This very handsome traditionally styled home is what is expected of homes in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood of Oakland. With its spacious front lawn, well established gardens, and shade tree, it reflects a pleasant, yet subtle elegance. Located at 1044 Hubert Road, it offers 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in a very spacious 3087 sf +/- of living space.
Close by are the popular shopping and dining and shopping areas of Montclair, Grand Avenue, and Lakeshore Avenue. An added plus is that it is located just one block from Crocker Highlands School.
The entrance to the home reflects the effort made to make the entrance an attractive introduction to the home. Steps up to the residence provide a place on either side for colorful planters holding cheerful flowers. Above each is a graceful carriage lamp. Most notable is the dramatic, gently peaked, incised arch leads to the handsome front door.
The entry to the is welcoming and spacious. The wrought iron railing seen here is part of a set of stairs that lead to the second floor. In this view, the entry to the right leads to the living room, and the one to the left, to the dining room.
Entry into the living room reveals an expansive living space that it centered around a uniquely designed fireplace. Two imaginative decorative columns on either side of the surround are topped with an impressive mantel that is trimmed with a distinctive dentil moulding. The virtual floor to ceiling windows and doors envelope this room in warm daytime light and views to the exterior gardens and greenery.
A reverse perspective reveals the flexibility of the interior space. The size of the front room encourage the consideration of a variety of floor plans to take advantage of the space, and perhaps encompass the classic sun porch just the other side of the doors at the far side of this view, and revealed below.
Sun rooms have been popular in homes for more than a century, and the concept continues on to today's newer homes. Originally designed as a gentle retreat for entertaining friends -perhaps with a tea service- it has often continued along as a quiet retreat for reading or relaxation. Here, the room has been adapted as an office, yet still retains its warmth and privacy.
Just opposite the living room is this elegant and welcoming formal dining room. All homes of this era were expected to have a substantial dining room for formal parties and dinners, and this one fits that need. Ideally suited for a gracious luncheon with sunlight streaming in through three sets of windows and a view to the front gardens, it is spacious enough for a large formal dining table, chairs and a buffet server, if desired.
A reverse perspective of the dining room, and well worth noting, is a highly desired feature seen throughout this home that reflects the quality of construction--richly trimmed wood moulding over entryways, windows, floors and ceilings.
Just off the dining room is this gleaming white kitchen that provides plentiful workspace, a cheerful bay window, and a warmly colored hardwood flooring that adds visual warmth. Generous amenities here should please the most demanding of chefs, and include a stone counter, a gas range/cooktop, a built in oven, a built in grill, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher.
A reverse kitchen view reveals a direct path to the charming outside deck located just a few steps away. Certainly, food preparation and serving it to the balcony is made easier with this floor plan.
This delightful garden balcony area just off the kitchen, is a perfect spot for a lunch, a card game with friends, or just a cup of coffee and a good book.
As the weather cools, the use of outdoor balcony can easily be replaced with this charming eat in kitchen area which just awaits an imaginative makeover. Complete with a floor to ceiling display and storage cabinet, it is spacious enough to be enjoyed year round.
This staircase, with a decorative wrought iron railings and steps, leads to the second floor bedrooms.
This is the first of the three upstairs bedrooms. Very generous in size, it features closet space directly opposite the bed, half a wall of windows with views to the outside scenery, and space for a comfortably sized bed.
A slightly different angle reveals the en suite bathroom with mirrored door just steps away from the bed.
A second bedroom continues to provide the extensive walls of windows seen throughout the home. It is worth noting the generous amount of desirable wooden trim seen around the doors, windows and floors that was mentioned earlier, and will continue to be seen through the remainder of the house.
A reverse angle provides a view of a practical floor to ceiling bookcase, next to which, unseen, are two closet spaces.
The third bedroom is very generous in size, and as a result, invites a variety of imaginative placements of beds, dressers, sofas and tables. Here, a pair of twin beds fits nicely under the far wall of windows to the right.
Moving to the lower level of the home, one discovers this flexible living space which is currently being used as a family room, but is just as easily available and useful as a bedroom. Desirable French doors lead to the soothing outside patio and gardens, and the room is ideal for outdoor parties where guests can move indoors or outside with ease.
The French doors seen above open to reveal this well established and welcoming back garden space. A large shade tree adds serenity and beauty.
There is no question that this garden can provide a inviting and restful serenity at the end of the day, but, given its distinctive presentation, it is equally suitable for hosting friends on a warm evening. If this home, or another, has caught your attention, please call me with your questions and interest at (510) 517-6280. The home is being offered for sale for $1,898,000.
(Listing Courtesy of Leonore C. Deaton of The Grubb Company)
Posted by Bruce Wagg on
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