Hot Property
Three-story townhome is a live/work space in Oakland’s West End Commons.
Cari Borja and her husband, Lloyd Bernberg, were the first couple to live in 31 Covent Lane. They arrived shortly after the trilevel condo’s completion in 2005. They raised two children in the live/work town house where Borja designs clothing collections as Bernberg serves as a technical director at Pixar.
“It’s a great place for a couple in their 20s,” Borja said.
The three-story townhome stands in the West End
Commons condo development bordering West Oakland and Emeryville. Its kitchen gleams with stainless steel appliances, and both its bedrooms occupy the upper level. Communal gardens pepper the gated development’s landscape.
The townhome opens to a large bonus room whose flexibility allowed it to serve as Borja’s design studio for years.
A garden patio waits beside a pedestrian gate in front of the unit. Here, a lemon tree lingers over the brick patio where Borja grew grapes, herbs and roses. More than a few weekend evening dinners were served on this front patio, and morning breakfasts, too.
“It’s a serene urban sanctuary,” said Corey Weinstein of Red Oak Realty, who is listing 31 Covent for $639,000.
The second level hosts the action. Its L-shaped great room bears hardwood flooring paired against a dark accent wall. An open kitchen revolves around the custombuilt wood island as sunlight streams through tall banks of picture windows. Full bathrooms sit on the top and lower levels, allowing the great room every square foot for entertainment.
Visit www.31coventlane.com for full details.