ONE-OF-A-KIND KNOLL-TOP ESTATE
DEC
Details on Page 3 PREMIER
N A PA VA L L E Y R E A L E S TAT E
P R OP E R T I E S December 2018 – 1
Cover Property
Wine Country living at its finest 3100 Old Sonoma Road | Napa, California Offered at $12,500,000 3100OldSonomaRd.com
6 bedrooms | 5 full / 3 half bathrooms 5,562 ± sqare feet | 34.85 ± acres One-of-a-kind knoll top estate with panoramic views. 34± acre gated sanctuary located closein but a world apart. Modern, sophisticated 5,500+ square foot residence with more than 4,000 square feet of outdoor terraces designed with entertaining in mind. Pool, infinity-edge spa, outdoor kitchen, loggia room and more. Hobby wine building, 3,000± Carneros appellation vines, plus the Ramspur private label and equipment.
Cyndi Gates
6550 W Washington ashington Str Street eet | YYountville, ountville, CCAA 94 94599 599 707.944.0888 | gatesestatessir.com Each office is independently owned and operated
Broker Owner 707.333.7770 cyndi@gatesestatessir.com CalDRE#00711618
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RAND NAPA VALLEY ESTATE
This palatial Mediterranean estate is sited on approx. 10 acres w/panoramic views overlooking Napa Valley. Grand scale rooms, 7 fireplaces, library, office, gym, wine cellar & splendid chefs kitchen. Resort-like grounds for an outdoor soiree, the grounds inspire the kind of serenity found in the world’s most secluded villas with immaculate lawns, gardens, orchards, 80’pool, stone terraced gardens, orchards, outdoor kitchen & guest casita. www.2900SpringMountain.com
$18,000,000
WELL DESERVED ACCOLADES for Juslyn Vineyards Wines: 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain - 97 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, October 29,2018 2015 Perry’s Blend - 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, October 29, 2018 Napa Valley Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting - Juslyn Vineyards cabernet sauvignon was rated as one of the First Place wines. The offering shall include 32+/- acres, approx. 6 acres of ultra premium Spring Mountain vineyard (double spaced), estate building site, Juslyn wine brands and wine inventory. A lot line adjustment in progress. A rare opportunity to acquire the established, highly rated and award winning Juslyn Vineyards in Napa Valley. The owner has developed a reputation for ultra-premium quality wines and built a brand receiving 30+ scores by Robert Parker, Wine Advocate in the 91-97 point wines over 16 years. A chance to jump into the Napa Valley wine industry at the top tier and produce world-class cult wines. Spring Mountain AVA’s unique soil and microclimate enables the production of wines with intense fruit varietal characteristics and complex mountain tannins that differentiate them from the wines of other appellations in the premium wine-producing world. Passing the torch! A legacy to be continued........ www.JuslynWine.com $18,900,000
Yvonne Rich BRE01045780
(707)968-9888 yvonne@fabulousnapavalley.com
fabulousnapavalley.com
YVONNE RICH
Exclusive Estates
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TRIKING CONTEMPORARY VILLA
This striking contemporary villa is one of the most unique & elegant estates in Napa Valley. Experience unsurpassed breathtaking views from its magnificent mountain perch. Approx. 14 acres of solitude & grandeur with top-of-the world look & feel that offers an oasis of serenity. The villa is a sanctuary for anyone with a truly sophisticated & elite sense of style. Spring Mtn. AVA, approx. 8 acres under 30% slope for premium vineyard potential. $6,990,000 www.3630SpringMountain.com
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AGNIFICENT CUSTOM ESTATE
This unique European style estate was built w/ timeless architectural design, exceptional craftsmanship details & luxurious custom features throughout. Sited on 1+ acres, superb detalis at every turn - 25’ ceilings, marble/walnut floors, 4 fireplaces, library, master suite w/sumptuous master bath, chef’s kitchen w/Wolf, Sub-Zero appliances & oversized 5 car garage. Serene backyard oasis surrounded by creek, fruit trees & flower/vegetable gardens. www.19Huntington.com $ 2,795,000
Yvonne Rich BRE01045780
(707)968-9888 yvonne@fabulousnapavalley.com
fabulousnapavalley.com
YVONNE RICH
Exclusive Estates
THE SHED IN ST. HELENA
Opportunity knocks! Prime commercial property in the heart of downtown St. Helena. The central business district (CB) designation provides for retail, personal service uses, offices, etc.…. Please visit cityofsthelena.org to review the zoning ordinance for the intended use. The existing single-story shed is approx. 2,500+ sq. ft. sited on approx. 5,000 sq. ft parcel and 6+/- parking spaces behind the building. Please contact Yvonne Rich for details.
www.1229Adams.com
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ECLUDED MODERN FARMHOUSE
$1,200,000
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APA VALLEY EPICUREAN ESTATE
Secluded modern farmhouse at the end of a country lane w/an exceptionally dramatic setting, this renovated home features clean simple lines, sophisticated amenities & natural light filled rooms throughout. Sited on nearly 2 acres, beautiful wood floors, modern country kitchen, bonus/media room, office/den, completely updated bathrooms & spacious wrap-around deck w/panoramic views harmonizes indoor & outdoor living. A wonderful place to call home.
Epicurean dream estate on nearly 4 acres w/magnificent views, serenity & privacy -yet only minutes to downtown St. Helena. This home is completely remodeled w/modern amenities - banks of glass walls & doors provide transparent division between indoor & outdoor spaces, high vaulted wood beam ceilings, audio system throughout, a splendid chef’s professional kitchen & a wine cellar. This secluded estate is the entertainer’s dream destination.
www.540Edgemont.com
www.1325Crestmont.com
$1,895,000
$1,695,000
Yvonne Rich BRE01045780
(707)968-9888 yvonne@fabulousnapavalley.com
fabulousnapavalley.com
YVONNE RICH
Exclusive Estates
JUST LISTED!
