Archive for January, 2010

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Home is Where the Heart Is

Posted in BUYERS on January 28, 2010 by Julie Nachtwey, the Claremont Hills Real Estate Expert

Home is Where the Heart Is

Diana Meckfessel has a new home.  And the home has undergone a facelift – again! 
The former kitchen designer purchased the property last fall.  She opened up the living room and integrated it into a spacious new kitchen and dining area.  An open floor plan lends itself to her love of cooking and entertaining. In the process, Diana incorporated the sun room and moved the fireplace.  Upstairs, she redid the bathroom, added laundry facilities and connected the master bedroom to a small bedroom, to be used as a dressing room.  The house now feels spacious, light and graceful by anyone’s standards.  In the spring she plans to enhance the already lovely gardens.  The general contractor Diana worked with  and recommends highly is Tom Ratcliff  ttratcliff@yahoo.com  who happens to be the grandson of the famous architect Walter Ratcliff.

This house in The Claremont neighborhood was designed by James Plachek in 1910.  At this point in time, it’s hard to tell exactly what  happened to the place.  Diana’s house was literally one with the house next door!  Both houses are sections of the large manor house that was subdivided in 1949.  The huge entry hall and front staircase were torn out and the walls closed up on both sides.  This created exterior space, separating the (now) two houses, where there once had been one. How creative!

Diana’s new home is adjacent to the historic stone pillars marking the main entrance to The Claremont neighborhood, at the intersection of Claremont and The Uplands.  These handsome stone structures were designed in 1905 by John Galen Howard and were landmarked in by the City of Berkeley in 1984.  Many of the architect-designed houses in the area have been featured in numerous books, articles and house tours, including the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Assn  http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/

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Where the Wild Things Are…

Posted in CLAREMONT HILLS on January 26, 2010 by Julie Nachtwey, the Claremont Hills Real Estate Expert

Wild things are alive and well in The Claremont Hills, above the historic Claremont Hotel.  For those of you who care about such creatures, visit www.nhwildlife.net .  It includes 1,225 pictures by 54 local photographers and a list of all the birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians reported in the North Oakland/Berkeley Hills last year.  A devoted birdwatcher, Kay Loughman, is the CEO of this informal neighborhood census.  She was thrilled when a neighbor just sent photos of a newt!

Kay’s interest in the birds and the bees began in her 20’s, when she worked at UC Berkeley.  One of her office mates put seed on the window sills for the birds.  Kay found herself looking for birds around campus and at home in her yard.  Through the years, she has found herself becoming friends with other “bird people.”  She is inspired by knowing that so many folks care about what’s going on nature.

Kay finds it fun to share.

New York, New York

Posted in ELMWOOD on January 26, 2010 by Julie Nachtwey, the Claremont Hills Real Estate Expert

 

DINNER ON THE TOWN WITH NORA EPHRON

The dynamic duo Marion Bundy and Ann Leyhe just dashed off for dinner in NYC this week with Nora Ephron.  Marion and Ann are the owners of Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts www.mrsdalloways.com in the historic Elmwood commercial district.  The two friends won a nationwide contest sponsored last summer by Random House. Their store window display was coordinated with the release nationwide of “Julie & Julia” directed by Nora Ephron, based on the book by Julie Powell: JULIE & JULIA: MY YEAR OF COOKING DANGEROUSLY. 

Their promotion also tied into a wine-tasting at the Elmwood wine shop www.vintageberkeley.com and the opening of the film itself at the Elmwood movie theater www.rialtocinemas.com  Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts features talks by authors and related events each month.  You can pick up a schedule by visiting the bookstore, 2904 College Avenue. Or visit their website www.mrsdalloways.com and click on “News & Events.” Or request automatic monthly online notifications by emailing events@mrsdalloways.com

Mrs. Dalloway’s is named after the novel with the same name by Virginia Woolf.  The first line of MRS. DALLOWAY reads: “Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”  Both Marion and Anne Leyhe have lived in the Elmwood neighborhood for more than 25 years.

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Bake Sale Bunnies

Posted in NEIGHBORHOOD with tags , , , on January 23, 2010 by Julie Nachtwey, the Claremont Hills Real Estate Expert

Bake Sale Bunnies

“Home baked goodies for your tummy!”  That’s the slogan for Bake Sale Bunnies, owned and operated by two ambitious 11-year-old girls in my neighborhood. Izzy lives across the street from me…by the way, in a home I sold her parents ten years ago.  Since Izzy was three, off-and-on she has come over and we bake something. “I like baking because it is your own master piece, but you can eat it!” she says.  No wonder kitchens are the most important room in the house for many people.  When homebuyers are looking at property, one of their priorities is usually a new or remodeled kitchen, or kitchen with potential. Recently Izzy came over with her friend, Sophia, and they made yummy cupcakes. Next we teamed up and made blueberry pies!  The girls have often cooked with their parents, who are good cooks.  Now the girls feel confident enough to start their own cake baking business.

Three birthdays are coming up in my family, so naturally I’ve ordered three yummy cakes and one batch of cupcakes from Bake Sale Bunnies.  If you too would like to place an order, contact Izzy at isabelwrubel@gmail.com

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Botanical Art and more…

Posted in EVENTS with tags , , , , on January 23, 2010 by Julie Nachtwey, the Claremont Hills Real Estate Expert

Botanical Art and more
At UC Botanical Garden

Today was another inspirational day to visit the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley.  At the entrance window, I renewed my family membership for $65.  So many interesting programs and events are offered, it’s impossible to fit them all in my Day-Timer. 

Next I browsed through the “Plant Clearance Sale.”   It was exciting to find several shade plants with promise of bright orange blooms. Many of the plants are suitable as house plants, which help make a house feel like a home. The majority of plants are best suited for life in the outdoors.  Investing in your garden and landscaping make the property look its best, adding value.

This morning was cloudy and rainy and sunny…ever-changing by the minute. The weather seemed to mirror the plants themselves, endlessly evolving through the seasons.  Because it was a little cold, my friend and I followed signs to the 1st Annual Botanical Art Exhibition.  We trekked along the paved path to the show.  Walking in, we were dazzled by the bright hues of blue, red, yellow, pink, green and shades in between.  The wild flowers were delicately illustrated in water color and framed, “for sale.” On our way out, we talked with one of the artists herself, Eliza Jewett of San Francisco.  Eliza said she has been drawing flowers as long as she can remember. The show includes works by approximately 20 members of Northern California Society of Botanical Artists.  It continues through Friday, January 16.  http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/root_images/programs/winter_10/plants_illustrated.html

By the way, the Sick Plant Clinic usually scheduled the first Saturday of every month did not take place this month.  It will resume on Saturday February 7 from 9 am to 12 pm. For an online listing of all the activities and events available each month, feel free to Visit http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu

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