A Historic Clinton Day-Designed Home Near San Francisco Is Up for Grabs at $6.5 Million
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Though he passed away over a century ago, West Coast architect Clinton Day was responsible for crafting several iconic San Francisco structures like the City of Paris department store, where Neiman Marcus now stands, as well as Gump’s department store, Union Trust Bank, and buildings for the UC Berkeley and Stanford University campuses. But he also designed a handful of private Bay Area residences during his career, including Oakland’s landmark Treadwell Mansion and this particularly striking gem that just popped up for sale in the Oakland-bordered town of Piedmont for the first time in 36 years, asking a dash under $6.5 million.
“This special home on Piedmont’s most desirable street was built in 1914 for Mrs. Mary S. Barker,” says Matt Heafey, who shares the listing with Teresa Baum, both of Compass. “After Mrs. Barker’s death, there have been several noted residents. In 1935, one of the original inventors of the ‘pull-down’ paper towel, the Johnston family, added the dining room with state-of-the-art steel construction. The Johnstons had a gold-leaf ceiling applied in the dining room, which another owner in the 1960s painted over. However, it was resurrected in the 1990s after a conversation with the current owner and the Johnstons’ son.”
More from Robb Report
Craig Ellwood's Smith House Is Up for Grabs in L.A. at $3.5 Million
This Modern $7.7 Million Palm Springs Home Is Bursting With Classic Glitz and Glamor
This $24.4 Million Penthouse Caps a Landmark Building in New York City
Completed shortly before Day passed away in 1916, the Mediterranean Revival-style dwelling was last sold in winter 1998 for $1.7 million to its present-day owners, Hornblower Cruises & Events founder and CEO Terry MacRae and his wife Mary. The stately digs have since been renovated and updated with modern amenities, but many of Day’s original details remain intact, including numerous built-ins, herringbone-patterned floors, decorative ceilings, leaded glass windows, and curving walls.
Resting on over one-third acres of land, the gray stucco and terracotta-roof house features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms in a little more than 7,200 square feet of multi-level living space. Out front, the symmetrical facade is highlighted by a lengthy Juliette balcony topped by shuttered windows, with a wide walkway passing through a manicured lawn before emptying out at a portico entryway.
From there, a circular double-height foyer flows to a teal-hued study crowned with a crystal chandelier and a fireside living area that opens via French doors to an expansive deck with steps leading down to the backyard. An elegant dining room connects to an updated kitchen outfitted with marble countertops, a wine refrigerator-equipped island, top-tier stainless appliances, and an accompanying breakfast nook, while the former dining room boasting the gold-leaf ceiling has been transformed into a family room.
A winding staircase heads upstairs, where five bedrooms include a spacious primary suite decked out with pane-glass windows, a fireplace, a dressing room, and a luxe bath displaying a vintage clawfoot soaking tub and a large glass-encased shower. The remaining bedrooms all have their own baths, with two spilling out to terraces, and the home’s lower level holds another family room, plus a crafting area, a gym, a workshop, a sauna, and a wine cellar.
Rounding it all out are the grassy grounds, which are laced with gardens and host a reflecting pool flanked by statues, along with several spots perfect for al fresco lounging and entertaining. There’s also a motorcourt resting alongside a detached two-car garage sporting an EV charger.
Click here for more photos of the Clinton Day house.
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