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OPHISTICATED CALISTOGA HOME
Stylish & sophisticated Calistoga home w/open and easy-flowing floor plan w/dramatic lines & modern contemporary details. Grand foyer entry, open & voluminous living room with huge windows for serene golf course views, grand-scale dining room, artistically remodeled kitchen, intimate front courtyard, spacious backyard patio w/privacy hedge, raised herb/veg beds & custom “Chez Poulet� chicken coop allowing for a taste of farm-to-table living. $1,295,000 www.1552Centennial.com
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RENCH COUNTRY FARMHOUSE
Extremely charming French country escape nestled on 2 acres of a bucolic river setting surrounded by exquisite gardens, garden paths, boutique vineyard, and enjoys total privacy & unusual solitude. Graceful architectural curves & exceptional design elements abound in this remodeled and expanded residence. This European-inspired home offers the feel of true country living while being less than 5 minutes from downtown St. Helena and a short distance to Meadowood Resort. $1,595,000 www.1811Silverado.com
Yvonne Rich BRE01045780
(707)968-9888 yvonne@fabulousnapavalley.com
fabulousnapavalley.com
YVONNE RICH
Exclusive Estates
In this issue
18
32
Calistoga map
14
Chris d Craiker: How Millennials will join in housing’s future
16
St. Helena map
18
Concealed doorways are latest trend in design
21
Yountville map
24
Impress your guests with a curated, vintage-inspired dining room
26
Chris Salese: Considering a second line of credit
27
Napa map
32
Seven mistakes to avoid when renovating older houses
36
Top exterior trends to inspire your 2019 projects
37
High-tech appliance trends from the House Beautiful Whole Home Project Concept House
38
Gerrett Snedaker: Wine Country real estate trends
40
Four ways to recreate your entertaining space
41
Prepare your backyard now and create a safe haven for birds in bad weather
44
Four insurance misconceptions dispelled
45
Why you must insure the ‘little’ things in life
To advertise in Distinctive Properties or any Napa Valley Publishing outlet, contact Randy Dowis at RDowis@napanews.com.
istinctive Properties provides print and digital platforms for Napa Valley real estate and real estate related advertising. We feature property listings, open houses, articles and more in our magazine, newspaper sections, on our website, and on our social media pages. NapaValleyRegister.com/Homes Distinctive Properties – Napa Valley @DistinctPrperty
EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF SALES Norma Kostecka 707.256-2228 nkostecka@napanews.com
DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES 1615 Soscol Avenue, Napa, CA 94559
DECEmbER 2018
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Randy Dowis 707.256.2229 rdowis@napanews.com
DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES
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Distinctive Properties makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Distinctive Properties is a registered trademark of The Napa Valley Publishing Company.
8 — Distinctive Properties
Embrace the Spirit of the Holidays
P R E M I E R N A PA V A L L E Y R E A L E S T A T E
P R O P E R T I E S
December 2018 – 9
Searching for an Open House is easy • Go to NapaValleyRegister.com/homes • Click on Open Houses • The Open House listings are shown with a locator map • Plot your Open House search route in your desired neighborhood • Locator map is complete with point to point driving directions • Have fun and find your dream home! Download the Mobile App at Map.Info/NVOH
OPENE HOUS
CALISTOGA Old Faithful Geyser
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Calistoga Realty 707-942-9422 1473-C LinCoLn Avenue CAListogA, CA 94515
December 2018 – 11
EstatEs • VinEyards • Vacation HomEs Land rEsidEntiaL And commErciaL
C ALISTOGA -R EALTY.com
perini ranch
1
83+/- acre property in two parcels within Lake County’s Red Hills AVA. Approx. 50-100+ acres that have been identified as potential vineyard land, 7 acre certified organic walnut orchard and fenced pastures for livestock or horses. Two very comfortable homes, barn, 2 ponds and a well which tested at 110gpm and water rights to an artesian spring with add’l water/recreational rights to neighboring lake. Subdivision potential. Ideal family compound. Great corporate retreat. $
2,395,000
1473 C LinCoLn Avenue CAListogA, CA 94515 BRe #00930058
Vineyard With a VieW 707-942-9422
L
evel 12.25 acre parcel with 5.5 acres of Petite Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc planted in 2009 and 1.5 acres Petite Syrah planted in 2011. Well, 5000 gallon storage tank, plus City of Calistoga water for future residence or winery. Close to downtown. $
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1,900,000
ith this spacious 1 bedroom home just above the Silverado Trail. Private drive surrounded by larger estate type homes, this 1494 sq. ft. home has a large living room, updated kitchen, 2 car garage on 1/3 of an acre with views towards the western hills. Add on, or start fresh. Just minutes to downtown St. Helena. $
Sharon Carone, Broker
885,000
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reat one acre country parcel on Scott Way. Comfortable 2 bedroom home, plus a den, remodeled kitchen with granite counter tops and tile backsplash, 2 car attached garage plus an additional garage/workshop perfect for the car collector. This parcel is all level with plenty of fruit and walnut trees, an outdoor kitchen for entertaining and plenty of room for a pool or plant some vines $
Darlene Brissard, Realtor Brian Durnian, Broker Ziggy Gutierrez, Realtor
12 — Distinctive Properties
OppOrtunity KnOcKs
985,000
scOtt Way
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great loCation
nd inviting covered deck pavilion encourage outdoor living almost all year long. Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on one of Calistoga’s most desirable streets, just blocks from downtown. Formal living room and dining room, comfortable family room w/ fireplace, updated kitchen, wine cellar and lovingly landscaped front and rear yards w/ Grapes and fruit trees. Perfect for outdoor entertaining.
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ith the surrounding palms and shaded front porch, you will quickly find yourself taking in this Valley’s natural beauty and all the wonderful amenities this home has to offer. Hardwood floors throughout the kitchen and dining room sets you up with a great open layout on 1,440 sq. ft. Close to downtown and world renowned resorts and restaurants.
129,000
$
939,000
$
the ultimate Carneros estate Building site
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eautiful 7.66 acre parcel located in the Carneros District. Oak Trees adorn the front of the property and most of the acreage is flat and usable. Ideal Estate building site with plenty of room for vineyards or horses. Small pond on property. Property backs up to the Carneros Inn.
J
Beautiful Craftsman style home
ust blocks from downtown Healdsburg, this captivating open layout is perfect for entertaining. Go green on your utility bill with Solar included, allowing great use of the Smart home thermostat system. With new paint and carpet throughout, granite countertops, and picturesque view of the outside landscape, this home is in pristine condition and ready for all buyers.
975,000
$
1,795,000
$
A
Corner lot
nd a bonus room in this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Family room, fireplace, newer metal roof, most windows replaced, newer heating and air, just needs some updating inside. Raised beds, fruit trees, and landscaping all watered from well and 1200 gallon storage tank. Mountain views. $
685,000
Chateau Calistoga
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Build your dream home
reat 2+ acre building site on the western side of Calistoga with some partial views of Mt. St. Helena and the Palisades. Located off of Foothill Blvd via a private driveway. Paved road is in, shared water for landscaping is in. Need to develop septic and hook to City Water. Seller has soil/engineering reports as well.
