Hot Property
Belvedere home affords views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Cecilia Oei prefers living among the hills rather atop one. Landmarks, tree-studded foothills and the placid waters of Richardson Bay rest just beyond her five-bedroom Belvedere home.
“If you’re too high up, all you see are rooftops,” Oei said. “I like being close enough to see the details.”
Oei and her late husband purchased 135 Geldert Drive in the late 1970s and raised two children there. During their stay, the couple hosted weddings and gatherings at the two-story home, which has a reverse floor plan and deck offering grand views.
Security, privacy and vistas create an ideal environment to raise children, Oei said. The 4,000-square-foot driveway offers plenty of parking space and acts as a secure playground. Oei said.
“The kids could ride their bikes or play basketball and we didn’t have to worry about them being in the street,” she said.
Sited on an undulating half-acre lot, the home enjoys significant seclusion.
“When we bought it, the home was more expensive than neighboring ones because of the privacy it pro-
vides,” Oei said.
Views define Bay Area homes, and 135 Geldert Drive delivers.
“Some trees have matured, but the views are exactly the same as when we moved in,” Oei said. “At night the city lights twinkle like stars.”
A great room with midcentury design elements complemented by modern finishes highlights the residence.
“There’s great flow. The home is made for youthful entertaining,” she said.
Bricks surround the raised, wood-burning fireplace and stretch to the open-beam ceiling. An adjacent breakfast nook makes use of oversize vertical windows to frame natural vistas. The attractive and practical kitchen features an induction cooktop under a below view window.
The same flooring material used in the great room clads a view deck set beyond sliding glass doors. The material choice was intentional. Oei wanted to connect both spaces and stress indoor and outdoor living.
A glass railing spans the deck, while a fire pit coaxes guests to step outside and enjoy the dramatic outlooks.
The master suite provides a patio, walk-in closet and a spa bathroom. Marble adorns the lavish retreat which offers a rimless walk-in shower and freestanding soaking tub. The Art Deco towers of the Golden Gate Bridge easily come into focus from the bedroom.
Guest bedrooms dominate the ground level, and all open to a gently sloping lawn with brick planters and patio area.
The home is simply too large for Oei, who is moving to San Francisco to be closer to her son and daughter.
“We hope the next person who lives here truly enjoys it,” she said. “It was our sanctuary.”
Visit www.135Geldert.com for details.