Sponsored: The past and present blend beautifully in this updated classic Spanish Revival near Orinda Country Club
A beautifully updated classic Spanish-style home reminiscent of the architecture of the nearby historic Orinda Country Club retains its romantic charm.
One of a handful of Spanish Revival homes built in the Country Club area in the late 1920s and 1930s, this home at 8 Santa Lucia Road is nestled on a picturesque .41-acre lot on a cul-de-sac and quietly sits under the canopies of multiple oaks and shade trees.
Even the address speaks to a rich heritage. Saint Lucia is the saint for whom the daughter of E.I. de Laveaga was named. E.I., the son of the 19th century land baron Miguel de Laveaga who built his summer homes in Orinda in 1885 and 1915, developed much of Orinda including the nearby Country Club and golf course.
Today, walking down its front steps, past a strawberry tree, and through the lych gate entry to the courtyard, you immediately recognize that you are entering a peaceful sanctuary richly layered with classic features yet poised for the next generation.
Imagine strings of soft lights illuminating the expansive courtyard and new adjacent deck and a warm summer evening gathering of family and friends. You’ll have to remind yourself you’re still in the East Bay and not in the Carmel Valley or, better yet, some storybook villa tucked in a Mediterranean countryside.
The home features more than 3,900 square feet of living space and includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms and a detached two-car garage with a second-story studio that also has a full updated bathroom, and French door to a Juliet balcony. An arbor wrapped in wisteria creates the breezeway between the main house and garage.
Original random-plank quarter-sawn hardwood floors with wooden pegs flow throughout most of the home as do plaster walls and truly divided windows. Most bedrooms have new plush carpeting. Original steps feature scalloped edges and evidence of the detailed and masterful craftsmanship.
A large living room is filled with natural light from windows facing the front gardens and fountain and French doors that can be swung open to capture a gentle breeze from the courtyard. A fireplace with a brick surround anchors the living room that also has a gorgeous whitewashed exposed beam ceiling.
A dining room has a wood ceiling, gallery lighting, and Dutch door to the front gardens.
A fireplace with a raised hearth sits in the corner of the family room that is a spacious room to gather and view the oaks and gardens through large windows.
The kitchen is updated with a deep farm sink, a DCS four-burner cooktop, Bosch dishwasher, dual Electrolux ovens, and Sub-Zero paneled refrigerator. Cabinets are adorned with brushed nickel pulls.
Two bedrooms on the main level include one with two walk-in closets and two wall closets in addition to two French doors that open onto the courtyard. A second bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a shower/bathtub combination.
Upstairs are two bedrooms and one bathroom or a grandmaster suite with private study or sitting room. The bathroom has a dual-sink vanity with beveled tile counter and backsplash, and clay tile flooring.
An additional bedroom and bonus room are on the lower floor and share a full bathroom. The bedroom has a French door to a new backyard deck and radiant heated floors. The bonus room/home theater room is a spacious room with whitewashed paneled walls, new carpet, a 3D projector and an automated retractable 9-foot screen. This wonderful flexible space would make an ideal game room, gym or home office with a private entry.
Pathways meander around the property through the gardens and multiple venues for quiet retreat all illuminated with up lighting. A side garden offers an abundance of space for raised garden beds or customized outdoor amenities. Additional features include a separate water heater for the studio apartment, updated electrical wiring, windows, some vintage original light fixtures, motion sensing lights in some closets, laundry closet with front loading LG washer and Maytag dryer, and a digital door entry to the studio that also plumbed for a kitchen.
The ideal location less than a mile and a half to the Country Club and less than 20 miles to downtown San Francisco is also close to Orinda Village, with easy access to BART, Highway 24, and top-rated schools.
Price: $1,895,000
Where: 8 Santa Lucia Road, Orinda
Website: www.clarkthompson.com
Listing agent: Village Associates, Clark Thompson, 925-254-8585, ct@clarkthompson.com