This handsome brown shingle home sits comfortably among others like it at 43 Montell Street in Oakland's Piedmont Avenue neighborhood.
What makes it unique is, unlike the other brown shingle homes around it, is that it was built by the builder/owner for his own personal home in 1959, creating a special and distinctive living space.
It offers 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in a very pleasant 1878 sf of living space.
A sturdy front door, dual windowed entryway, and sheltered porch welcomes guests into this engaging architectural experience.
This expansive, light filled living room is immediately welcoming, with more than generous space for entertaining, and offering multiple design options for furniture placement.
Here the home's design takes on the more modern open floor plan that is characteristic of later years in architecture-more mid-century than the separate and distinct room usages of the early century that we tend to see with craftsman style homes.
A door at the far end of the living room opens onto this extraordinary private rear garden that is perfect as a personal retreat on a sunny afternoon, or as a site for a large patio party, barbecue, or special event.
True to its craftsman heritage however, is this centrally placed, and architecturally dominant fireplace that anchors the room.
The ornate and classically styled trim around the mantle and surround is dramatic and tasteful, and the mantle easily holds favorite art pieces, books and collectibles.
Just steps away is this captivating dining room that is aglow with light from virtually every angle. A pair of large overhead skylights capture light from above, while three wide plate glass windows bring light in from the rear yard.
An additional perspective of the dining room best reveals the presence of one of the most desirable and classical features of a craftsman home, and one that should be noticed as one travels from room to room-the handsome wooden trim.
This is an additional, and valuable, extra expense that has been incorporated into its construction, definitely adds to the residence's value, and can be seen in the rich wooden trim around all the doors of the house, the windows, baseboards and overhead crown molding.
A reverse perspective reveals the home's kitchen that is placed directly opposite the dining space for easy service of food, and for engaging conversation with the chef while the meals are being prepared.
This gleaming updated kitchen is very efficient, comfortably sized, and amenities include a dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, and self cleaning oven.
There is extensive tile counter and preparation space, and storage at every level for one's favorite china, silverware, and serving pieces. A separate set of glass fronted china cabinets offer space for one's cherished glassware, and display pieces.
Returning to the front of the home, a pleasant entryway awaits guests. By turning to the right at the door, one discovers a very inviting room that is currently being used as an office, but, because of its design, could offer multiple uses.
While ideal as an office, especially with its far wall of multilevel shelving for books and materials, it could also become an extra bedroom, den, music or play room.
A set of stairs off the front entryway leads to the second floor, and a half bathroom is just to the right at the base of the stairs.
There are three large bedrooms upstairs. Two will be shown for your consideration. The first, seen here, is the primary bedroom, and certainly deserves the title.
Warmly colored and spacious, it offers a high ceiling and an especially delightful classical window seat with vertical bookshelves on each side to hold books to read while enjoying the seat and views below.
What an engaging treat to be enjoyed any hour of the day.
Steps away is this outstanding primary bathroom that has a tile topped bathroom sink vanity offering plenty of storage below, and a virtually room wide mirror above
Also available is a spacious tub and shower combination with tile sides and walls that compliment the sink.
A second beautifully lit bedroom continues the cheerful window seat theme, and offers a virtually room wide large closet behind a pair of sliding glass doors.
Returning downstairs, two views above capture the charm and serenity of this home's well established rear yard.
Tall trees gently shade the space, and a surrounding fence ensures privacy, while a built in bench awaits one to enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of tea.
It doesn't take much imagination to discover how much this home can add to your pleasure of daily living, and be one that you can enjoy privately or open up to friends and family for delightful parties and events. 
If you would like to learn more about this exceptionally well located home, and all it has to offer, please call me at (510) 517-6280 with your interest. It is being offered for sale for $1,295,000.
(Listing Courtesy of Ann Lovi of Vanguard Properties, Inc.)
Posted by Bruce Wagg on
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