Japanese Inspired Mid-century Home

This sublime home was remodeled and expanded in 1964 by the owner and noted Bay Area architect, Hal Theiderman. It has many classic elements of the Mid-century style such as floor-to-ceiling windows and indoor/outdoor flow to the beautiful Japanese-style gardens that literally surround the home. This unique property is imbued throughout with a sense of artistry and calm and an appreciation of space and beauty. Set at the end of peaceful Lake Drive overlooking Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Park, you can go out your front entry onto the beloved Old School Trail in the evening.

You enter the home across a spherical stone path evoking crossing a river on lily pads. A Japanese maple has special accommodation to grow up through the roof. As you enter through the gold painted door, you will notice many lovely details such as the jewel box kitchen, sliding wall panels, and the vintage clay lanterns that hang at the entry and in the living room clerestory. 

A balcony opens from the living room overlooking the contemplative garden, filled with rhododendrons, camelias, and ferns, and the canyon below. There is a tranquil reading room which opens to the front garden, and a formal dining room with built-in china cabinets and sliding doors out to a large roof deck. 

The breathtaking living room features wood paneled walls, a raised ceiling, a modernist brick fireplace, and built-in book shelves. There was originally an observatory tower for gazing at the night sky. Although the dome is no longer there and the tower is now roofed, you can still climb the spiral stairs hidden behind a door from the dining room up to the viewing space. There is also an exquisite powder room on the main level.

Down the main spiral staircase you’ll find the marvelous principal bedroom with its own fireplace, a wall of windows opening to the garden, and a serene wood-paneled bathroom with theater-style vanity lights. In the opposite wing, there is a large office space with a built-in desk, designed by the architect, and lots of storage. The office is separated by sliding wall panels from an exceptionally large ensuite bedroom, with a hidden Murphy bed, built-in bookshelves, all opening into the magical rear garden and courtyard.

• 2 ensuite bedrooms, one with its own modernist fireplace
• 3 baths with theater style vanity lighting
• Reading room
• Office with architect designed custom desk and loads of storage
• Formal separate dining room with built-in china cabinets opens to expansive roof deck
• Japanese-style gardens and courtyards to be viewed from almost every room
• Observatory tower, now roofed, once held a retractable dome for observing the night sky.
• Laundry area behind second bedroom
• .26 acres/ 2,240 square feet per public records