East Coast traditional charms in Orinda


Beautiful picture of home at 11 Honey Hill

With its pillared porch, Connecticut Bluestone, picturesque dormers and blue shingled exterior, this charming single-story home would fit right into a Long Island/Cape Cod setting. “Traditional but young in spirit”, is how Ann Sharf, real estate agent with Village Associates, Orinda, succinctly describes it. This approx. 4,797 square-foot main home and guest house sits on approx. 1.68 acres on Honey Hill Road in the prestigious Orinda Country Club area.

The cheerful red front door welcomes you into varied interior spaces that unfold in many surprising ways. Pride of place must go to the stunning kitchen that uses bold architectural elements to make a dramatic statement. Featured in several publications, it has a column-free, clear-story cupola with ‘I-Beam’ compression ring roof structure. The cupola ceiling is lined with antique fir bead-board and flanked by old growth antique fir, recycled and hand hewn and adzed timber beams.

Adding another focal point of interest are the colorful Walker Zanger Avignon collection tiles that surround the 60-inch Viking gas cook top with six burners and a 22-inch griddle. A custom Vent-A-Hood ventilation system and handy in-wall Franke pot filler faucet complete the professional set-up here. There is also an impressive line-up of big brand kitchen appliances including Thermador double ovens, two Dacor 24-inch warming drawers, a GE Advantum flash bake combination halogen microwave oven and GE Monogram trash compacter. Built-in Sub Zero refrigerator and freezer with integrated panels and double refrigerator and freezer drawers and three Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawers ensure that even large-scale entertaining is a breeze!

This marvelously designed room also features a kitchen island bar with a 2-inch solid slab walnut counter. Granite slabs top the other counters, providing ample prep space. A separate eating area overlooks the garden.

The kitchen area flows into the family room. The latter is centered around a custom masonry and soapstone Rumford designed fireplace by Walter Moberg. (Moberg is an award-winning leader in fireplace architecture and has designed fireplaces for the Ritz-Carlton and Grand California Hotels.) This massive floor-to-ceiling fireplace is made of river rock with an inset solid antique beam mantel made from old growth antique fir.

Adjacent to the family room is a media room which features built-in surround sound speakers, a wool carpet and is pre-wired for an in-ceiling projection unit.

High octogonal ceiling of home at 11 Honey Hill

The formal living areas of the home have also been exquisitely designed with attention to minute detail and expert craftsmanship. Thick Hickory hardwood floors and colors of gold, sage and crimson- referred to as the Napa Valley palette-grace the interiors. The formal living room has coffered ceilings, cove lighting and a handsome masonry soapstone fireplace with a custom Napa Valley pre-cast mantle and hearth. Windows frame the Connecticut Bluestone patio with a wisteria-covered trellis and boxwoods.

The dining room’s coffered, crowned ceiling, zone lighting and custom-covered tapestry walls give it an elegant ambience. Two custom wine racks hold 50 bottles and two Sub Zero wine refrigerators accommodate 96 additional bottles. Glass shelved cabinetry provide display for stemware and decanters. A Casa Esmeralda green granite pass-through counter top and antique chandelier add more color and interest to this room.

A separate guest bedroom is privately located on the east side of the residence and features double door closets. Next door, the full bath has a two-zone shower complete with a European Perrin Rowe rain shower head and custom tiled shower and wainscoting, limestone tile flooring and slab limestone counters with satin nickel faucets.

The main bedroom wing has its own quiet ambience as well. The two secondary bedrooms have interesting architectural details on the ceilings and organized custom closets. While the full bath has colorful tile counters from the Walker Zanger Avignon Collection, double sinks, built-in linen closet and hamper, a Jason Jacuzzi jetted signature edition tub, dual shower heads, a Toto toilet and exterior door. The powder room is creatively designed with custom limestone floors and wainscoting with Brass Foundry art by Ann Sacks, inlay brass tiles and brass braided trim mounted into the wainscoting.

The Master suite is a haven unto itself with a sunny ambience and luxurious features. The master bedroom has coffered ceilings with built-in reading lights and a double-sided gas fireplace with slab limestone mantle and Casa Esmeralda granite hearth with glass doors on both sides. Relax with a good book in the adjacent seating area. Or step onto the Connecticut Bluestone patio to enjoy the fresh outdoors.

The master bath is built for the ultimate in relaxation with its electrically heated ‘Nuheat’ limestone floors and Jason Jacuzzi Signature Edition jetted tub. The over-sized dual zone shower/steam room with four heads, hand spray and rain shower and two additional shower heads give it a spa-like ambience. Along with the tumbled marble mosaic floor and tumbled marble walls which have two built-in pods for aromatic oils. Kallista sinks and toilets, a built-in vanity area and large walk-in closet with cedar-lined cabinets are noteworthy features.

Enjoy views of the sweeping lawn areas and mature Valley oaks and redwood trees from the large wrap-around covered back porch with ironwood decking. The approx. 1.68 acres of landscaped property include a rose garden, raised vegetable beds and several varieties of fruit trees. Meandering pathways and architectural trellises add to the beauty of the surroundings.

A large approx. 982 square-foot guesthouse is built adjacent to the 3-car garage. It has its own private front door entry that architecturally complements the main house. The entry way leads to a large living room with a masonry fireplace. Pocket doors close off the master bedroom for privacy. The full bath has a tiled shower. While the compact kitchen has new stainless steel appliances and granite counters. 

Philippa Coelho
Vital Features
What: A traditional, east coast-style home with unique architectural details on the inside. 
1.68 acres of beautifully landscaped, nearly level property. 
The main home covers approx. 3815 square feet and the guest house another approx. 982 square feet.  
Where: 11 Honey Hill Road, located in the prestigious Orinda Country Club area.
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Three and one half
Features: One-of-a-kind kitchen with column-free, clear story cupola and colorful tiled fireplace. 
Featured in several publications.  Custom Masonry fireplaces in family and living rooms. 
Detailed craftsmanship with coffered ceilings, cove lighting, and a wine country color palette throughout the home. 
Creatively designed powder room. 3-car garage. Laundry room. Separate guest house.
Price: $ 3,800,000
Agent: Ann Sharf, Village Associates Real Estate, Orinda. Tel: 925-253-2525, 925-200-0222


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