495,000
$
How Millennials will Join in
HOUSING’S FUTURE CHRIS D CRAIKER AIA How will the construction and real estate embrace to the largest population segment in the US today as future home owners? Are Millennials doomed to rent or live in their parent’s basement forever? Millennials are both an enigma and a challenge as to how they will be housed in America’s future. While they are all young adults, between the ages of 23-38, their buying habits and priors differ from previous Baby Boomers and Gen-X. Surprising their per capita income is higher than the average Baby Boomer and the more experienced Gen-X. And yet, home ownership appears to be their last priority. However, Millennials are recognizing their alternatives to renting are not that good. According to recent vacancy surveys, the home ownership rate which has been falling from a high 51% nationwide to as low as 40% has bottomed out and will start to climb again. Most Millennial households will be first time home buyers, probable not in their 20’s but mostly in their 30’s and 40’s. We will also see the sky-rocketing for-sale housing prices plateau-out as the real estate become a Buyer’s Market *. Millennials may have an asset at their disposal that BB’s and Gen-X did not have: Collective bargaining and the ability to gather multiple sources of assets as well as income to purchase homes. As Boomers downsize, they will be reinvesting in their children and grandchildren to purchase their first homes. There is sufficient proof that the future of home building and the real estate industries are not dead. Here are a few reasons to count our blessings: • Millennials represent the largest work force group in 14 — Distinctive Properties
Photo 113538651 © Designer491—Dreamstime.com
America, commanding higher incomes and greater wage growth potential than BB’s and Gen-X’s. Millennials surveyed the Recession where jobs were hard to find, now they have an abundance of opportunities. Thus, their wages will continue to grow greater than other population segments. • While home prices have seemingly gone through the roof, monthly payments have not been as damaging, especially with the historically low interest rates. At the same time millennials are used to dedicating more of their income to rent and making a transition to monthly mortgage payments may be God-sent. • Rents and accessibility to livable communities has become more restricted for Millennial’s than homeowners. While most M’s are used to renting, their options are becoming less exciting as the rents climb. • Millennials are less possession-oriented and are more
activity- attracted. They are less likely to spend money on extra cars, boats, or second homes. Researchers show that millennials today are more interested in gift cards for an experience such as bungee jumping or skydiving rather than clothes or a toaster oven. Yes, clothing is important, but as Architects, we know their storage requirements and closets will be a lot smaller than Boomers. • Household and Family Formations are regaining momentum. After years of declining birth rates among Millennials, birth rates are rising modestly, and this is resulting in increased household formation. • The misunderstood picture of millennials as saving nothing and spending like there is no tomorrow is proving to be false. Saving among millennials is increasing, but their objects may not be as clear. The burden of college loans has taken its toll and as more Millennials’ pay off
their loans, they are ready to save their money for a long-term home investment. • Both Lending institutions, builders, and underwriters are understanding that a new model of homeownership is emerging. Multi-generational homes and shared condominiums, live/work environments are increasingly entering the marketplace and they are welcomed in the industries. As long as the numbers, qualifications and desire are there, the lenders and realtors will follow. Today Millennials see the home as a potentials adventure and experience. It is more than a picket fence around a Cape Cod cottage. Millennials don’t have Ozzie and Harriet as role models. Instead the plethora of connectivity from social media and non-traditional information providers deliver the ability to connect without the casual neighborly meetings at the local mailbox. A new population of buyers with different tastes, requirements, priorities and language will be making the 2020’s a new age of home buyers. The question is: Will home builders and realtors be ready? *Realtors don’t like to admit that the current Seller’s market is going to turn into a Buyer’s Market as prices drop and the onslaught of Boomers downsize or retire to Cabo, Mexico. It’s coming. Watch out. By Chris d Craiker AIA/ NCARB who is taking off for Cabo, but shall return. Chris d Craiker AIA is an architect in Napa with the firm Craiker Associates, Architects and Planners Inc., and a chef with backaches who hates cleaning gutters.
(707) 942-6225
Marilyn McCoul, Broker vino4x4@aol.com
Affordable Living in the Napa Valley!
This newer Silvercrest manufactured home is located in Chateau Calistoga, a premiere 55+ community. It is a spacious, 1,620 sq. ft. +/-, 3BD/2BA home offering a larger, gourmet kitchen with a center island and lots of cabinetry, even a built-in desk! There are custom features throughout this wonderful home including: a great room with a warming fireplace; vaulted ceilings with crown molding; a master bedroom with a jacuzzi tub; an extra wide carport with a Tuff shed; and louvered privacy panels. Chateau Calistoga offers a lovely clubhouse, an all year heated pool and an indoor spa. You will love to call this wonderful property your new home. A must see!
Offered at $249,500
Wine Country Specialists for Over 50 Years 1705 Washington Street, Suite J, Calistoga, CA • CalBRE #00232437 • Fax: 707-942-6332
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16 — Distinctive Properties
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ST. HELENA REAL ESTATE NAPA VALLEY & SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
ABOVE MEADOWOOD RESORT
MT. VEEDER VINEYARD ESTATE
This 1 acre estate features a single level 3-bedroom main residence, outdoor kitchen, vineyard, guest house and 3-car garage with studio.
Established hillside vineyard estate on 45.5± acres. Premium 18.7 acre Bordeaux Vineyard, Farmhouse, Guest & Caretaker’s House.
ST. HELENA I $10,700,000 I 860MEADOWOOD.COM
NAPA I $8,400,000 I NAPALAND.ESTATE
GAIL MORGAN LANE 707.291.0156 I Gail@winestates.com
JACQUELINE WESSEL 707.738.7338 I Jacquelinenapavalley@gmail.com
PRIVATE GATED ESTATE Contemporary living on 6± acres near Meadowood Resort. Features 5 bedroom suites with true Napa Valley indoor / outdoor living.
SPECTACULAR VINEYARD ESTATE
ST. HELENA I $7,125,000 I NAPAVALLEYHOME.PROPERTIES
CALISTOGA I $4,950,000 I 3950SILVERADO.COM
JACQUELINE WESSEL 707.738.7338 I Jacquelinenapavalley@gmail.com
GAIL MORGAN LANE 707.291.0156 I Gail@winestates.com
TANQUIL ST. HELENA ESTATE
ST. HELENA COMPOUND
Private Napa Valley estate situate on 6.02 acres, just minutes to town and around the corner from Meadowood Resort.
This 1 acre estate features a single level 3-bedroom main residence, outdoor kitchen, vineyard, guest house and 3-car garage with studio.
