Features
In 1912, a prominent real estate investor chose noted East Bay architect Charles W. McCall to design this timeless 1912 Craftsman high in the heart of Piedmont for his bride.
Known for his distinctive residential designs, McCall lavished the exterior with his own signature elements: nesting shingled gables, distinctively notched exposed beams, curved brackets and bands of windows. Inside, his glorious vision began and ended with the vistas – and it still does. Breathtaking views of the Bay and San Francisco are everywhere, starting in the living and dining spaces, where a wall of windows frames a vast panorama of treetops and water beyond.
In the large formal dining room area with its original built-in cabinets, French doors open to the partially enclosed front porch, where another long, leafy view awaits. French doors in the nearby family room lead to a lushly landscaped back garden with stone patio. The handsomely redesigned kitchen/breakfast room also opens to this magical setting. Ultra-high-end stainless appliances and a built-in planning desk enhance this upscale culinary space.
A stairway in the family room leads up to the bedrooms and handsomely remodeled baths. There are two master suites, both with Bay views; one of them looks out on the back garden as well. Two more bedrooms and one bath complete the upper level.
The back garden is an enchanted setting for outdoor gatherings. A long, curving pool surrounded by multilevel decks adjoins a brick patio with built-in barbecue and romantic dining arbor. A door on the home’s lower level leads from this area to a pool room and full bath.
Close to K-12 schools, the central park, the small business district and the casual carpool/express bus to San Francisco, this is, more than ever, a home to cherish.
The best way to truly understand a home, however, is through the words of those who have lived there for years. Here is what the sellers have to say about the home they love.
We are very excited that a new family will get to experience the joy that 207 Pacific has to offer.
We have lived at 207 Pacific for over 20 years. We chose this home when we moved from Canada because of its architectural beauty. It was designed in 1911 by Charles McCall, a prominent East Bay architect who built many homes in Piedmont in the Craftsman style. Please note the distinctly notched beam ends and the windows in groups of three that mark this house as a McCall design. The generous use of California redwood and the fabulous views from the living room and master bedroom were additional features that attracted us. The generous sized rooms have made residing here easy even when we have had 6 adults all living and cooking here at one time!
Over the years we have made many improvements to the home and have always insisted on quality construction and design. We love gardening, and so our first endeavor in 1999 was to revamp the back garden, removing the extensive ivy and putting in retaining walls and the brick patio. Recently Fiddlehead Gardens helped us freshen the garden beds with new plantings. I think you will find the back garden very private and enchanting.
The rose trellis blossoms profusely every April, along with the cherry tree. You will find that birds love the back yard and you can watch them feeding and nesting from the kitchen windows. Most years a family of mourning doves nests on the kitchen trellis, and as I write this a wren is nesting in the cherry tree in the back, and a woodpecker is nesting in the little house on the rose trellis. Except for replastering, the pool and deck reported as originally designed by Thomas Church, has not been disturbed. Our children have enjoyed many hours of playing and lounging by this pool.
Our next project was to replace the front walkway and garden. We replaced the wood steps to the front door with brick and laid an inviting walkway of Pennsylvania bluestone. Michael O’Leary was the landscape architect for this project, and the work was completed by Robert Cruickshank - the same contractor who installed the retaining walls and drainage plan in the back garden. Although the long climb to the front door may at first appear daunting, we have found this to be a positive feature of the house. We have felt incredibly safe in our home on the hill. We frequently leave the front door unlocked so our children can come and go at ease and we can see what is going on in the neighborhood from our excellent vantage point.
In 2005/2006 we reconfigured the upstairs rooms to avoid an original “walk through” bedroom. The architect for this project was Gettman Schow, and the builder was Camber Construction. Again, we used only quality materials and tried to make the renovation harmonious with the Craftsman design of the downstairs. The plumbing and wiring were all updated. Insulation was applied to the exterior walls, and sheer walls were added for stability in the event of an earthquake. The masterbath was remodeled, and a heated floor was added.
Many wonderful meals have been created in the kitchen, which was revamped at the same time as the upstairs renovation. We replaced the appliances with a fabulous Subzero fridge and Wolf range. You will find the double sinks very advantageous when cooking for a crowd.
Finally, in 2009 we made cosmetic upgrades to the laundry room, wine room, games room, and basement bathroom, where again all possible electrical, plumbing, insulation and earthquake improvements were also made.
We hope you love this house as much as we have.
