A beautifully preserved craftsman home in the historic Oakhill-Brewster neighborhood in Petaluma is currently listed for $1,150,000. The circa-1920 two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom residence spans 1,277 square feet on a 9,004-square-foot property.

The dwelling stuns with original details, like stain-grade redwood woodwork — contrasted sumptuously with teal paint in the kitchen and a rich-green floral wallpaper in the dining room. Plus, a front porch, French doors, and a large kitchen and pantry with generous cabinetry.

Upgrades like Marvin dual-pane windows seal up the vintage charm with modern-day, energy-efficient insulation.

A detached two-story barn has storage and a workshop space. The unit is topped with one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest quarters with a kitchenette and skylights. 

The yard has many seating areas and is exceptionally landscaped with raised beds, fruit trees and a super lush collection of plantings. 

For more information on this home at 306 Howard St. in Petaluma, contact listing agents Jeremy and Peg King, LivXplore Real Estate and Lifestyle, 707-338-8821, pegking.com, livxplore.com

The post Historic Petaluma Craftsman Home Boasts Original Details and Modern Upgrades appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

A renovated 1915 bungalow is currently for sale in Petaluma’s Oakhill-Brewster neighborhood, known for its variety of heritage homes. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom craftsman has been renovated with modern conveniences, but it maintains its classic style. The asking price is $1,099,000.

Quintessential craftsman details remain in good repair: the handsome coffered ceilings in the dining room, wide molding around double hung windows and a built-in glass-paned hutch in the dining room. Additionally, the original brick fireplace creates a charming spot to lounge in the living room, while the vintage tile in the bathroom makes a bold period statement. 

The kitchen has been updated with stone countertops and a professional Bertazzoni range. Generous square footage in the kitchen, no doubt, spurred the addition of an island. 

The two-car garage has been finished to function as a studio. The ceiling has open beams, painted white, and barn doors to create a welcoming entry to the auxiliary space for lounging, working or entertaining. 

For more information about this home at 619 Liberty St., contact listing agent Rob Sullivan, 707-772-9171, Coldwell Banker Realty, 619liberty.com

The post Renovated Craftsman Bungalow For Sale in Historic Petaluma Neighborhood appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Heritage homes are a mainstay of Petaluma’s unique charm. One such home — a three-bedroom, three-bathroom Craftsman, originally built in 1902 and renovated in 2008 — recently sold for $2.25 million.

The teal shingle and siding-clad home, with a surround of mature vegetation, maintains its cherished vintage details, but boasts modern updates.

Built-ins, beveled moldings and coved ceilings remain, but central heating, dimmer LED lights by Lutron Grafik and a gas conversion of one of the two fireplaces are among the added modern amenities that homes of this vintage often lack.

The 2008 renovation included the addition of a third story, skylights, four exterior gables and the expansion of rooms — all while retaining the home’s character and history.

According to the home’s listing agent, Rob Sullivan, about five or so heritage homes are listed for sale each year in Petaluma. The Petaluma Museum noted that Heritage Homes conducted tours of local historic homes from 1969 to 2016 and awarded about 170 plaques.

For more information on this home at 913 B St., Petaluma, visit robsullivanhomes.com.

The post Petaluma Heritage Home Sells for $2.25 Million appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Papa Murphy’s founders, Terrence and Rose Collins, built a business in the 1990s that made take-and-bake, restaurant-quality pizzas accessible to millions via the company’s compact takeout stores.

The couple topped off their accomplishments by building an Italian-style villa crowning a hilltop on 35 acres in west Petaluma. The four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom estate — named Terra Rosa in honor of the late owners — is on the market for $12,500,000.

The grounds include bridges, water features and an olive grove. A variety of shrubs and plants dot the terrace.

The 11,000-square-foot dwelling has stately stone walls and arched doorways. Limestone floors throughout were harvested from a French monastery.

In line with their foodie inclinations, the Collinses included a chef’s kitchen with a large island, an outdoor dining room and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.

Entertainment amenities include a pool, bocce ball court, billiard room and movie theater. Add to the dream home checklist private access to the fifth hole at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club, which borders the estate.

The primary suite has a gym, copper soaking tub, a spa-like bathroom and a seating area.

According to the estate’s co-listing agent, Nicole Marzo, the home housed friends and four generations of family in summer and on holidays. The property’s one-bedroom, one-bathroom casita no doubt helped accommodate their guests. 

The property includes five parcels, two of which are zoned for development. The remaining two are protected open space.

Co-listing agent Abe Matar says that “attempting to replicate such a marvel…would prove futile, given the scarcity of land of comparable size and in such a prime location.”