ST. HELENA I $5,895,000 I
ST. HELENA I $6,525,000 I NAPAVALLEYHOME.ORG
SARAHSWAYESTATE.COM
JACQUELINE WESSEL 707.738.7338 I Jacquelinenapavalley@gmail.com
BARRY BERKOWITZ 707.529.7406 I Barry@winestates.com
RESIDENTIAL
LUXURY ESTATES
Totaling 9.46 acres, this spectacular estate features a 5,653± SF main residence, guest co�age, charming apartment and vineyard.
LAND
VINEYARDS
STHELENAREALESTATE.COM
WINERIES
COMMERCIAL LIC# 2018 01026604 December – 17
SECRET PASSAGES W
Nicole Buell demonstrates how to open the cleverly concealed panels in the door. Washington Post photo by Bill O’Leary
18 — Distinctive Properties
ROY F U RC H G OT T T he Was hi ng to n Po s t
ashington and secrets go together hand in glove. Or maybe it’s more like cloak and dagger. It should be no surprise then that the D.C. area is one of the hot spots energizing the nation’s growing demand for secret doors—panels, bookcases, mirrors or artwork—that swing open to reveal a passage to another room. The obvious purpose of a hidden door is for security—to conceal a safe room or valuables. But as pre-built, ready-to-install doors become more widely available, people are adding them for aesthetics, for fun or maybe because they watched too much “Scooby-Doo.” For D.C. resident Nicole Buell, a bookcase that concealed a doorway solved a design problem. In her 540-square-foot condo, the doors to the only bathroom were in her bedroom and the living area. The living area door left too little room for pictures or bookcases. “It just wasn’t a good use of space,” Buell said. Walling over the door was an option, “but,” she said, “I didn’t want guests to have to go through the bedroom to get to the bathroom.” The solution began with door hinges bought from Secret Doorways, a company in Sunbury, Ohio, owned by a cousin. With the help of her father, she constructed shelves and mounted them on the ball bearing hinges to create a bookcase that swings open to reveal the loo. “It’s fun to surprise my guests when they visit,” she said. Now secret doors are going mainstream. “It has become more of a trend than we expected,” said Jeff Watchko, the interior door buyer for Home Depot. Three years ago, Home Depot began to offer, online, pre-hung bookcase-doors from Murphy Door in Ogden, Utah. “The overall draw to the site was more than we expected,” Watchko said. “It’s very popular on the East Coast and anywhere there is a large metropolitan area.” The Murphy doors can come pre-hung—already mounted in a frame—in standard door sizes, so it’s a simple matter to install one in a doorway. Watchko said the popularity of the secret doors— which range from $850 to $1,750, depending on size and finish—has prompted Home Depot to introduce displays of them in several cities. “We are looking at rolling out a pilot program in select stores,” he said. “It will be the first time people can walk into a store and touch and feel a Murphy door.” Julie Patrick of Alexandria, Virginia, added a Murphy door to the condominium unit she purchased
almost a year ago. The building was constructed in 1939, and her unit had closets so small that “you had to turn jackets in sideways to get them in,” she said. But a tiny hallway closet backed up to her bedroom closet. Opening the wall between the two gave her a closet big enough that “in a pinch,” she could dress in it. She could have closed off the hallway closet entrance, but after seeing bookcase-doors on Pinterest, “I realized this is something people do. I could do this,” she said. “It was really just for the coolness factor that I did it.” She didn’t purchase through Home Depot, she said, because her closet door was not a standard size. “I realized what I needed required a special order,” she said. “The range they can do in their customization is amazing.” She was sent wood samples to choose from. Customer service helped with design—whether to get shelves or shelves and cabinets (she went with just shelves). When the completed door arrived, “the hardest thing was to take it off the pallet,” she said. “It was ready to go in.” The result is a 24-inch bookcase-door. “It’s small,” she said, “so you have to think skinny thoughts to get through.” Leigha Basini of Lorton, Virginia, decided to save on a Murphy door by purchasing it in a kit, which arrived ready for her contractor to construct. Kit doors save $200 on assembly and $125 on shipping, said Jeremy Barker, chief executive of Murphy Door. “We were redoing our master bathroom and closet, and I don’t know where I saw hidden doors, but I was a big mystery reader as a child, and when I saw we could have a hidden door, I wanted one,” Basini said. “It was probably three-quarters fun, one-quarter storage.” Basini’s contractor assembled and installed the door while she was at work. “I was shocked, because I just came home and there it was,” she said. The shelves on the bathroom side swing open to reveal a walk-in closet. “That is exactly what I wanted. It brought me back to
Washington Post photo by Bill O’Leary
With the help of her father, Nicole Buell built a secret door that opens to a bathroom in her condo.
