Couple transforms Piedmont bungalow into inviting space
The Great Recession provided Taeku Lee and his wife, Shirley Lee, the best chance to remodel their traditional bungalow. Construction sputtered when the economy went sideways, and the couple made the most of the plethora of available builders, contractors and architects.
“Our thought was there is a constant scrum in Piedmont, and 2009 would be a good time to do it,” said Taeku Lee, a political science and law professor at UC Berkeley who had lived at 1102 Harvard Ave. with his wife since 2002.
Picturesque streets, impressive architecture and a Mayberryesque pace of life form Piedmont’s foundation. The placid city has a reputation for superlative schools and homes, as well as streets lined with mature trees and manicured landscapes.
The Lee’s three-bedroom continues that proud heritage through its remodeled kitchen, three updated bathrooms and a level, hardscaped backyard.
Sky blue stucco and an entryway angled from the walkway provide charming curb appeal to the two-story home. Picture windows frame views of Harvard Avenue, where joggers and residents walking dogs dot the landscape.
Concrete steps lead to a hardwood front door and the swing tethered to a tree completes the Americana aesthetic of the front yard.
Inside, the foyer has wainscoting and a dark-stained hardwood floor beneath a coffered ceiling. A wood-burning fireplace with tile surround flanked by built-in shelving warms the living room. A nearby dining room offers built-ins and large windows of its own, as well as an opening to the level backyard through French doors.
Slate squares and rectangles line the majority of the backyard, though the space includes planting areas and receives shade from established trees in and around the lot.
A remodeled kitchen with display cabinets, glass tile back- splashes, pendant lights and a skylight define the home. The center island hosts a seating area, built-in wine storage and one of the kitchen’s two sinks. Like the dining room, the kitchen also opens to the backyard.
Besides the center island, the kitchen also includes a sitting window for guests to relax by. A built-in dominating the far corner makes this space an eat-in kitchen, a banquette and office nook.
“My wife and I love cooking, and we loved making the kitchen the centerpiece of the home,” Lee said. “We wanted a true indoor and outdoor space that’s great for entertaining and grilling.”
Not content to simply remodel the kitchen and bathrooms, the couple also turned their attention to the top floor. Like many bungalows in Piedmont, theirs had a crow’s nest. By adding 330 square feet to the top floor, the pair transformed the formerly quaint bedroom into a luxury retreat. The bedroom area includes a sitting area beneath its exposed beam ceiling, and the bathroom has dual hardwood vanities, a built-in tub, glass shower and a skylight in its vaulted ceiling.
While most remodeling projects can be stressful, Lee said he and his wife made a great team and their architect guided them through the permitting process.
“My wife and I had pretty well-defined tastes as far as the remodeling went,” he said. “One advantage we have is we tend not to argue about these things.”
Listing agent: Karen Starr, Grubb Co., (510) 339-0400, starr@grubbco.com