78 El Camino Real, Berkeley
Represented by Holly Rose, Marvin Gardens Real Estate
SOLD with 5 offers for $2,400,000
The first thing you will notice about this special place is the Craftsman-style entry arbor, draped by majestic old wisteria, shading a welcoming, whimsical patio inlaid with patterns of polished stones, rough rock and red brick. A long-time neighborhood treasure, the arbor attracts walking tours in the spring when the wisteria is in full glory.
Built circa 1916, this grand Brown Shingle home still retains the iconic architectural elements of its era. Some of the treasured and increasingly rare vintage details include unpainted hardwood wainscoting, hammered metal hardware and vintage fixtures, deep window benches, boxed-beam ceilings, enclosed sun porches, plate moldings, built-in leaded-glass cabinetry, wood sash windows, and even a real library.
What started as an already spacious home, became even larger and more flexible when an additional level of living space was created below the main level of the home, accessed by way of an interior stairway leading down from the library. A set of old drawings found in the attic include the notation “ballroom,” but currently this lower level is configured as a bright and tasteful 2-bedroom unit complete with kitchen and bath. It has an exterior entry, but still integrates with the main house.
Finally, a former owner also converted the basement/garden level to finished space. It now contains an elegant 1-bedroom unit complete with kitchen and bath, high ceilings, and lovely arched windows overlooking the rear garden. This unit also has an exterior entry, and may be easily integrated with the unit above by removing a partition wall at the existing interior stairwell.
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Hello, I’m Holly Rose. I help people buy and sell homes in the East Bay. I specialize in fine old homes with interesting or historically significant architecture.