Presented by Anja + Co
Modern Interiors, Timeless Views
$1,495,000
Property Details
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
2
Square Feet
2,229 sq ft
Lot Size
4,500
All Property Photos
Scandinavian Style, California Views
High above the Bay, with sweeping, unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, this beautifully updated home offers a rare combination of serenity, design and connection to the outdoors.
The aesthetic is distinctly Scandinavian-Japanese: warm natural woods, clean architectural lines, quiet colors and abundant natural light create an atmosphere that is at once minimal, organic and welcoming. Rather than competing with the extraordinary setting, the interiors frame it, allowing the changing light, Bay and city skyline to become part of the experience of the home. The main living level is oriented toward the view. Spacious living and dining areas with beautifully refinished hardwood floors flow to a generous deck, creating an exceptional setting for everything from morning coffee above the Bay to sunset dinners overlooking San Francisco and the Golden Gate.
The aesthetic is distinctly Scandinavian-Japanese: warm natural woods, clean architectural lines, quiet colors and abundant natural light create an atmosphere that is at once minimal, organic and welcoming. Rather than competing with the extraordinary setting, the interiors frame it, allowing the changing light, Bay and city skyline to become part of the experience of the home. The main living level is oriented toward the view. Spacious living and dining areas with beautifully refinished hardwood floors flow to a generous deck, creating an exceptional setting for everything from morning coffee above the Bay to sunset dinners overlooking San Francisco and the Golden Gate.
The updated kitchen balances simplicity and function with a skylight, abundant cabinetry and a suite of newer appliances including a Bosch gas cooktop and dishwasher, LG refrigerator/freezer and oven, a beautiful palette and clever functional choices. It is a practical, beautifully integrated space that feels modern yet cozy. Downstairs, the generous floorplan includes a large bedroom overlooking the backyard and big views that would also work well as a family room. Two additional bedrooms and a full updated bath are arranged around a generous hallway with lots of storage, a laundry area and direct access to the beatifully landscaped backyard and patios. Both the front and rear gardens are fenced, creating private spaces for entertaining, gardening, play or simply relaxing in the East Bay sunshine. The refreshed decking further strengthens the connection between the house, gardens and magnificent outlook.
Beyond its visual transformation, the home has benefited from an extensive series of substantial improvements. The electrical service was upgraded to 200 amps, with a 220V circuit added in the garage. The bathroom was upgraded, a new gas line and earthquake shutoff valve were installed, and the fireplace was updated. The roof, gutters, downspouts and kitchen skylight were replaced. Foundation piers were installed and the house was professionally lifted and leveled. More recently, the kitchen and laundry areas were extensively updated, interior lighting was converted to LED, portions of the decking were replaced, hardwood floors were refinished, engineered hardwood flooring was added, and the home received fresh interior and exterior paint. The location completes the picture: Kensington School, Tilden Park and the shops and cafés of cetnral Kensington are all close at hand, while Solano Avenue, North Berkeley's renowned shopping and dining, and UC Berkeley are just a short drive away. Thoughtfully improved, beautifully composed and positioned to capture one of the Bay Area's most iconic vistas, this is a home that feels both sophisticated and deeply restorative: a quiet hillside retreat with the Golden Gate and San Francisco as its backdrop.
Beyond its visual transformation, the home has benefited from an extensive series of substantial improvements. The electrical service was upgraded to 200 amps, with a 220V circuit added in the garage. The bathroom was upgraded, a new gas line and earthquake shutoff valve were installed, and the fireplace was updated. The roof, gutters, downspouts and kitchen skylight were replaced. Foundation piers were installed and the house was professionally lifted and leveled. More recently, the kitchen and laundry areas were extensively updated, interior lighting was converted to LED, portions of the decking were replaced, hardwood floors were refinished, engineered hardwood flooring was added, and the home received fresh interior and exterior paint. The location completes the picture: Kensington School, Tilden Park and the shops and cafés of cetnral Kensington are all close at hand, while Solano Avenue, North Berkeley's renowned shopping and dining, and UC Berkeley are just a short drive away. Thoughtfully improved, beautifully composed and positioned to capture one of the Bay Area's most iconic vistas, this is a home that feels both sophisticated and deeply restorative: a quiet hillside retreat with the Golden Gate and San Francisco as its backdrop.
