Details
Credits
From Deidre Joyner
In a time when life was a bit slower, and bigger wasn’t necessarily better, the Friedman family hired Herbert Johnson to design and Vanderbilt Family Builders to build 4247 Gregory Street. Kathleen Friedman has vivid memories of life growing up on Gregory; the dirt and gravel road had no sidewalks and was lined with tractors that reminded her and her brother of dinosaurs. On a good day, her homework was done so she tuned in for the Mickey Mouse Club on tv while mom made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. Dessert was apple pie made with apples from the backyard. The neighborhood was explored, kids had competing lemonade stands made with homegrown lemons and life was really good when the family hopped into their 1950 Chevy to head to Tucker’s for chocolate ice cream.
The Gregory Street home served the Friedman family well. The milestones that were shared within the walls from childhood adventures at Leona Creek and mom bandaging scraped knees, to Kathleen looking at her wedding-gowned reflection in the old mirror that once hung over the fireplace. This last decade, Kathleen felt great warmth seeing her grown son Derek and his family live in the property after her mother passed away: her grandson, Matthew, (4th generation) was able to play with neighborhood kids and attended Redwood Heights Elementary school a few blocks away.
Before Kathleen could bring this home on the market, she knew she had to honor her mom and dad by polishing this 1952 classic in preparation for the next owner. She and her son, Ryan, decided to have the wall between the kitchen and dining room opened up to create an open concept living space. The kitchen and bathroom were remodeled and the floors were refinished to show their true beauty. Every tile and light was curated to create a happy modern space that gives a nod to its original construction.
Welcome Home:
3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom - 1217 sq. ft interior, 5400 sq. ft. lot *
Refinished hardwood floors
New interior and exterior paint
New interior light fixtures and recessed light (with the exception of older recessed lights in the kitchen)
New front door lock and handle
New front door knocker from Rejuvenation
New exterior house numbers
New cedar front fence, new concrete block, and river rock paths with the addition of perennial plants in the front yard
Long tandem driveway for plenty of parking or hopscotch playing
Large detached garage with keyless garage opener for parking, an artist studio, storage or more
Fenced-in large backyard with magnolias, new raised garden bed filled with winter edibles and an old apple tree
Hidden reading and meditation area in the very back (shhh don't tell anyone)
Attic with drop-down ladder for storage
Original blueprints
Large, flat 5400 sq. ft. lot, per public record
1217 sq. ft. interior, per public record
Kitchen:
Open kitchen with breakfast bar
Quartz counters
All new appliances (2017): refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, range and exhaust hood
Recess lighting
New (2017) windows and French door to the backyard
Oversized tile floor
Built-in garbage and recycle cans
Oversized deep under-mount stainless sink
Marble herringbone tile backsplash
Updated some electrical and plumbing while remodeling
Bathroom:
New double sink wall mounted vanity (2017)
Oversized medicine cabinet with built-in lighting
New bathtub and Kohler toilet (2017)
New ceramic tile floor that is inspired by artisan cement tiles (2017)
New subway tile surrounding the bathtub from Import Tile in Berkeley (2017)
Humidity detecting exhaust fan
Updated some electrical and plumbing while remodeling
Living room
Vintage fireplace
New recessed lights (2017)
Original bay window with view of the hills
Dining room
New Luna Pendant light from Rejuvenation (2017)
* per public record