25 Crocker Ave

Classical Elegance in Piedmont

This estate exemplifies Piedmont excellence.  The statistics – eight bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, two partial bathrooms, 10,265 square feet in all, over a 0.59 acre lot – don’t begin to paint the full picture. 

Proceed up a circular driveway, past a manicured garden, from the street to a portico with Doric columns on either side.  Guests may enter through the grand formal entrance into a foyer, with ceilings 20 feet or more overhead, and walnut hardwoods (grown in the same stand of trees in Maine) underneath.  Entertain guests in the formal living room, with a large wood-burning fireplace to ward off winter chill.  Elegant, recessed lighting in the ceiling sets the mood.  The formal dining room is alongside, with redwood wall panels (with a tangerine-peel finish) and another wood-burning fireplace with an elegant marble surround.  The room accommodates a table of any size and can seat 8, 12 or more, depending on what size of table is chosen.  A deck alongside, featuring imported Italian tile, offers views of the manicured garden and is perfect for an aperitif with guests before dinner.

The 4,000 square feet of Carrera marble on the exterior comes from the same quarry as the stone on the interior and the surfaces are all level out.

The spacious sunroom adjoining the living room is ideal for informal daytime gatherings.  It features floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, and garden and backyard views of redwoods, palms, and other mature foliage.

A butler’s pantry links the dining room to the kitchen.  It features a hardwood island, dual sinks, two dishwashers, a breakfast nook seating six, bar seating for three more, and a walk-in pantry.  That informal dining area leads to the family room, with views of the outside redwoods and other mature trees.

Two sets of stairs and an elevator lead to the main bedroom floor above, with red oak quarter sawn hardwoods throughout.  The principal suite offers views of redwoods and palms over a trellis and pergola, a gas fireplace, two separate bathrooms, a huge closet (with custom shelving and cabinetry) accommodating any wardrobe, a tub/spa, and oversized showers.  Down the hall are five other bedrooms (one now configured as an office) and three bathrooms, and a well-appointed laundry room with an LG washer and dryer.  Closet space abounds.

Family members will enjoy a second entrance to the home, through a mud room by the principal garage.  The room has a drain, and a second laundry room (with Bosch appliances) is alongside, so any mud will not travel far.

Work from home or study is easy.  A spacious library (with another wood-burning fireplace with a marble surround) graces the main floor, and a well-appointed office occupies a sunny corner upstairs.  Rooms downstairs have pocket sliding doors to afford quiet and privacy for more study venues.

But there is more, both further upstairs and downstairs.  At the top of the home is a playroom cork floor, with two spacious areas for fun and games.  Downstairs, below the main living area, is a guest/in-law floor, offering ample space and privacy, dual walk-in closets, a large bathroom, an exercise room, and ample storage closets.

The original 1906 construction including the foundation was stripped down to the framing in an extensive remodel/rebuilding beginning in 1999.  The roof, plaster, exterior, electrical systems, cabling, and plumbing all were removed and replaced.  Radiant heating warms the entire premises, and air conditioning (with three sections, covering all bedrooms) assures comfort on warm summer days.  A Lutron system controls the lighting throughout.  The home was repainted, new mechanical systems added, and extensive repairs completed over the past year.

Parking is easy.  The home offers one 2-car garage accessible from the circular driveway, another garage downstairs for up to 7 additional vehicles, and a smaller one accessible from the rear of the property.