Video Tour
Floor plan
Explore the Neighborhood
Thanks to its proximity to the University of California, Berkeley campus, Kensington may boast the largest number of Nobel Prize winners of any community in the world. But one look at this neighborhood of large homes in the hilly streets above Berkeley, its commanding views of the Bay Area, and sunny terraced yards will explain why this community is one of the most sought after in the East Bay.
Famed architect Bernard Maybeck had a home on Purdue Street. The homes he designed here at the turn of last century have become an informal blueprint for the signature home in Berkeley. These well-proportioned homes are designed for family life and dinner parties. Shingle siding, rustic construction, and bright expansive vistas are the hallmark of the homes in Kensington.
Tilden Park provides the boundary to the east. Miles of biking and hiking trails, a miniature steam train, exhibition farm, merry go-round, and the naturally landscaped swimming hole at Lake Anza make Tilden a popular destination for families.
Transportation via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is convenient. Heading on Colusa Avenue leads to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and a short drive down Arlington Avenue takes you to North Berkeley BART and North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto neighborhood. There are two distinct shopping districts in Kensington.
El Cerrito means "the little hill" in Spanish, and the town that is perched on the hill above San Francisco Bay offers easy access to Interstate 80 and Interstate 580 to Marin. Hillside homes along the curving streets deliver sweeping views of San Francisco and sunsets over the Golden Gate Bridge.
El Cerrito's main shopping corridor is undergoing a rebirth, beginning with Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, which was restored from the former Cerrito Speakeasy Theater. Access to open space and parkland is extensive, with Arlington Park, Cerrito Vista Park, Hillside Natural Area, Huber Park, Poinsett Park, and Tassajara Park & Pottery Studio all nearby. The Ohlone Greenway is a popular trail with hikers and bikers.
The University of California, Berkeley is several miles away, and two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations, at El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte, make commuting easy. El Cerrito Plaza is a major shopping center housing grocery stores, restaurants, bookstores, a pharmacy, and smaller mom-and-pop stores.
Famed architect Bernard Maybeck had a home on Purdue Street. The homes he designed here at the turn of last century have become an informal blueprint for the signature home in Berkeley. These well-proportioned homes are designed for family life and dinner parties. Shingle siding, rustic construction, and bright expansive vistas are the hallmark of the homes in Kensington.
Tilden Park provides the boundary to the east. Miles of biking and hiking trails, a miniature steam train, exhibition farm, merry go-round, and the naturally landscaped swimming hole at Lake Anza make Tilden a popular destination for families.
Transportation via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is convenient. Heading on Colusa Avenue leads to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and a short drive down Arlington Avenue takes you to North Berkeley BART and North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto neighborhood. There are two distinct shopping districts in Kensington.
El Cerrito means "the little hill" in Spanish, and the town that is perched on the hill above San Francisco Bay offers easy access to Interstate 80 and Interstate 580 to Marin. Hillside homes along the curving streets deliver sweeping views of San Francisco and sunsets over the Golden Gate Bridge.
El Cerrito's main shopping corridor is undergoing a rebirth, beginning with Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, which was restored from the former Cerrito Speakeasy Theater. Access to open space and parkland is extensive, with Arlington Park, Cerrito Vista Park, Hillside Natural Area, Huber Park, Poinsett Park, and Tassajara Park & Pottery Studio all nearby. The Ohlone Greenway is a popular trail with hikers and bikers.
The University of California, Berkeley is several miles away, and two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations, at El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte, make commuting easy. El Cerrito Plaza is a major shopping center housing grocery stores, restaurants, bookstores, a pharmacy, and smaller mom-and-pop stores.
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