House buy in Kensington California

862 Regal Road is a truly unique modern home resulting from two years of extensive and custom renovations and additions. 862 Regal Road was originally built in 1930 in the style of a Spanish Hacienda. It featured thick red tiles, arched doorways & windows, narrow winding staircases and later a swimming pool. While the quality of craftsmanship and materials were superb (the 2x4's used for framing were actually 2' x 4' - much thicker than today's lumber), the foundation had started to deteriorate, the rooms were small and subsequent additions had further compartmentalized the home. In 2013, it was purchased with the intent of converting it into a modern showcase home. Christopher Haas of Haas Architecture (recipient of the 2014 Emerging Architect of the Year award by California Home & Design and former project manager of SF's MH de Young Museum with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron) was hired to oversee architectural design. When the plans were approved, Berkeley said it was the largest residential renovation project they had approved in 2013. The house was lifted and a massive mat-slab foundation was formed and poured. The exterior stucco was removed, walls were opened and removed, hallways relocated, floors were leveled - all while salvaging more than half of the original framing. Tons of steel were installed allowing living areas to be open and corner window systems to be installed. 862 Regal was designed to entertain using environmentally friendly and energy saving products. The design maximizes the views which span from Mt. Tamalpais to the Golden Gate Bridge to the iconic San Francisco skyline. 862 Regal is located in Berkeley's North Cragmont neighborhood named after the various rock outcroppings that originally littered the area. Its neighbor to the west is Cragmont Elementary School which was built in the early 2000's. It was designed by ELS Architecture and Urban Design and was the recipient of numerous AIA awards. Not only is it aesthetically interesting, but the open fields and playgrounds help preserve the open views. 862 Regal is located 1.7 miles from the charming tree-lined dining on Euclid Avenue and the North Gate entrance to UC Berkeley. North Berkeley BART is 2 miles away and San Francisco is 14 miles away. The AC Transit transbay H line picks up at The Circle at the end of Marin Avenue. Updated On: January, 11 2022 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Features and improvements include: Throughout - Wide plank French White Oak flooring (same trees used to make red wine & whiskey barrels) from sustainably forested trees, live-sawn for cathedral graining, no urea formaldehydes, 4mm wear layer (can be refinished 3x) with cork underlayment made in Portugal - All Weather Architectral Aluminum double paned windows - commercial grade for better noise reduction with Solarban Low-E & clear glass panes. - Recessed LED lights on Lutron dimmer switches - Level 5 smooth sheetrock - Baseboard-free reglet sheetrock system so that sheetrock floats above flooring - Built-in storage, shelving and closet systems by Closets by Design - 7' tall solid core interior doors - Polished chrome KwikSet Halifax door levers Kitchen ­ -48' Thermador Professional Harmony Range & hood with in-line blower ­ -36' Thermador built-in refrigerator ­ -24' Thermador Sapphire Dishwasher ­ -24' Sharp 'Easy Open' Microwave Drawer ­ -Mueller Nichols custom built foil wrapped melamine cabinetry fabricated in Oakland ­ -CaesarStone London Grey countertops and backsplash fabricated by Sullivan Counter Tops in Oakland ­ -John Boos American black walnut island butcher block countertop ­ -30' Kraus 16 gauge stainless steel sink ­ -Hansgrohe Metro HighArc faucet Front Door & Entry Gate - 2 1/2' thick Western Red Cedar front door with mahogany jamb and transom window hand crafted by Berkeley Mills - 2 1/2' thick Western Red Cedar entry gate with Emtek EMTouch Brass Electronic Keypad Leverset (illuminated with 20 programmable codes) Living & Dining Great Room ­ -11.5' ceiling height ­ -Architectural staircase boxed with solid white oak with squared treads ­ -14.5' Royalite skylight over staircase with Layla wall sconces ­ -Custom stainless steel cable railing system fabricated in Oakland ­ -58' linear gas fireplace by Fireplace Xtrordinair ­ -Custom