my childhood, wanting a secret room, and I loved it,” she said. The shelves hold nonbreakables, such as tissue and cotton balls. Items that might roll off are in baskets, and Basini also bought some putty to secure items as required. “I haven’t needed it,” she said of the putty. “I just have to remember not to push the door open too forcefully.” She has shown the passageway only to select friends. It is, after all, in the master bath. “Everyone said they think it’s unique,” she said, “but I don’t know if anyone would tell me to my face that it’s stupid.” The effect of a hidden door on the value of a house is debatable. Manufacturers say hidden doors increase market value. But Victor Brown, a real estate agent and a home appraiser with Capital Market Appraisal in the District of Columbia, said that is unlikely. “My initial reaction is, no, it wouldn’t raise value,” he said. “It isn’t a big enough item.” Location, size, condition and exterior amenities are far more important, he said. But Brown said that mentioning a hidden door in ads might attract more traffic to an open house. “Indirectly, it might help you get a higher value because you are getting more people interested, which might drive the price up,” he said. “The key word there is might.” There are people who want something more elaborate than a swinging bookcase. For them, there are companies such as Creative Home Engineering in Gilbert, Arizona. Founded by Steven Humble, who said he began his
career as a machine engineer at Boeing, Creative Home often designs doors of unusual size and complexity. The options include a mirror that hides a safe room and an entry large enough to drive a vehicle through. Because the doors are on the pricier side—a mirror panel starts at $1,500—a smaller proportion of Humble’s customers are buying for aesthetics alone. “I’m going to say 75 to 80 percent have a security purpose in mind,” he said. Michael W. Trott, a security consultant for high-net-worth clients, and a repeat client of Humble’s, said there are two parts to panic room security: the “hardening” of the room— to withstand an assault and to secure food, water and air long enough for help to arrive—and the camouflage factor. “If they don’t even know you are hidden somewhere,” Trott said, “you reduce your chances of getting caught.” He said he chose Humble’s company because the camouflage is especially good and because the doors can be “hardened” to withstand an attack. Although camouflage is security enough for some clients—“Who is going to attack a full-length mirror?” Humble asked—others want bulletproof, bomb-resistant enclosures. “It looks like wood or brick, but basically it’s armored steel and weighs north of 1,000 pounds,” he said. Humble said his most elaborate hidden door was a closure at the top of a spiral staircase that ran between a guest area below and living quarters above. The door operated like the adjustable
aperture, or iris, of a camera lens. The iris, made of bronze, was bulletproof, motorized and weighed more than 2,000 pounds, he said. “The project turned out amazing,” Humble said, “but the cost ended up being close to $200,000.” Because many of his clients work in highly sensitive positions in government and business, Humble declined to describe specific panic rooms and other products his company has installed in their homes. He did, however, discuss a job his company did for the Jefferson, a luxury hotel in downtown Washington. In Room 410, a massive mirror swings away to reveal a hidden closet. “ We w e r e r e o r g a n i z i n g the closet, then we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have a secret door mirror?’ “ said Daren Rubenstein, the Jefferson’s director of engineering. Rubenstein said he researched hidden doors online and, deciding against a do-it-yourself variety, hired Creative Home Engineering because of the fit-andfinish requirements of the product. “If you didn’t know there was secret door in the room, it would take quite a while to figure it out,” he said. In fact, the year-old novelty installation has been a bit of a problem for that very reason. The staff doesn’t always remember to alert guests to the door’s existence. “A lot of times, the guest can’t find the closet,” Rubenstein said, which leads to a call to the front desk. “When they find it,” he said, “they love it.” The Jefferson has another, older hidden door that was installed during renovations in 2007. The door is between the kitchen and a private dining room. Used for James Bondthemed parties, the door allowed a manager dressed as arch villain Ernst Blofeld to slip into the room surreptitiously. But if Blofeld’s plans for world domination hinged today on his entering by that hidden door, he would be thwarted once again. The door is blocked on the kitchen side by a baker’s rack. December 2018 – 19
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20 — Distinctive Properties Distinctive Properties is a specialty publication of Napa Valley Publishing
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Impress your guests MEGAN MCDONOUGH T he Was hi ng ton Pos t November is here, and for many of us, that means a lot of quality time spent around the dining room table. It’s the perfect place to share good meals and conversation with friends and family. Interior designer and stylist Ginny Macdonald’s cozy, Old World-inspired dining room caught our eye on Instagram . The standout space looks warm and inviting—a perfect place to swap stories, jokes and laughs with guests around the holidays. “My main inspiration for this room, and the house in general, was heavily taken from having grown up in the U.K.,” Macdonald, of Ginny Macdonald Design, wrote in an email. The designer, who now lives in Los Angeles, incorporated a mix of vintage furnishings and contemporary accents to create a curated look. While the dining table and Eames chairs are new and speak to a midcentury era, most of the other pieces of furniture are flea market finds,” she said. The centerpiece of the room— the oversize vintage map of England—was scouted by Macdonald at an antique mall in California. “It’s probably my favorite vintage find in the house,” she wrote. For a similar feel, she suggests searching on Etsy for vintage maps and art (she likes the shop Reclaimer), and mounting the work in simple and modern frames. You can also scour your flea markets, antique stores or eBay. Want to achieve this look? Try these tips and products. • For dining room chairs, don’t be afraid to mix and match styles. “Start off by selecting the main pieces, whether it be the dining table or the chairs,” Macdonald 24 — Distinctive Properties
A dining room design by interior designer and stylist Ginny Macdonald.
Handout courtesy of Rejuvenation; Schoolhouse
Hollywood chandelier from Rejuvenation; round brass tray.
advised. “If you choose a modern dining table, then look for vintage chairs, and vice versa.” To “add a layer of eclecticism,” she mixed two modern Eames armchairs ($595, dwr.com ), above left, with her beloved vintage bentwood dining chairs, above right.
That iconic bentwood design can be found in Crate and Barrel’s beechwood Vienna dining chairs in walnut ($149 each, crateandbarrel.com ). • An 8-by-10-foot striped mattress ticking woven cotton rug ($416, annieselke.com ) from
Handout photo courtesy of Zeke Ruelas
Dash and Albert complements Macdonald’s dark and moody walls, painted Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue ($110 a gallon in modern emulsion finish, us.farrow-ball.com ). • Macdonald was planning to swap out the art deco-inspired light fixture that came with the house, but she decided to keep it after receiving compliments. This Hollywood chandelier from Rejuvenation ($595, rejuvenation.com ) offers a similar feel. She also used a round brass tray ($174, schoolhouse.com ) to add color and shine against the stark white table. “It not only breaks up all the negative space but allows you to corral styling accessories, like vases and plants, which add height,” Macdonald said. “You can also use it for extra space for water glasses and snacks.”
CAN I AFFORD A NEW HOME?
Calculate your Mortgage NapaValleyRegister.com/ homes
707-224-5060 www.craiker.com December 2018 – 25
LOAN RANGER
Dreamstime.com
Considering a second line of credit P erhaps I stare at words too long. But if you read, then read again the words “a second line of credit,” what do you see? I see words that mean you could need secondary financing or that you might be waiting in line for it or that maybe the first time things didn’t work out, so you needed CHRIS SALESE to try again. E i t h e r w a y, we’re fortunate that there are lenders who are willing to issue what’s called a HELOC, or home equity line of credit. Without this type of loan, you would be forced to explore some challenging alternatives when trying to finance your home. A home equity line of credit is a secured line of credit. It’s money that you borrow against the equity
26 — Distinctive Properties
in your home that typically goes in the second debt position on your property. Although for many homeowners, it can be the only debt owed on their property, and, therefore, it would sit in the first position. Regardless of the position, it’s still secured by your home. This is important because if you’re unable to properly manage or repay the funds you borrow from your line of credit, then you’ll be in jeopardy of losing your home. Generally, when real estate values are on the rise, you don’t hear much about the downside risks of a HELOC. However, as soon as the home value pendulum moves the other way, that’s no longer the case and homeowners get nervous about being unable to refinance out of their HELOC due to not having enough equity in their property. Fortunately, most lenders and
even homeowners themselves, are being proactive these days. They’re smartly planning and taking advantage of current real estate market conditions to better balance the debt owed on properties. In fact, plenty are intentionally leaving their line of credit open for emergency situations. Conversely, when interest rates rise, there’s a surge in activity between lenders and homeowners on how to best lock in a fixed rate for any open variable rate debt on properties. Since a HELOC usually comes with a variable interest rate, it’s common for homeowners to seek out the safety of a larger fixed rate first mortgage to absorb any money owed on their line of credit. Alternatively, the HELOC might have an option to convert open variable rate debt to a fixed rate term without having to increase your first mortgage. Despite inevitable fluctuations
in property values and interest rates, a HELOC is still one of the more widely deployed and reliable loan products in the lending industry. Often, it is used to avoid mortgage insurance or to speed up a transaction instead of waiting in line for a harder to get first mortgage. It’s also deployed to help offer you expanded borrowing power if you’re self-employed or to help you overcome tricky reserve requirements too. While a second line of credit is not for everyone, it’s how you look at it that can make a difference for you. Chris Salese can be reached at chris@delsurmortgage.com or 707-363-4439. He is a licensed California mortgage lender (LO NMLS #254469 — CA-DBO #254469 Corp NMLS #1169 Equal Housing Lender.
