San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
‘One-of-a-kind dream retreat’
Luxury estate on Happy Valley Road in Lafayette
Arural compound 25 miles east of San Francisco blends beauty and practicality. It’s been the site of multiple weddings and community fundraisers, while the home boasts architectural pedigree and a thoughtful layout.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind dream retreat combining luxury, quality and function,” said Dana Green of Compass, who is listing the estate on Happy Valley Road in Lafayette for $9.5 million. “This is a quintessential Happy Valley estate.”
The home at 3828 Happy Valley Road isn’t the only component of this listing. Green’s offering also includes the rear parcel, 3826 Happy Valley Road. This means the future buyer will own a 4.46-acre compound in Lafayette. The vacant rear parcel offers potential for building a second home or the opportunity to leave the bucolic land as is.
Though it encompasses more than 7,400 square feet of living space, 3828 Happy Valley Road doesn’t feel cold or cavernous. Large windows, wood finishes and an elegant flow grant the four-bedroom its warm, welcoming ambience. This is thanks to an extensive renovation and rebuild undertaken by Remick Associates in 1999.
“Its design is sophisticated yet beautifully understated,” Green said.
The home opens to a stonelined foyer accented by a chandelier that’s suspended from a soaring ceiling. This foyer stretches all the way to the back of the home, framing views of a manicured backyard designed by landscape artist Topher Delaney.
Resort-caliber grounds include a tennis court, a 42-foot rectangular swimming pool, a rose garden, hand-laid stone walls and multiple lawns. Daffodils and other vibrant plantings
sprout from the idyllic landscape.
It’s perhaps no surprise that multiple couples have exchanged vows at 3828 Happy Valley Road in Lafayette. After all, the expansive home offers ample room for preparation, and the pristine 1.64-acre lot features a manicured garden dotted by daffodils, shade trees and verdant lawns.
Anchored by a butcher block island with a built-in cooktop, the open kitchen delivers conveniences like dual ovens and ample counter space. Three sides of an adjoining butler’s pantry feature custom cabinetry with leaded glass windows.
Further built-ins reside in the office, taking the shape of custom desks and floor-to-ceiling shelving. Wood-paneled ceilings shelter the family room and kitchen, while the living room is topped by a vaulted ceiling with a skylight. The home also includes a fitness center with floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
Begin and end each day in a rewarding owner’s suite that includes a sitting area and an oval-shaped tray ceiling with ambient lighting. A sitting room with a fireplace rests beside the owner’s suite, and the suite includes a spa bathroom with a soaking tub set beneath a stained glass window.
Learn more at www.rare happyvalleyestate.com.
Listing agent: Dana Green, Compass, 925-339-1918, dana@danagreenteam.com.