This stunning home is virtually unknown to most people in Berkeley and Oakland, and yet it is truly a remarkable landmark in an historic town. Â Built in 1912, it was called the Spring Mansion, and was built by wealthy land entrepreneur John Hopkins Spring.
Whether day or night, this home is designed to be warm, welcoming, and yes, impressive.
Â
The dramatic front door opens onto an elegant atrium from which all the other rooms flow. The beautiful fountain in the middle welcomes guests upon entry.
Stairs direct you upwards to the spacious bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. Â Note the beautiful skylight above that lets light into what is already a light filled apace.
 As you move around the ground floor, doors open to various rooms, each of which is pleasing in its own way.  Note the window and ceiling treatments in each one.  In fact, one of the best examples of these treatments is in the living room.  The living room also has a handsome fireplace, and chandeliers original to the home.
A home such as this must also have an impressive formal dining room, and this one meets those requirements. Â This dining room has the original box spring ceilings, and features a dramatic wall tapestry to add to the ambiance. Â
Â
Two additional rooms of note are the Salon with its impressive ceilings, french doors and fireplace.  The view below that is of an extra room which is being used for recreation, but could also be a media room or den. Â
Â
The majority of the bedrooms are located on the second floor, and each has a view the scenic Bay area below. Â The first view represents the comfort, gracious amenities, and space available in these rooms. The room in the second view has a sweeping 180 degree view of Bay, two bridges and San Francisco.
The SF Chronicle has been quoted as saying that this was Berkeley's "Hearst Castle", and it becomes evident why this is so. Â It is approximately 12,000 sf in size, has 7 bedrooms, plus 6 1/2 bathrooms and 7 fireplaces. Â The asking price is $7,500,000. Â
This is truly a special home for a very special future owner. Â
(Listing Courtesy of Herman Chen, Bay Sotheby's International)
Posted by Bruce Wagg on
Leave A Comment