1947 McAllister Avenue

At last a more modestly priced property - granted that it is only 1 bedroom / 1 bath! Okay, so there really isn't much to say about this little apartment, but I had to include it on the blog because there's an undeniable adorable-factor to it - and it's sub-million$ (a highly neglected category here in SF Victorian Times).

Here are the facts:
LOCATION: 1947 McAllister Ave (unit A) - right in the heart of the city, near USF, GG Park, UCSF, Alamo Square, and much more
PRICE: $499,000 - seems a bit high to me..
BORN: 1898
* Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, private deck and common courtyard, high ceilings, laundry room, lots of Victorian details (light fixtures, wainscoting, crown molding)





Listing Agent's Site

MLS Listing

1901 Jackson Street

I had every intention to feature a more affordable property today, but after stumbling across unit #1 (of 2) in le "Chateau Bleu," I just couldn't resist. Built at the turn of the century by the Rothschilds and re-done in 2001, le "Chateau Bleu" has obviously been built with the high-end clientele in mind, however, I personally think it lacks cohesiveness design-wise. It seems as if the owner had differing tastes depending on each-and-every room of the two-unit property. For instance: a few rooms have beautiful tin or box-beam ceilings and stunning chandeliers, and then adjacent rooms have contemporary inlaid lighting. And don't get me wrong, I am not the purist type that believes that you absolutely cannot mis-match different interior styles, my problem with 1901 Jackson is that it lacks a cohesive vision - it's as if the owner wanted all of these amenities and features, but didn't want to put too much effort into "making it work" interior design-wise. Mr./Ms. 1901 Jackson should take a lesson or two on interior design from the lovely PMB estate (previous property of the day).

Here are the facts:
LOCATION: Pacific Heights
PRICE: $3,790,000
BORN: 1900 (although completely re-born: 2001)
- $711 / sqft
- 5 beds / 4.5 baths
- 5,333 sqft
- Seems as if the listing agent couldn't place a finger on how exactly to categorize this property either. It is described on the listing agent's page as, "colonial, contemporary, custom" hmmm..
- Elevator, garage with 4 enclosed spaces, top of the line kitchen and electronics throughout, small garden area, turn of century decorative opulence (original?), and snooty touches such as a "Car Here" alert system.







Listing

Movoto

Palmtag Muzzio Bowen Mansion

Valentines day may have come and gone, but here at SF Victorian Times, we are going to preserve the Valentine's-vibe by featuring the lovely Palmtag Muzzio Bowen Mansion - a (very romantic) 19th century Italianate Victorian manse in Santa Cruz, CA. The estate in general is perfection: every room is decadent, rich, and colorful - yet entirely personable and unique. The property (literally) looks torn from the pages of Living Magazine. 

Okay, so now I am going to stop typing - I am just not a good enough writer to give this house half of the written appreciation it deserves - I'll just let the pictures do the rest of the talking...

(BUT before the good stuff) Here are the facts:

LOCATION: On a bluff above the ocean near Santa Cruz (with views all the way down to Monterey Bay)

PRICE: $3,450,000

BORN: 1873

- 4  acres of organic farmland and lawns

- 13 ft ceilings, carriage house, wainscoting, crown moldings, box beam ceilings, stunning light fixtures, radiant heating, 9' tall windows and views from EVERY room, antique fireplaces, 1915 Glenwood gas stove, gourment kitchen appliances

Built four years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869:

*Sidenote: Property was featured in This Old House (9/2002, 8/2003) and Architectural Digest (6/2007) Magazines

PMB Mansion Website

235 Broderick Street

Since Haight-Ashbury is one of my favorite places in the city to hunt for fabulous Victorians, you can understand my astonishment after realizing I have yet to feature a property from the infamous locale. Hopefully this wonderful Buena Vista Park (almost) McMansion makes up for my delinquency.

BUT before I introduce the lovely 235 Broderick, I must must MUST give a little history lesson on WHY I love the Victorian architecture in the Haight-Ashbury region so very much:
Un. It was one of the few areas spared by the fires following the 1906 earthquake - preserving many Victorians from destruction.
Deux. Many Haight-Ashbury Victorians were home to the bohemian subculture of the 1960's, 70's, (and today?)
Trois. Many Haight-Ashbury Victorians reflect the overall colorful and bohemian attitude of the area and of San Francisco in general. AND people seem less fearful to use COLOR in this neighborhood.

Okay, okay, back to the property. 235 Broderick is a 4-level, 4,000 sqft (!!!) estate. Exterior-wise, this house appears jam-packed with personality, but interior-wise, ehh, not so much. Now don't get me wrong, this house is beautiful and completely livable (cough child-proof cough), but it just wasn't what I expected after first seeing the exterior photo. The inside delivers a slathering of cream tones and classic Victorian touches: inlaid floors (I don't think there is a single sqft of carpet in this whole house), stained glass, wainscoting, crown modling, bay windows, built-ins, vintage fireplaces

Here are the facts:
- $2,129,000 , $532/sqft

- 6 beds / 3 baths
- Born: 1900
- 1 car garage
- Garden, patios, cute vintage stove in kitchen

Overall, very beautiful, especially the main floor (what most pictures seem to be of). Some of the bathrooms and (possibly) the kitchen look like they may need some "refreshing."