For more information about 11 Mount Rose Lane in Petaluma, contact listing agents Nicole Marzo, 707-217-1386, Compass Real Estate, and Abe Matar, 650-670-0890, Avenue 8 Inc., villaterrarosa.com

The post Papa Murphy’s Founders’ Italian-Style Petaluma Estate Listed for $12.5 Million appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

A 1930s home in Petaluma’s historic Oakhill Brewster neighborhood has hit the market for $849,000.

The two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow at 591 Kent St. features signature design elements of the early 1900s — arched doorways, original oak floors, rubbed bronze fixtures. Walls in warm hues and pared down styling create a sense of spaciousness in the 1,017-square-foot dwelling. The simplicity allows the architectural details to shine, while modern light fixtures accentuate the vintage backdrop. 

A detached office space features reclaimed barn-wood floors, custom cabinets and a Murphy bed. The surrounding yard has pavers, Meyer lemon trees, olive trees, a front arbor and a new backyard fence. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the home. 

For more information, contact listing agent Rob Sullivan with Vanguard Properties, 707-772-9171, 591kent.com

The post Peek Inside Vintage Petaluma Home Listed for $849,000 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

A sizable home and ADU (2,950 square feet and 1,200 square feet, respectively) with a super-modern meets beachy style is for sale in Petaluma. The dwellings — which together have four bedrooms and four bathrooms — have been renovated into a contemporary style that veers from some of the lovable modern trends we’re seeing right now. It isn’t farmhouse, and it’s not classic mid-century either. The original home was built in 1995 and has been reimagined for living and relaxing according to today’s tastes.

The home has a simple style with the ever-popular whited-out look to give off the calm feel people are craving in today’s busy and visually noisy world. But the tranquility-forward aesthetic has some rich color thrown in. Many stained wood elements are included, such as flooring, bookshelves, kitchen cabinets and furniture.

There are brilliant touches of bright color, too: deep blue tile in the ADU’s kitchen, orange umbrellas outside and a welcome sea-foam-colored paint in the bathroom (hello, ’90s). These elements come together to make an inspired and soothing environment.

When you learn that the homeowners lived in Hawaii, it makes sense that this home would have those satisfying beachy vibes. But there are no clichés here. It’s not all starfish pillows or “sandy feet” signs. The home just borrows the pretty palette of the oceanside for its subdued tropical appearance.

An ADU sits on a second story above the garage offering panoramic views. The design elements are not an afterthought. Details like aqua-colored dining chairs and multi-colored textiles add vibrant color to the stained woods and white walls.

The sparse and tranquil vibes are carried outside to a simple rectangular pool and spa combo. The bottom of the pool is lined with pebbles that provide a sensory treat for world-weary feet. The black pebble bottom absorbs temperatures well, according to listing agent Rob Sullivan, allowing the pool to heat on its own. Plants grow separated in “islands” — a disciplined look that’s modern both visually and in terms of fire resistance.

The homeowners tended to a variety of details, from a fire-safe steel roof to super-convenient motorized blinds.

All of this living space is priced at $3.2 million.

For more information, contact listing agent Rob Sullivan with Vanguard Properties, 151 Petaluma Blvd. South, Suite 137, Petaluma, 707-772-9171, vanguardproperties.com/agent-17011-Rob-Sullivan.php.

The post Petaluma Home Remodeled in an Easy-Breezy Modern Style appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

In west Petaluma, just a short distance from beloved neighborhood haunts like Ray’s Delicatessen and Petaluma Creamery, you’ll find a mix of historic residences, ranging from Victorian homes to 1940s properties. In this “charming pocket” of Petaluma, as realtor Yoko Kasai likes to call it, is an English cottage-style home from the 1930s, which is on the market for $1,295,000.

The 1,800-square-foot cottage, located on 509 Melvin Street, blends classic and modern design. Much of the original design elements have been preserved, including original wainscoting and arched doorways. White walls and modern light fixtures, like a black and gold drum pendant and white half-cylinder sconces, add a clean-lined crispness to the interior. Modern furnishings, including a midcentury modern dining table and upholstered chairs, look very much at home in the 1930s cottage. The original fireplace remains and is topped with a mantel ready for decorating. An original, built-in mail drop is another vintage accent. A rare bird’s eye pattern in the maple wood floors has caught the attention of prospective buyers, according to realtor Kasai.

Parts of the four-bedroom, four-bathroom home have been carefully renovated to blend with original design elements. For example, the bathroom boasts a modern marble shower stall with a bathtub nook and the kitchen has quartz kitchen countertops and new appliances.

In the home’s garden, there are dwarf lemon, lime and orange trees. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the property.

