Private Wooded Retreat in a Conveniently Located Silicon Valley Oasis

Description

You’ll feel secluded in the woods but have convenient access to Stanford University and all of Silicon Valley. Only 10 min to I-280 or to the shopping and restaurants of downtown Redwood City, San Carlos, or Woodside; 15 min to Stanford or to Sand Hill Road; 20 min to downtown Palo Alto or to downtown San Mateo; 25 min to the San Francisco Airport or to Cupertino, Mountain View, or Foster City. The rustic setting in beautiful Emerald Hills overlooks Lower Emerald Lake with views across the San Francisco Bay to Mount Diablo. Lower Emerald Lake and its country club are a short walk directly downhill from the back of the property. A walkable scenic canyon extends from there to Garrett Park. Edgewood Park is nearby with extensive hiking trails. Handley Rock, the Easter Cross, and Easter Bowl Park are also within walking distance. "Downtown" Emerald Hills, with restaurants, a coffee shop, a supermarket and other services, is less than a mile away. Redwood City center is 3 miles. The property is full of oak, redwood, and cedar trees (45 total!) and is frequently visited by deer. The house is set back from the road on a hillside, accessible by walking down a flight of stairs. This, the wooded nature of the area, and the 1/2 acre lot size (twice the standard for the area) make it extra quiet. The stairs run down the hillside from the carport and provide access first to an upper deck and continue to descend to the house. On the upper deck, take in views of the bay and entertain with a contained wood-burning fireplace/BBQ and benches for you and your guests. The house, dating from the 1920s, is full of character and originally served as a summer home for residents of San Francisco. Although you can now make the trip to the city much more efficiently, it still has a vacation lodge feel. With its wooded hillside location and many windows, the house is naturally cool in the summer. The open layout of the main level, with its hardwood floors and mahogany furniture, pulls together the living room, kitchen, and dining room. The historic A-frame living room is centered around a decorative (non-functional) fireplace and mantle. The fully functional kitchen (sporting a reverse osmosis purified water tap) has plenty of cabinet space. The dining area sports a bay window, a bar, and sliding glass doors that open to a balcony deck with wine-barrel furniture (two Adirondack chairs with ottomans, a bench, and a snack table). Relax in this idyllic setting under the protective canopy of a huge Deodar cedar tree to the tune of chirping crickets, or plug in your laptop and use the setting to promote your creativity. Either way, take in the soothing sound of the fountain at Lower Emerald Lake, only a hundred yards or so away, or of music concerts held there on occasional weekends (which you can also arrange to attend in person). The main level also includes the newly carpeted master bedroom suite, with two closets, access to the balcony deck, and a master bath that includes a steam shower. The front of the house has a combined powder room and laundry room. New wood stairs lead to the lower level, which is newly painted and carpeted. The lower level is also directly accessible from the hillside via a spacious storage room/pantry with a closet, abundant shelving, and a new metallic porcelain tile floor. Located at alternate corners of this level are an office, with an extended desk that has lots of drawers and file cabinets, and an additional bedroom with a queen-size bed and a hardwood desk and chair, both with big windows and closet space. Between them is a bathroom with two sinks and a tub. Central to the lower level is a cozy den with a sofa and a home theater including an HDMI-connected projector, a large electric-powered screen, DVD player, and surround sound.