Listing of the Day
Location: Atherton, California Price: $19 million
With its half-timbered façade and English Tudor-style grandeur, this Atherton, California, estate has the kind of storybook charm found in a faraway hamlet.
Built in 1934 as a summer retreat, the home was completely renovated and expanded in the 1990s.
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"It’s the epitome of exquisite taste and sophisticated refinement," says listing agent Carol MacCorkle, of Pacific Union. Situated amid 2.87-acre grounds, the home has one of the largest plots in the area. "Many properties have since been subdivided," Ms. MacCorkle says.
The enchanted landscape, showcasing sweeping manicured lawns, boxed hedges and topiaries, and seasonal gardens, is a neighborhood celebrity of sorts. "The gardens were photographed during the four seasons, and the photos were submitted by the local garden club to the Smithsonian for recognition as one of the most beautiful private gardens in the U.S.," Ms. MacCorkle says.
Though the home was completely renovated, it retains an old world-style character. Designed for grand-scale entertaining, interiors are anchored by a double-height foyer with a balcony and skylight. Expansive reception rooms maintain an easy flow for casual dinner parties or epic soirees.
Detailing comprises of coffered wood-beamed ceilings; decorative stone fireplaces, including an original cast stone fireplace mantle in the living room; wood-paneled walls; and period stained glass windows throughout. Modernity has no place in this pad. Whether or not you’re a fan, the lively patterned upholstery and drapery furthers the traditional feel.
The stats
The 9,910-square-foot home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Additionally, there’s a separate guesthouse.
Amenities
An outdoor oasis, grounds here are the kind imagined in fairy tales. There’s a two-story gazebo that offers an idyllic watchtower for presiding over the dreamy landscape. Amid the lawns and gardens is a swimming pool and pool house with an attached greenhouse, an executive office with a conference room, a dog run, and a separate cooking gazebo with a pizza oven, salamander broiler, rotisserie, and gas range.
Neighborhood notes
Located 45 minutes south of San Francisco and less than 20 minutes from Silicon Valley, Atherton is one of the priciest communities in the country (The area had the highest-earning zip code on the West Coast in 2014, according to CNN.)
Just this year alone, there have been two $30 million-plus home sales in the neighborhood, says Ms. MacCorkle. But, Atherton’s residents can afford these hefty price tags. It’s home to some of the biggest tech giants, including Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Google, eBay, Intel, Facebook, and Oracle, making for a vibrant community.
Listing agent: Carol MacCorkle, Pacific Union.
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