This property is listed with Yoko Kasai of Front Porch Realty Group. For more information, call 415-847-6519 or email yoko@frontporchrealtygroup.com, frontporchrealtygroup.com

The post A 1930s Petaluma Cottage, Listed for $1.3 Million, Blends Old and New appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Nestled in the tawny-hued Petaluma hills, at the end of an unassuming dirt road, sit the 1870s farmhouse and lush gardens of Andy and Rachel Berliner. While their names may not be instantly recognizable, their company certainly is. Andy and Rachel are the cofounders and owners of Amy’s Kitchen, the Petaluma-based organic foods company which employs over 1,000 people in the county.

The couple have lived in the home for decades and raised their daughter Amy there (the business is named for her). As their family — and their business — has grown, so has the garden. But despite the changes over the years, Rachel Berliner says the garden’s focus remains on family. In its simple, unfussy design, she says the flower-filled garden feels accessible and welcoming, enveloping visitors like a hug.

When they first moved in, Rachel knew little about gardening. She quickly embraced the effort to transform the land, doing most of the gardening work herself and developing the lower, more cottage-like area of the property (a family friend, Ann Kahn, designed the more formal back garden). Later, Rachel says, an injury forced her to relinquish some control: “I had to step back and appreciate other people’s work.” Olivia Trombino, whom Rachel fondly calls her fairy gardener, now takes care of the family’s vegetable garden and potted plants.

In early summer, the garden bursts with color and motion. “I love the way a perennial garden moves through the seasons,” Rachel says. Things start gently in April and May, with soft, muted tones as tall columbines start peeking out. Then, as full summer hits, there’s a transition to more bold colors: the yellows, purples, and oranges of zinnias, roses, salvias, and dahlias. It’s a superb contrast to the surrounding sun-parched hills — a mix of textures and colors that Rachel says brings her family joy: “Flowers really uplift your soul and are a gift you can give to people, just like how we give people a nourishing meal.”

The Berliners say their garden connects their family to their customers in a very tangible way. Nearly every flower pictured on the packaging for Amy’s Kitchen products comes straight from the Berliner garden. “I try to invite people into my home by using the flowers from my garden on the packaging… It’s important to me that the people who eat our food have some personal connection with us, because we really do care and want to cook for them.” On a day when they’re photographing food for packaging, Rachel will grab a basket and head out into the garden at 7 a.m. to pick an array of flowers to complement the food. She then heads to the photo studio and sorts the blossoms by color. “It’s been that way for 30 years,” Andy explains proudly.

As strict vegetarians, Rachel and Andy appreciate that the garden gives them easy access to home-grown vegetables. Soon there will be basil (lots and lots of it!), lettuce, arugula, and tomatoes. “We eat greens for months, and I like to go out before dinner and pick the vegetables I’ll use,” says Rachel. “I love making soups and salads from what I just harvested.”

The Berliners garden sustainably, in balance with the surrounding wildlife. There’s something for everyone — bees, butterflies, even the local deer and turkeys, who often hang out among the native plants.

The couple also enjoys the huge variety of bird life, including hummingbirds, orioles, goldfinches, woodpeckers, horned owls, and bluebirds. Andy jokes that the pool is one of the best spots for bird-watching, as the birds don’t seem to know he’s there. Rachel, also a swimmer, jokes, “I always keep my binoculars near me — not in the pool, of course.”

The couple has come to realize that living in the country so close to nature involves surrendering some degree of control. Sneaky turkeys, troublemaking racoons, and destructive voles and gophers come with the territory. “A garden really does its own unfolding,” Rachel explains. “And even if you lose parts of it, there is always something beautiful happening. That’s just country living.”

The Berliners say the choices they make for their Petaluma garden are based on the ethos of community. “We really like to support and buy plants and materials from local businesses,” explains Rachel. Their family’s favorite small, independent nurseries and garden centers include:

The Retail Nursery at Emerisa Gardens 555 Irwin Lane, Santa Rosa 707-525-9644 emerisa.com

King’s Nursery, 1212 13th St., Santa Rosa, 707-542-4782, kingsflowernursery.com

Landscapes Unlimited, 4330 Bodega Ave., Petaluma, 707-778-0136, lunpetaluma.com

West Marin Compost, 5575 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio, 415-662-9849, westmarincompost.org

Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, 3995 Emerald Drive, Petaluma, 707-778-8025, cottagegardensofpet.com

The post A Gardener’s Dream Home in Petaluma appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

When Karen Brown went searching for a property in Petaluma where she and a longtime friend might co-invest and coexist, there was nothing on the market that fit the bill. It was 2013, the nation was coming out of a deep recession, and the pickings were slim. So Brown walked the streets of the west side and ended up beating the bushes — literally — to find her dream home.