TERRA FIRMA GLOBAL PARTNERS
1405 2nd St., Napa, CA (800) 681-1361
Terra Firma
December 2018 – 27
n
estate BuilDinG site
apa Valley estate building site surrounded by a sea of vineyards with extraordinary views of the mayacama mountains. 1+ acres. located in the highly acclaimed oak Knoll aVa. includes s Cabernet gentleman’s vineyard, state of the art car barn with wine storage and a 1932 farmhouse in need of major renovations. watch hot air balloons fly by, take long walks through the vineyards, cycle on the vine trail or wine taste at one of napa’s world class wineries located steps away! Offered at $1,995,000
1930’s CraFtsman BunGalow
o
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inCreDiBle Views!
s
tunning vineyard and mountain views from this single level mid century craftsman style home located in a private setting minutes to downtown napa, wine tasting and world class dining. 3 sets of glass doors open to expansive outdoor entertaining area with gas fire pits, outdoor dining and extraordinary views. Great room style floor plan offers gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances, spacious family room and dining area. 4BD/3Ba with 2 master suites! Offered at $1,595,000
GorGeous Home
w
BeautiFul nortH naPa
n .68 acres located on coveted east side of napa minutes to downtown napa. updated historic home exudes character and charm. Downstairs BD and full Ba, kitchen with center island, spacious master with bonus area and updated bath, media room, great room with fireplace and stunning hardwood floors. expansive outdoor entertaining area flanked with stunning oak trees offers pool, bar, fire pit and koi pond. 20’x 30’ barn. Offered at $1,369,000
ottery Barn meets restoration Hardware in this 6 years newer home located in desirable Hidden Hills. Fantastic floor plan designed with entertaining in mind offers 4 spacious bedrooms and bonus room perfect as media room, office or playroom! Gourmet kitchen with center island, counter seating and stainless appliances opens to informal dining, wine bar, family room with fireplace and French doors that open to private outdoor entertaining area. Offered at $1,295,000
atch hot air balloons fly by, take long walks through the vineyards and cycle on the Vine trail! Phenomenal north napa location. upgraded 4BD/3.5Ba offers a large bonus room, 1st floor bedroom with a full bath and a spacious master with retreat. Gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances and counter seating opens to family room with fireplace and views of backyard. French door opens to spacious outdoor entertaining area. steps away from neighborhood park! Offered at $1,168,000
east siDe Close to Downtown
BeautiFul Former moDel Home
loCation! loCation! loCation!
C
oveted east side close to downtown napa. Custom built 3BD/2Ba pied-aterre with stunning views. enjoy the napa Valley lifestyle of indoor/outdoor living. Great room concept opens to spacious outdoor entertaining area with views of valley floor and mayacama mts. Kitchen with custom cabinets, ss appliances, and counter seating. opens to family room with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. wine cellar, hot tub and gorgeous wood floors and walls. Offered at $895,000
m
ostly single level 4BD former model with open floor plan and an abundance of natural light offers 3BD including master suite on the main level. upstairs perfect for guests with large media room, 1BD and full Ba. Gourmet kitchen with center island and stainless appliances opens to spacious family room with fireplace and views of the beautifully landscaped backyard with huge outdoor entertaining area, garden beds and a resort-like water feature! Offered at $895,000
F
antastic north napa location. Cycle on the Vine trail, take long walks by the vineyards, go wine tasting or dine in one of napa’s world class restaurants. Contemporary clean lines with open floor plan and great room style living. Features cathedral ceilings and an abundance of natural light. Glass doors open to outdoor entertaining area with small lawn and garden beds. 2 spacious master suites, office area and upstairs laundry! aC, dual pane windows and more! Offered at $575,000
Jill Levy 707.479.9612 | jillmlevy@gmail.com napahomesandestates.com DRE# 01230055
SELLING NAPA VALLEY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES
SOLD IN 2018!
