Listing of the Day
Location: Napa, California
Price: $1.52 million
The children who shuffled to the new Redwood District School in 1914 could never have imagined the same room they scribbled their notes, played jacks and sat for tests would one day become the living room of a home that exemplifies the very best of rustic and modern living.
After servicing the Napa school community for 18 years, the school closed and remained abandoned for years, before an attorney bought the property in 1941 and converted the school (with extensive renovations) into the perfect Napa abode.
Constructed with magnificent, golden rhyolite stone by Swiss-Italian stonemasons, the home retains the school’s stone archway and large windows, juxtaposed with tasteful, minimalist features added by the property’s attentive, subsequent owners. Throughout its century-long existence, the chic dwelling has become inextricably linked to not only the local Napa history, but also the picturesque land on which it rests.
"This historical property provides a private, quiet setting in the Napa countryside," listing agent Chuck Sawday of Pacific Union said. "Mother Nature has provided an abundance of giant trees and lush gardens for all that is the Napa Valley lifestyle."
More:Beaux-Arts Carnegie Hill Townhouse Goes from School to Private Mansion
Stats
Resting on four acres of serene Napa property, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home spans 2,424 square feet.
In addition to the main two-story home, the property also includes a detached guesthouse complete with one bedroom, one bathroom and an office.
Design Pedigree
Not only did the home once serve the Napa community, but it was also designed by one of their premier, local architects: William H. Corlett. An integral part of Napa architectural history, Corlett designed several buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including Napa’s own Alexandria Hotel.
More:40-Acre Napa Valley Vineyard Hits Market for $33.15 Million
Talking Point
The school’s original architect would no doubt be flattered by one of the property’s later owners: well-known futuristic-style architect William Pereira and his wife, Bronya. Pereira’s work includes such notable Los Angeles landmarks as the original Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the famous "Theme Building" at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), in addition to San Francisco’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid.
Agent: Chuck Sawday, Pacific Union
Write to Listing of the Day