Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a stunning gated estate property of approximately 20.5 acres sited on a private knoll in the heart of prestigious Orinda.The captivating panoramic hill and valley views offer a serene environment that is captured in all the primary living areas of the home. While the land has been closely held for years, the current home was lovingly constructed in 1988 to blend seamlessly with the surrounding natural beauty. The extensive grounds have been planted with both a variety of California natives as well as exotic plants from throughout the world, all selected for their ability to thrive with minimum maintenance. The well-conceived floor plan caters to today’s active executive life style, with generous formal entertaining spaces as well as private family retreats. The generous 5538 square foot (per appraisal) home includes six bedrooms plus an office, four and a half bathrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen opening to inviting family room, as well as a two room apartment with full bathroom and private exterior entrance. A four-car garage and circular drive provide personal and guest parking. While the passage through the stone pillars and up the winding drive speaks of total escape, the property is situated only minutes from the amenities of downtown Orinda, top-rated Orinda schools, BART, and commute routes accessing the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The covered entry is reminiscent of an elegant plantation home, and the heavy custom front door leads to a large open marble foyer lit by a dramatic round skylight. One is immediately struck by the sense of volume in this home, as one grand space flows to another. Elevated above the entry is the spacious grand piano-size living room, with recessed lighting, fireplace with marble surround, sliding door to expansive deck, and breathtaking views of the valley. The formal dining room is conveniently accessed from both living room and kitchen, and shares the dramatic views. Truly an architectural and artistic masterpiece, the Fu Tung Cheng designer kitchen, completed in 2004, has been featured in national publications. Its minimalist Asian-inspired sensibility is accentuated by bamboo floors and recessed lighting, and a built-in seating area from which to enjoy the view. Appliances will delight the most seasoned professional: a sleek 6 burner Kuppersbusch cooktop, Miele grill, Kuppersbusch double ovens, Subzero Euro-style compartmented refrigerator and freezer with separately accessed drawers and doors, and Subzero wine refrigerator. Stainless steel sinks are extra-deep with incorporated drain racks and removable butcher block cutting board. The unusual designer center island incorporates a second sink and cutting board. The bright and sunny family room opens to the kitchen and has a corner fireplace with marble tile surround and hearth, recessed lighting, bamboo floor, sleek built-in media cabinetry, ideal wall for flat screen television, and sliding door to the large deck. The private master bedroom suite is conveniently located on the main floor and offers unobstructed views of the valley. There are two well-appointed closets, and a large elegant marble-tiled bathroom with double sinks, lighted vanity dresser, tiled shower, jetted tub, compartmented toilet and bidet, and door to the yard. Also on the main level are three additional inviting bedrooms, one with an ensuite tiled bathroom with combination tub/shower. The full bathroom shared by the remaining bedrooms is also tiled, with a combination tub/shower. The library (shelving and ladder excluded) could also be used as a seventh bedroom, as it has a walk-in closet. The guest powder room, marble-tiled, is conveniently located off the entry foyer. Upstairs, there are two more sunny and cheerful bedrooms. One has a sky-lit ante-room, which could be a very large walk-in closet or small study or play area. The other has access to a storage room with extensive built-in shelves. The two bedrooms share a tiled bathroom with a combination tub/shower. Downstairs, spacious guest/au pair quarters include a living room with area plumbed for studio kitchen, bedroom, tiled bathroom with shower, and private level-in entrance from front of house. The downstairs laundry facility includes a Whirlpool duet washer and dryer and extensive storage cabinets. There is a four-car garage with separate remote-controlled doors, two furnaces and air conditioning units with six heating/cooling zones. Security is provided through a 29 zone security system, with a gated driveway and intercom. Additional amenities include dual pane windows throughout, extensive attic and under-house storage, copper gutters in front of house, clear all-heart redwood exterior, floor safe, and wine closet. The vast property, currently designed for minimal maintenance, offers ample possibilities, including potential pool site, areas for children’s play, or vineyards. This estate home truly occupies a corner of paradise. It is an ideal environment for a growing family, a spectacular setting for executive entertaining, an idyllic sanctuary for retirement… a property to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation.