NAPA - $4,350,000
NAPA - $3,200,000
NAPA - $3,200,000
NAPA - $3,341,500
YouNtville - $2,590,000
NAPA - $2,575,000
NAPA - $2,595,000
NAPA - $4,320,000
Jill Levy 707.479.9612 | jillmlevy@gmail.com napahomesandestates.com DRE# 01230055
SELLING NAPA VALLEY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES
December 2018 – 29
(707) 226-1823 • 1030 Third Street, Napa
www.1050OliveHill.com
www.1107CastleOaks.com
Set perfectly upon a 5.14 acre knoll top, amongst captivating views of vineyards and Mount George, this exquisite French Country Manor is located in one of Napa’s most desirable areas. This private gated estate includes 3 acres cabernet sauvignon. The outdoor kitchen, bocce ball court and 1,000 bottle wine cave with case storage make this estate an entertainer’s dream. Mark Lesti 707-320-8950 $8,900,000
Spectacular Silverado Estate offers views, main level living and an entertainer’s dream backyard. Enjoy amazing views from the backyard around the beautiful pool and spa. Beautiful Kitchen! The main level master suite features fire place, sitting room and work space. This is a unique one of a kind Silverado Highlands home. Mark Lesti 707.320.8950 $2,995,000
www.1145OliveHill.com
www.359SaintAndrewsDr.com
Olive Hill Lane magical paradise. Private East Napa location. Over 1 flat acre of home, pool, patio, gardens and orchard. Quality Spanish-Adobe style home. Spacious exterior yard boasts a park-like natural setting. Mini-orchard with peach, apple fig, pomegranate, lemon, guava and hollyberry trees. Mature rose garden and peonies. Quaint garden shed and 15x45’ storage. Mark Lesti 707-320-8950 $1,895,000
Enjoy the Silverado Country Club life with beautiful views from your balcony. On the rear veranda, take in the glorious garden with views of open hills. Nicely updated home includes a sport court, and detached workshop. RV possible. Mark Lesti
707.320.8950
$1,699,000
Ted Stumpf Mark Lesti Christine Lesti Brendan Lesti Breanna Lesti Paul M. Everett Sarah Peyton Bill Benck 707.320.8950 707.320.8999 707.337.0659 707.225.1225 707.299.9949 707.339.2163 415.810.1071 707.246.9825 Lic#01784430
Lic#01854423
Lic#01855197
Lic#01855196
Lic#02016753
Lic#01869521
Lic#02017636
Lic#02020069
(707) 226-1823 • 1030 Third Street, Napa
909 Yount Street
www.2011WestF.com 3 units on one parcel in Napa. On a huge lot with extra large back yard. Main home is a 3/2 of 1,742 sq. ft. Attached 2nd home is a 2/1 of approx. 1,100 sq. ft. 3rd unit is a 1/1 of approx. 400 sq. ft. Extra out-buildings for workshop and storage. Large parking area for RV and boat. Mark Lesti 707.320.8950 $1,325,000
Downtown Napa property, walk to all your favorite restaurants. Very large bedrooms with walk-in closets. New roof, new carpets, newly painted, newer furnace, house has been newly re-wire. Power and sewage is plumbed to exterior rear of property. Move in condition, ready for your personal touches. Bob Souza 707.363.6335 $575,000
www.718Pueblo.com
2802 Monticello Road
Beautifully updated 2/1 condo with private yard. Single level - no units above. Central Napa location. Kitchen with stainless appliances, granite countertops and new tile. Living area with new engineered hardwood flooring. Bathroom fully updated. Very nice indoor/outdoor flow to back yard. Mark Lesti 707.320.8950 $375,000
Soaring panoramic views of the valley! Tons of infrastructure remains in place: Main house retaining walls and garage slab, PG&E underground, cement pad for propane - connects underground to house, septic system for main and guest homes, electrical gated entry, 10,000 gallon cement tank water storage, 450 ft. depth well, in-ground lap pool. Mark Lesti 707.320.8950 $1,250,000
Gary Prince Bob Souza Stephanie Thompson Bob Wallin Ian White Howard Giles Hanan Kim Christine Marek 707.227.7282 707.363.6335 707.226.1823 707.337.5279 707.227.5226 650.796.5195 602.579.5927 707.226.1823 Lic#01735857
Lic#01439572
Admin
Lic#01492251
Lic#01404591
Lic#01428277
Lic#01982155
Lic#01730062
Photo courtesy of For Design.
In a Victorian house renovated by Studio For’s Fauzia Khanani in New York’s Hudson Valley, a new addition replaces the previous one, but at the back of the property to preserve the original design.
OLD NEW INTO
SHEILA KIM Speci al To T he Was hi ng ton Pos t
where all the waterways, wetlands and hills existed, and discovered a river underneath the townhouse. “They poked a hole in the basement and sure enough, there was running igging into your home’s past can be water. The river was still there.” fun, but it can also help you make aesthetic decisions and avoid costly NOT RESEARCHING THE HISTORY mistakes. Architect Anik Pearson You can aid the renovation process by recalls a New York client who wanted to conducting your own research ahead of time. install a pool in his basement. She referred Look at old maps from your local historical to historical maps of Manhattan that showed society or online through the U.S. Geological
Seven mistakes to avoid when renovating older houses
D
32 — Distinctive Properties
Survey, educate yourself about which materials are right for your home’s climate and setting, and visit a museum that has period rooms based on your home’s era. Look back at the real estate listing, if you can, because many agents of older properties include a backstory and ownership history. There are also books—such as “Victorian Architectural Details” by A.J. Bicknell & Co. and “The American Builder’s Companion” by Asher Benjamin—that show historical precedence,
proportions, molding shape used during specific eras, and style differentiation between, say, Victorian gingerbread and gothic revival. “All of those styles have a specific language that has been recorded carefully in these books,” Pearson says. TRYING DIY In this age of HGTV shows and YouTube tutorials, many homeowners consider bypassing a professional for what they think are easy cosmetic alterations. But mistakes can cost them more than an architect’s fee. A common example is when homeowners try restoring curb appeal with quick-and-dirty fixes, such as power-washing a stain or painting over an ugly house color. Stripping or removing paint is especially an area to exercise caution: Although in newer homes it’s safer because modern paints don’t contain harmful substances such as lead, old paints can contain such substances. But simply applying a new coat shouldn’t be a problem for DIYers. “Cosmetic improvements that don’t affect any systems are usually safe DIY projects,” says Naomi Miroglio of San Francisco-based Architectural Resources Group. But “if finishes need to be removed or walls opened up, it should be left to a professional.” She points to replacing faucets in bathroom sinks, typically an easy DIY project in newer homes, as an example of what not to do in older homes. “Often the cutouts in the porcelain for the faucet and knobs are at different dimensions than current faucet assemblies. One has to look for salvage pieces or custom-order them.” Miroglio also recommends leaving electrical and plumbing work to the professionals because of the safety risks. ADDING PRISTINE, NEW ELEMENTS Many owners of older homes will either refinish the original elements, such as the woodwork, or install reproductions. Juxtaposed with the worn details, however, these pristine copies or gleaming finishes can look out of place. Worse yet, some of the materials used in decorative reproductionslack the quality and durability of the original materials. “Some contractors think it’s more trouble to save decorative pieces than work around them,” Miroglio says. “You might have four beautiful column capitals and one bad one. They’ll suggest replacing them all to look the same. Often it’s a cheaper material inside like Styrofoam.” Or, she adds, they’ll strip and re-stain the wood floors, resulting in an overly pristine appearance that’s lost a lot of character. Instead, she recommends retaining some of the aged look. “It’s arrested decay: You stop
it from decaying but avoid making it look brand new.” The elements could be historical finishes or objects that aren’t in perfect condition, such as light fixtures with a worn metal finish, wood trim that shows signs of wear and crackled paint on a ceiling light medallion. “We’ve even seen layers of peeling wallpaper and exposed plaster kept intact with a clear coating applied,” Miroglio says. Architect Adam Zimmerman of Zimmerman Workshop agrees: “Nothing looks worse than antique details directly adjacent to poorly done new ones that are deliberately trying to match. The new will highlight how dilapidated the old really looks.” He offers a trick to avoid this: “Let’s say you have historic baseboards and you decide to build a new wall. We might borrow the baseboards from rooms in other parts of the home for the wall. Or, if you have to mismatch within the same room, use similar style and scale, and then break old from new so that they’re not in direct contact. It always comes down to the details.”
