkeley shopping and restaurants; UC campus; public transportation.

The property was originally part of an 1880s rock crushing operation for the stone quarry above at what is now La Loma/Glendale Park. About 1917, it was converted to a single family residence by noted architect Frederick Reimers, according to Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association records.

A 1949 article describes it as “...one of the most intriguing houses in Berkeley... [wooden] beams from the rock crushing equipment were utilized to build the house". Those massive beams can be seen in the Loft Unit (#3).

Several of the buildings Reimers designed are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: an Art Deco car dealership on Durant in Berkeley, and Olvida Penas in Pebble Beach. Reimers was also the original architect on Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House.

Now 2652 Shasta Road is a four unit building, stepped down the hillside with north bay and Mt. Tamalpais views. The Top and Loft level units have all the distinctive early century California hallmarks of the period: grand proportions; rustic wood panelled walls; redwood pillars and beams; vintage wall sconces; built-ins with glass paned cabinetry and leaded glass.

Interior staircases connect all units and this could once again become a single family home. The Top and Loft levels particularly have the potential of being combined into a spectacular tri-level living space. The lower two units are more modest with some updating of kitchens and baths.

1st Level (#1):
One bedroom, one bath, currently occupied

2nd Level (#2):
Two bedrooms, one bath, clawfoot tub & pedestal sink; redone kitchen;

Loft Unit (#3):
huge open space on two levels, one bathroom, shower only; leaded glass, built-in shelving; grand baronial fireplace, vintage wall sconces; there are seven steps up to the second level; wood floors; kitchen eating area has a Franklin stove; stenciled ceiling; two sets of dual paned French doors lead to balcony stretching across the front of the building with views of the north bay and Mt. Tamalpais

Top Unit (#4):
One bedroom, one bath; living/dining built-ins; newer fixtures and tiled kitchen and bath flooring; Franklin stove; wood floors; two sets of window seats with storage beneath; stenciled ceiling; distinctive diagonal crossbracing at each set of side windows; westward views;

Laundry and storage: Ground Level
Parking: Space at the front just off Shasta Road for three cars, possibly a fourth; also a single car garage
Utilities: One meter serves all units