(note: some of the photos are a bit dull - I blame the mish-mash of "staging")











This property went on the market on 1/18/2008, I'll be curious to see when/for how much it sells for

Listing Agent's Site - limited Pictures

Movoto - More Pictures

MLS - More Pictures

62 Sussex Street

LOCATION: Glen Park
PRICE: $1,225,000
BORN: 1900

If I was a 1900 Victorian, I would pray that I could look this good at the grand old age of 108. Whoever remodeled this lovely little house (which sports kind of a formal bungalow feel) did a truly remarkable job preserving (and possibly adding onto) the Victorian accents. Let me just say that I am in love with the black wainscoting - the color adds such sophistication, and it's something I never would have thought of. That said, even though I have just professed my love for this property, I am having some problems with the amount of beige used inside and out. Now, I am aware that the color beige (or lack of color: beige) is commonly used to attract future buyers, it just seems wrong to spend all this time and money remodeling a Victorian without dabbling in some cool period-specific color schemes. I applaud them for the black wainscoting - that was a start, but I would just love to see this property with a different exterior color.

Here are the facts:
- $1,225,000
- 4 beds / 3.5 baths
- Antique fireplace, bay windows, built-ins galore, top end kitchen with island, wainscoting, 2 car garage, serene garden/patio, laundry room







Listing Agent's Site

MLS Post - Tons More Photos

1120 Elm Street

LOCATION: 1120 Elm Street
PRICE: $699,000
BORN: 1900

This adorable little semi-attached Victorian cottage is nestled just a couple blocks away from the prestigous Alamo Sqaure (home to possibly San Francisco's most famous row of Victorians (and my title's background)). This quaint cottage is quite the opposite of some of the McMansions I have featured in earlier posts, but that said, what this property lacks in size and decadence, it makes up for in potential. Although the listing agent stresses the fact that the zoning permits future buyers to "expand" or "develop" the site, I think it would be a crime to strip this lovely little property of its "carriage-house" feel.

Here are the facts:
- $699,000 / no sqft offered
- 2 beds / 1 bath
- (unfinished) Basement, 4 closets, located on a quiet cul-de-sac 2.5 blocks from Alamo Square




Listing Agent Site

Movoto

New Orleans Estate

LOCATIONS: 1041 Royal Street, New Orleans
PRICE: $2,950,000

In honor of Mardi Gras earlier this week, I thought I would dedicate a post of one of the (many) fabulous New Orleans houses currently on the market. This French Quarter stunner has all the proper New Orleans accoutrements: wrap around porch, shutters, tin ceilings, and tons of decadent (Victorian-esq) interior details (crown moldings anyone?).

Here are the facts:
- 4 beds / 2 baths
-4,782 sqft / $617/sqft
- Dramatic corner location with a 120 ft. 2nd story wrap-around porch
- Small courtyard with fountain, multiple chandeliers, wine room, custom library, custom chef's kitchen, marble fire places
- Location of the upcoming film, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt







Listing Agent's Site

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Brad Pitt's New Orleans-focused charity

2515 Scott Street

LOCATION: Pacific Heights
PRICE: $19,750,000
I’m hesitant about whether to refer to this Victorian (with a touch of Neoclassical) manse as a residence or a convention center – this place is massive! Necessary pre-requisites for prosepective buyers interested in cashing in on this remarkable property include: a properly stocked bank account (property will set you back almost $20,000,000) along with the desire to be able use phrases such as, “Oh he is in the gentleman’s parlor,” or, “No, I just saw him in the west wing.”

Despite its cavernous size, the property has a great feel inside - high-end, yet very livable. The Victorian touches are present in every room, yet not completely obvious (for some reason the place doesn’t “scream” Victorian to me). Inlaid hardwood, crown-moldings, quite possibly the most beautiful staircase I have ever seen, and even he/she-specific rooms such as the “gentleman’s club room” and the “lady’s dressing room.”
Here are the facts:
-$19,750,000 (doesn’t give sqft or price / sqft)
-8 beds / 11 baths (39 rooms total)
-Born 1899
-Redwood siding
-Formal gentlemen’s parlor and bar, marble powder rooms, commercial elevator, caterer’s kitchen (on top of chef’s kitchen), octagonal wine cellar, artist studio, 11 fireplaces, 6 car garage, rooftop deck, gorgeous tiling in bathrooms

There are TONS of pictures on the listing agents site (99!). I almost decided to quit going through them after about number 50, but I'm glad I stuck with it and got a chance to see everything thing this remarkable estate has to offer. the last picture is a very special vintage photo of the property (no date given unfortunately).












Listing Agent's Site