Carmel-by-the-Sea | $ 2.75 million
A one bedroom, one bathroom cottage and one bedroom and one bathroom guest house on 0.1 acre lot
Most of the picture-perfect cottages in Carmel date from the early 20th century, but this 2005 cottage has many of the same architectural flourishes, including arched windows, interior and exterior brickwork, and copious wood paneling. It is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the running and hiking trails at Mission Trail Park and roughly as far from the art galleries and restaurants on Ocean Avenue. Carmel Beach, popular with surfers and dog owners, is about a five-minute drive, or a 15-minute walk, away.
Size: 1,388 square feet
Price per square meter: $ 1,981
Inside: A wooden gate and lush hedges enclose a private courtyard opposite the main entrance. An arched Dutch door opens into a living room with high ceilings, exposed beams, soft cream wood-paneled walls, and a stone fireplace.
The parquet floors in the living room go into an open dining and kitchen area with French doors to the inner courtyard. The space is large enough to accommodate a small table and chairs, and appliances include a cobalt blue stainless steel stove and a stainless steel refrigerator.
From the other side of the living room a short corridor leads to the bedroom with high ceilings, another stone fireplace, a ladder to an attic and an alcove with enough space for a desk or armchair. French doors open onto terraces on either side of the room. The adjoining bathroom is painted in sunny yellow and has a checkerboard tile floor, a claw-foot bathtub and a shower with a glass door.
The guest accommodations above the garage include a bedroom large enough for a queen-size bed, a full bathroom, and a covered porch accessed by an outside staircase.
Outside space: The main courtyard is paved in gravel and stone, with two main focuses: a stone fountain and a circular hedge that frames a flower bed. A brick terrace on the side of the house is large enough for a coffee table and chairs. The detached garage has space for one car.
Steer: $ 34,380 (estimated)
Contact: The Canning Properties Group, Sotheby’s International Realty Carmel Rancho Brokerage, 831-624-1566; sothebysrealty.com
Los Angeles | $ 2.795 million
A recently renovated four bedroom, four bath home built in 1936 on a 3 acre lot
This home is in Studio City, a few blocks north of Ventura Boulevard, the main drag in the San Fernando Valley. Development along Ventura has been brisk in recent years: an Erewhon Market chain outpost recently opened half a mile from this property; Other shops nearby include Ralph’s supermarket, bowling alley and several sushi restaurants. Another nearby attraction is Weddington Golf & Tennis, a complex that includes a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse. West Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles are less than half an hour away.
Size: 3,260 square feet
Price per square meter: $ 857
Inside: An iron gate separates the front yard from the sidewalk, with a brick path leading to the front door. On the other side of the threshold is a living room with parquet floors, a wood-burning fireplace, a bay window overlooking the front yard, and double doors that lead to one of several terraces.
Behind the living room, a sunny hallway leads to a dining room with parquet floors, a white-painted beamed ceiling and glass doors that lead to another terrace. The kitchen opposite has custom-made wooden cabinets, gleaming stone counters, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and a Wolf range. Across the kitchen is a family room with a new built in entertainment center and access to a terrace.
There are three bedrooms on this level. Two are connected to the living room from the hallway: on one side is the master suite, which has an airy living room overlooking the swimming pool and a recently renovated bathroom with a marble shower; Across the hall is a guest room with built in wardrobes. Another guest room is located next to the family room with a walk-in closet and access to the backyard; Next door is a bathroom with a large shower and a marble-topped vanity.
A staircase leads from the central hall to the upper level, which currently functions as a bedroom with an en suite bathroom, but could also be used as a study.
Outside space: The outside areas are designed to provide privacy, with a brick terrace in front of the living room and another, larger terrace in front of the dining room; the first has a fountain and the second serves as an outdoor dining room. A sunbathing area connects the dining terrace and the pool area, which has a cabana with space for several sun loungers. The attached garage has two parking spaces.
Steer: $ 34,932 (estimated)
Contact: Thomas Davila, Robert Vitela, and Kennon Earl, RARE Properties, Inc., Compass, 424-230-7928; kompass.com
Sun Valley | $ 2.798 million
A four bedroom, three and a half bathroom home built in 1961 on 0.2 acre lot
Real estate in Sunnyvale, the second largest city in Santa Clara County (after San Jose), is valued by technicians as it helps them avoid the traffic in the Bay Area. The main Google and Apple offices are less than 20 minutes from this property, along the streets, and many other technology and aerospace companies have offices nearby. This house is on a dead end street within walking distance of a primary school, middle school and high school, all public and well sorted. Rancho San Antonio County Park, with more than 20 miles of hiking trails and a working farm with cows, chickens, and pigs, is a 10-minute drive away.
Size: 2,086 square feet
Price per square meter: $ 1,341
Inside: The house is set back from the street and overlooks a garden landscaped with drought tolerant plants.
The front door opens into a foyer, which leads into a living room with a white-painted brick fireplace and a wide window facing the street. Behind the living room there is an open dining area with access to a bright, spacious kitchen with windows to the backyard and plenty of space for a breakfast table.
From the kitchen a hallway leads to a bedroom suite with direct access to the garden and a full bathroom. A laundry room and a guest toilet as well as a garage entrance are also on this side of the house.
The other three bedrooms are upstairs. The master suite is at the end of the hallway and offers ample space for a king-size bed; The en-suite bathroom has a shower with a frosted glass door and a white vanity with black accents. Closer to the stairs are two guest bedrooms, both large enough for a queen bed; in between there is a bathroom with a combination of bathtub and shower.
Outside space: From the kitchen, sliding glass doors lead to a covered patio that is paved with brick accents. From there, paved paths lead through the back yard, with one stopping at a bench and lamp post at the far corner of the property. Mature trees, including one producing oranges, line the perimeter of the garden. The attached garage has space for two cars.
Steer: $ 34,980 (estimated)
Contact: Stefan Walker, KW Bay Area Estates, 408-209-6100; stefanwalker.com
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