The lot she came across one day was so overgrown with acacia trees that she almost missed the house. But there, set on a third of an acre, behind a “no trespassing” sign, was a run-down, abandoned cottage, missing its foundation and perched up on temporary piers, with plywood nailed over the doors. Apart from a possum living in the front room, the cottage hadn’t been occupied in at least 10 years.

But the property was large enough for a second small home, and there was something about the forlorn little cottage that tugged at her heart. Brown came to call it “the little house that cried.”

“It was either going to get torn down, or somebody was going to come along at the last minute and love it,” she says. “And that’s what happened.”

Seeing potential

As the creative director of an educational nonprofit, Brown could see the possibilities. Her friend Alan Good shared her vision. “There’s an old saying about ‘location, location, location.’ That was really clear,” says Good, a horticulturist who for years managed the living roof of the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. “West Petaluma is a wonderful place to live, and the Oak Hill-Brewster neighborhood is one of the nicer parts of Petaluma.”

The property wasn’t for sale. Brown managed to track down the owners, but it took seven months to finalize the deal. Then, collaborating with Petaluma architect Chris Lynch of MAD Architecture, the friends designed and built a compact accessory dwelling for Good. After that, they set to work restoring the original cottage for Brown with architect Brent Russell, starting with a new foundation.

Seven years later, the project is a case study in contemporary downsized living. Rather than building a large home, which could have engulfed the lot, there are two simple white houses designed to fit neatly into the old neighborhood.

Brown’s home in the historic building is about 800 square feet, while Good’s new accessory dwelling is 637 square feet. For their efforts, Brown and Good were granted the highest architectural preservation award by a committee of the Petaluma Museum Association, which praised the project for its “restraint” in staying within the original building’s footprint and maintaining its simple, classic exterior details.

Living small

Brown and Good are close friends but not a couple. The plan allows them to live in community while maintaining their own spaces. Both are fans of living in smaller homes. “I think these small structures are so much in the spirit of our heritage in the area,” Brown explains. “This is all we need. We are two friends who bought the property together so we could hand pick our neighbors. And that neighborly spirit also is a part of the heritage of the area.”

There were few architectural details left in the cottage, but Brown and Good saved what they could, including the front door. In reframing the walls, they left the 2-by-2-inch redwood studs in place and added 2-by-4 pieces next to them to meet new codes.

Brown says she’s not certain when the original main house was built. Zillow says 1900. Old wallpaper that they carefully removed from the walls was backed by old newsprint that appears to be from the late 1890s. “There was one original wall left in the house. The other ones we had to replace because of energy requirements,” Brown explains. “But we bought absolutely as close to the original windows as we could get.”

Brown’s house has only one bedroom. Another room, which resembles a walk-in closet but could once have been a child’s sleeping nook, has been set up as her home office. It’s compact, but the 11-foot ceilings and an 8-foot-wide doorway give the interior a feeling of spaciousness. The kitchen was placed where there had once been an outbuilding, so it looks as if it’s always been there. And Brown added a covered porch when she learned from a neighbor that the original home once had one in front.

For his slightly smaller

home, Good also opted for subtle simplicity. He was inspired by some of the historic old ranch cottages at Olompali State Historic Park, just to the south, opting for understated rustic V-siding to fit with the style of the house.

In siting the house, Good did everything possible to preserve the valley and live oaks on the property. “One of the reasons why my house measured 8 feet from the foundation to the trunk of the nearest tree was to make sure it didn’t interrupt the oaks’ existing root zones,” he said. “It’s great. We didn’t have to remove a single tree, and my house is shaded by mature oaks on the hot and sunny west side.”

Inside, the home feels spacious, with a 17-foottall peaked roof, 10 double-hung windows, and a glass-paneled door. “I grew up in an Eichler home in Walnut Creek,” Good says. “I’m comfortable with an open plan where everything opens into one room. And I like lots of light.” In the ceiling, cedar beams support unpainted construction-grade plywood,

with industrial galvanized tie rods instead of wood beams. Outside, a new garage, which they were required to add, is now used by Good as an art studio.

The little compound is working well for the friends. They have a 25-by-65-foot vegetable garden, fruit trees, and laying hens. “We couldn’t have imagined something like Covid,” Brown says, but given the challenge of living through the pandemic, the shared property is perfect. “We’re separate enough that we each have our own homes, but we trust each other, and we’re close enough that we can help each other out. We can socialize and we have a friend.”

RESOURCES

Architect, Good’s home: Chris Lynch MAD Architecture, madarc.com

Architect, Brown’s home: Brent Russell, 707-769-0535

Builder: Scott C. Shelley Construction, scottcshelleyconstruction.com

The post An Abandoned Petaluma House and Adjacent Cottage Become Dream Home for Two Friends appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.