Crocker Highlands Beautifully Restored Storybook Tudor Revival

The Home

Rarely does a vintage home come to market that has been as beautifully and thoughtfully restored as this 1037 Ardmore Ave. Located in Oakland’s sought-after Crocker Highlands neighborhood, this truly exceptional home is bright, airy and welcoming, and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, a sun room, an open kitchen, powder room, garage and a completely finished, lower level bonus space. The house was built in 1922 and owned by a single family for four generations, a family with deep ties to California and the Bay Area. Upon the recent passing of the last owner at the age of 97, family members decided to restore the home to its former glory, and have spared no expense in creating a home that is again the showpiece it once was.

An English Tudor by design, the facade has elements of the storybook architectural style so popular in California in the 1920s. Steeply sloping gable rooflines with dramatic peaks and windows with divided lites are just some of the many appealing design features of this home’s exterior. The extensive restoration includes new landscape, hardscape and irrigation in both front and back. A solid oak front door with inset panels, the original ornate brass hardware and a half moon, leaded glass transom opens to a large foyer that offers a preview of the home’s gracious interior. An elegant, formal staircase to the second floor sits left of the front door, while the beautiful open kitchen/dining room is straight ahead and a large, elegant living room is to the right.

The living room was designed to impress, and offers wonderful natural light, crown moulding, recessed lighting and a handsome, beautifully refinished oak floor that continues through the rest of the home. An elegant, wood-burning fireplace is the focal point around which the room is centered, and has a Brazilian super white marble surround with a traditional fluted mantle that sits beneath elegant wood paneling adorned with period-style nickel sconces. The living room extends into a sun room with built-in bookcases, and a wall of oversized casement windows enhance the room’s natural light and offer views of the fabulous backyard and the neighborhood rooftops, the Bay and downtown Oakland in the distance.

If the living room was designed as a showcase, the dining room was created for entertaining. This large, lovely room has a barrel ceiling with recessed lights, a door flanked by oversized windows leading to a large redwood deck, and is completely open to the kitchen, thereby creating a feeling of spaciousness while bringing a modern touch to this very traditional home. The stunning kitchen is an aesthetic and functional delight for any cook! The refrigerator, oven, gas range and dishwasher are all Fisher & Paykel, and simple, brilliant white cabinets are perfectly offset by gray quartz counters and a backsplash of Carrara marble Arabesque lantern tiles. A large center island topped with gray quartz separates the dining room from the kitchen, and offers additional storage as well as a place for casual meals.

A spacious half bath completes the first floor, and is conveniently situated next to the garage entrance at the end of a hallway. The renovated bathroom has a pinwheel mosaic tile floor of Carrara marble, white beadboard wainscoting on the walls, and an attractive, traditional vanity with a Carrara marble top.

Upstairs, the first of the home’s two full bathrooms is located to the left at the top of the stairs, and is a study in sophistication and beautiful design. The floor consists of white herringbone tile, the dark gray double vanity with two sinks has a Carrara marble top, and the walls and walk-in shower surround are covered in tiles resembling Carrara marble. With two windows, the bathroom has plenty of natural light and ventilation.

The impressive master bedroom suite is situated at the far end of the hallway for privacy, and offers a large space, a sumptuous master bath, and views of the gorgeous backyard and the distant rooftops of Crocker Highlands. The floor is the original oak, and the room offers crown moulding, two closets, a dressing room. recessed lighting and a lot of bright, natural light. The ensuite bathroom retreat features a double sink vanity topped with marble, white hex tiles on the floor, a custom, glass-enclosed walk-in shower, and a fabulous white soaking tub to enjoy at the end of the day. Two additional sunlit bedrooms on this level are uncommonly large and boast generous closets, beautiful oak floors and crown moulding. All of the bedrooms are situated away from the street and face the backyard garden, resulting in increased privacy and quiet.

Down below, the finished basement offers a non-conforming bedroom and bathroom. Additionally there is an oversized laundry room and extra large storage room.

The Lot

1037 Ardmore Ave. sits on an expansive lot that measures almost 8,000 square feet. The house sits well back from the street, and the nearly level backyard has been transformed with the addition of new fencing and professionally designed hardscaping and landscaping. The yard is extremely private, and is now an ideal place for playing, entertaining, or simply enjoying the garden and the beautiful Oakland hills weather.

Refined and sophisticated, this exceptional home offers the truly rare opportunity to own a picture perfect, turnkey vintage home in a highly desirable Oakland neighborhood. Restored, remodeled and reimagined to perfection from the foundation to the roof, this well-loved, beautiful home is now ready for a new family to make their own lasting memories for many generations to come.

The Neighborhood

Crocker Highlands is located in the Oakland foothills and is one of Oakland’s prettiest neighborhoods. In some ways, Crocker is an extension of Piedmont and sits right on the Piedmont border. Most of the homes, built in the 1920s and 1930s, were developed as a neighborhood association (then called Lakeshore Highlands) by the Leimert Company. Modern-day Crocker Highlands extends from the more modest homes of Trestle Glen to the more stately homes on Sunnyhills, Hubert and Longridge roads.
 
<--h2>FEATURES

• Built in 1922
• Crocker Highlands neighborhood
• 2,626 SF (measured)
• 7,950 SF Lot
• Complete interior restoration/remodel
• Three bedrooms
• Two bathrooms, one powder room
• Nearly 500 sq ft finished basement with laundry, full bath, and bedroom/office, & storage
• Formal living and dining rooms
• Sun room
• Chef's kitchen
• All Fisher Paykel appliances
• Marble counters
• Attached garage
• Original oak floors
• Wood-burning fireplace
• Bay windows
• New electrical, plumbing, HVAC
• New roof
• New Pella, energy-efficient windows
• New deck (~250 SF)
• Luxurious light fixtures, throughout
• Freshly painted inside and outside
• New landscaping/hardscaping, front and back