ROMANTIC CONTEMPORARY

It is pure poetry sitting in the Tea house above the pond and waterfall, next to the dawn redwoods watching the sun setting over the San Francisco Bay. The Japanese garden designer told the Seller that he replicated the tradition of a ceremony where one drinks tea overlooking a lake, which overlooks a smaller lake overlooking a larger lake. Thus the Tea house looks over the pond, that looks over a smaller pool and then beyond over the S.F.Bay. A stone path gently winds up over a wooden bridge, past a small pond below and a larger pond with koi above, to the double front door, creating a most elegant entrance into the house. On a lovely street in the El Cerrito hills, in a most beautiful, romantic and serene setting, sits this sophisticated, elegant contemporary with Craftsman and Asian influences. Drama is created with a double volume living room, redwood walls on either side, maple floors, a peaked wood ceiling and a bank of windows on the west. All the spaces flow into each other resulting in an open airy ambiance. The public spaces all flow west to the panorama of the San Francisco Bay or north to the koi pond and waterfall.A raised platform area off the living room creates a theatrical effect,and could house a baby grand, organ, harp, sculpture or anything that catches one’s imagination. All the windows on the west side of the house and the sliding glass doors on the north side, have electrically operated blinds. The master bedroom has additional block-out blinds and double pane fixed windows. A recently updated kitchen has quartz countertops, with a relief pattern of slate and tile inlaid next to the sink and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. 2 “garages” house small appliances. the master suite is on the main level and the sunken tub sits under a skylight roof, that opens to reveal the trees and sky to allow one to feel as though one is bathing outdoors. there are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs, but one of the bedrooms was converted to an office in 1984. And what a gorgeous office! The north bedroom, with floor to ceiling windows, as with the south bedroom, is sublime and looks out to the trees and over the pond and Tea house The house has enjoyed many upgrades over the years, including central heating and air conditioning, with zonal controls that allow for differential settings for the main floor and lower level and for the third floor bedrooms and bathrooms.