fabricated stainless steel fireplace surround ­ -All Weather Series 8000 Thermal Struct sliding glass doors ­ -Detached steel deck with sustainable Batu (tropical hardwood) decking, waterproofing, and stainless steel cable railing system ­ -Seamless floor-to-ceiling corner window supported by cantilevered steel beams ­ -Restoration Hardware Kinetic Chandelier ­ -Built in speaker boxes with Sonos wireless Play 3 speakers (smart phone controlled) Master Suite ­ -19' x 8' six panel NanaWall door system with seamless 10' x 8' four panel window system ­ -Balcony with sustainable Batu hardwood ­ -Modern 5-panel barn door and track made by New Haven Hardware ­ -Walk-in closet with built in storage and full length mirror installed by Closets by Design ­ -Floating foil wrapped melamine vanities built by Mueller Nicholls in Oakland ­ -CaesarStone Apline White countertops ­ -Nameeks Scarabeo ceramic washbasins made in Italy ­ -Svelte dwelLED vanity lights ­ -Produit Neptune freestanding bathtub made in Canada ­ -Artos Opera freestanding tub filler ­ -Tiled shower with Hansgrohe fixtures and 1/2' glass shower panel ­ -Hansgrohe Axor Citterio 7" Shower Head ­ -Hansgrohe Axor Starck Thermostatic Trim ­ -Restoration Hardware Modern Collection train rack ­ -LC Privacy Glass electronically activated corner windows made in New York ­ -Symmons faucets made in USA Bathrooms and Powder Rooms (non-Master) ­ -Floating foil wrapped melamine vanities built by Mueller Nicholls in Oakland ­ -WaterSense certified dual flush single piece elongated toilet ­ -DecoLav stainless steel sinks ­ -Hansgrohe faucets ­ -Nameeks Scarabeo floating ceramic sink made in Italy ­ -Fresca Nano Gray Oak Vanity with medicine cabinet ­ -1/2' glass shower panels ­ -Petracem Caramel porcelain tile made in Italy ­ -Emser Tex-Tile Wool porcelain tile made with 24% recycled materials ­ -Restoration Hardware Modern Collection towel bars and tissue holders ­ -White quartz counter tops Family Room - All Weather Series 8000 Thermal Struct sliding glass doors - Built in speaker boxes with Sonos wireless Play 3 speakers (smart phone controlled) - Patio with waterproof Western cedar ceiling Systems - Mat slab foundation engineered with 70+ truckloads of concrete - Energy efficient radiant heating system (four zones) with ThermalBoard underlayment system and Prestige 175 condensing boiler & Smart 80 gallon indirect storage tank - Nest 3rd generation thermostats (smart phone operable) - Nest smoke/carbon monoxide detectors (smart phone operable) - New 200 amp electrical service - New plumbing with PEX tubing and copper fittings - Recycled denim insulation - eco-friendly, higher efficiency, better acoustic ratings, better air quality New roof membranes and waterproofing Wine Cellar & Bourbon Room - Wine racks fabricated by Millesime in Canada - Solid white oak countertop and shelves Exterior - Smooth light gray stucco exterior underlined with mesh to help prevent cracking - Ledge outdoor LED lights by Modern Forms - Custom fabricated marine grade stainless steel downspouts & scuppers - Redwood 'view deck' with built-in seating wall and LED deck lights - Horizontal fence made with Batu deck boards enclosing front and rear yards - Two mature palm trees - Custom cast concrete planter boxes for gardening - Enclosed dog run behind view deck - Low voltage landscape lighting with two 600v American made stainless steel transformers with timers - Entry portico, breezeway and patio ceiling paneling made from Oregon cedar - Laser cut stainless steel address numbers fabricated in Dorset, England Electrical and Media Wiring - 200 amp electrical service - 100 amp electrical subpanel located at the laundry room - Media box located in laundry room with 2 telephone and 2 TV cable runs to exterior. - 3 telephone runs from media box - 6 TV cable runs from media box - 5 Cat5 runs (including alarm panels to be located by garage and front doors) Landscaping - Two mature -30' palm trees estimated to be 80+ years old - -200 newly planted drought resistant plants - Black basalt decomposed granite - New concrete retaining walls, planter boxes, pavers, curbs and stairs - New rear retaining wall behind view deck Two Car Garage - Horizontally faced cedar garage door made by Madden Doors with commercial grade track, springs and roller - 220v wiring ready for car charging station