MODERN TIME TRAVEL Tucked away in sunny Bella Vista, this amazing Tudor-style home evokes the gentility of another time while featuring thoroughly modern updates. Behind a gate covered with morning glories is a lovely large yard, gracefully landscaped, with a brick path leading up to a glassed-in porch. Inside, the beautiful woodwork is everywhere: the handsome staircase, the French doors, the wainscoting, crown molding, vintage fixtures and sconces, and other architectural details. The living room has a bank of huge windows overlooking the front yard and shaded by the bottle brush tree. A beautiful vintage light fixture and a traditional sunroom with Craftsman-style built-ins and window seats recall hints of yesteryear. Built in 1912 by Frank Ench for his bride, it was surely as luxurious and comfort-filled then as it is today. The dining room has a magnificent built-in buffet and a decorative fireplace, along with tree-filled outlooks from the wall of wraparound windows. The kitchen conjures images of warmth and good times; the hardwood counters, the farmhouse trough sink, the vintage stove and the glass cabinets bring an authentic style that is right at home today. A windowed pantry off the kitchen has steps to the basement laundry room, beyond which is a studio/workroom with separate powder room and washing sink. Upstairs are three big bedrooms; the two in back have fabulous views of the immense back yard and the row of palm trees a block away that bordered the Arbor Villa estate in the 1890s. The light-filled master bedroom has a sunny sitting room and a walk-in closet, and a fabulous bathroom with a clawfoot bathtub sits at the end of the hall. The deep, beautiful back yard is impressive: maple, redwood, cyprus, palm and eucalyptus trees shade the partitioned areas ideal for gardening, playing, entertaining and relaxing. Bella Vista is one of Oakland's best kept secrets - close to everything, quiet at night and genuinely a mixture of all lifestyles. It is also home to several excellent neighborhood restaurants: Michelin recommended Champa Garden (Thai/Laotian), The Grocery Cafe (Burmese), Kainbigan (Philipino), Portal Restaurant and some of Oakland's best taco trucks. A trendy new coffee shop is slated to move in on 13th Avenue near 28th Street. Sunny all the time, it is a quick trip to Lake Merritt, the farmers' market and the excellent shopping at Lakeshore, and is near to the Glenview neighborhood, where one can enjoy the cuisine of Rumbo al Sur, Bellanico and Park Burger. This is a home that transcends the eras, its classic good looks and plush details graciously fitting today's lifestyle.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