such as light switches.” Shops including Rejuvenation and House of Antique Hardware carry reproduction push-button light switches with discreet dimmer functions, for instance. BEING AFRAID TO REMOVE WALLS Architects are divided on the idea of opening up historical homes. But older floor plans can clash with modern-day living, and a well-renovated and expanded kitchen, for example, can increase the value of most properties. And an open concept might serve some families better than a compartmentalized layout. “It’s important to work with the original spatial organization, but some historic structures didn’t originally have kitchens. They were additions,” Miroglio says. “Such areas are ripe for adapting, and the kitchen as the center of a house is really big.” “It’s perfectly acceptable to knock down walls,” Pearson says, but this also can go beyond a kitchen space. “There is a history of people altering structures, adding on wings at different times. We’re just one step in a larger picture. What’s important is that the structure isn’t being torn down but reused.” If you expect to sell the home in the future, keep in mind that “value is directly connected to things like square feet, kitchens, and room and bathroom count,” Zimmerman says. “Reducing any of those on paper—like the house size or number of bathrooms— would certainly work against you. These are marketing stats prospective buyers read before even deciding to view a property.” Khanani warns that it’s possible to go too far in the hunt for an open concept. In older homes, “each room had a specific function and there was a transition, whether doors or a threshold.” She adds, “There is something about each one of those spaces that made it unique, so taking that away takes away something from the house.”
INSTALLING VINYL WINDOWS Older, unrenovated homes aren’t going to win any awards for energy efficiency. So many homeowners target those drafty wooden windows for replacement. But architects caution against choosing modern vinyl options. “Even though a wood window will cost a lot more than vinyl or aluminum, the wood is worth the investment because it can survive a hundred years,” Pearson says. “Vinyl clad won’t last for more than 10 or 20 years, and metal clad is better than vinyl but in arid climates.” Looking at it from a preservationist standpoint, Miroglio argues: “It’s always more sustainable to keep something rather than replace it. We work hard with homeowners to understand how you can weatherize wood double-hung windows. Maybe they just need ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE new putty.” Most architects agree that additions, when done with care, are acceptable. But TIPTOEING AROUND TECHNOLOGY not all additions are tasteful. Khanani points Implementing modern technology, such as to a Victorian in New York’s Hudson Valley home automation, is a hot topic. Fortunately, that she recently renovated. “There was an the nature of WiFi means there’s no need to awkward addition that was functional but rewire the house or install high-tech devices looked like an appendage and not part of the out in the open. “There’s no reason a thermo- original design intent,” despite it stylistically stat has to be in plain view. You could keep matching the finishes and details of the rest it in a closet and use a hidden sensor that no of the house. And its placement at the side one sees,” Pearson says. of the house made it visible from the street. You can also find replacements that func- Khanani removed it entirely, and there uncovtion in a modern way but look old-fashioned. ered a beautiful bay window with a window “There’s a market for this type of product seat, which she restored. Then, to reclaim the now,” says Fauzia Khanani of New York’s Stu- square footage lost, she designed an addition dio For. “Great brands are making products on the back side of the house that was about with modern technology and a historic look, the same size as the previous addition. December 2018 – 33
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34 — Distinctive Properties
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A NEW SHINE Top exterior trends to inspire your 2019 home projects BRANDPOINT Thinking of adding a deck? How about replacing the tired, worn siding on your house? Now that the weather is colder, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a hot beverage and start planning your 2019 home projects so you can nail the budget and settle on the look you’re after. “Updating your home’s exterior can make an older home look more modern, but it can also make a new build feel warmer and more established,” says Kristine Swint, an in-house design expert at Royal Building Products. “Whether you plan to sell, or stay and enjoy your new features, anything you do to update the exterior can maximize the value of your home.” Swint shares these insights and tips that will help you get inspired and plan your exterior home projects in 2019. THINK “COOL NEUTRALS” FOR THE COLOR STORY When someone suggests a neutral tone for your exterior, do you think boring beige and tepid taupe? When it comes to vinyl siding, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover there’s a broad range of color and style choices to meet your taste and design preferences, including soft grays, bolder mid-tone blues and warm earth-toned terra cottas.
36 — Distinctive Properties
“Going neutral no longer means sacrificing style, or having your house look like all the others on the block,” Swint says. “Today’s neutrals convey warmth, comfort and closeness to nature—all traits we desire in a home.” If you need help planning your home’s new look, the HomePlay design tool from Royal Building Products lets you experiment with different colors and siding profiles. To get started, visit HomePlaybyRoyal.com. BRING THE INSIDE OUT If you’ve decided this year is the year to add a deck or a patio, don’t settle for an uninspired open-air platform. Today’s designers are remaking the deck concept altogether by bringing traditionally “indoor” amenities outside. Rugs, arbors and high-design furniture will turn your deck into an outdoor living room. By adding a fire pit, portable furnace or heater, you and your family can spend time on the deck year-round. For a finishing touch, a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door not only brings in more sunlight and natural views, it creates a seamless transition between inside
and outside. But a great deck starts with high-quality materials, because the last thing you want is to spend excessive time and money on routine maintenance. Instead of using natural wood, opt for a premium composite decking, such as Zuri Premium Decking, that combines the natural beauty of exotic hardwood with the unsurpassed and exceptionally low-maintenance requirements of composite materials. If you’re interested in learning more, visit zuri.royalbuildingproducts.com. MAKE RELAXATION A TOP PRIORITY Home is where the heart is, right? So it makes perfect sense to make it into a space where self-care is a priority. That’s why wellness and mindfulness have become huge influences in interior and exterior spaces, Swint says. To turn your backyard into a retreat space, consider amenities like
water features, zen gardens or even a shaded reading nook. REFRAME THE POSSIBILITIES OF YOUR SHED Garages and sheds can be more than a storage space for your lawnmower and tools. These four walls hold many other possibilities, and homeowners have come up with creative, free-time-oriented uses for these simple backyard structures. The options are only limited by your imagination: backyard bar, outdoor shower, or the classic she-shed or man cave. You can even make it into a home office for those telecommuting days. To dress up a plain shed, Swint says, add siding with complementary trim, windows (and flower boxes), finished with a sleek glass door. Now that you have plenty of inspiration to transform your home’s exterior into a more inviting space, explore your options and visit royalbuilding p ro d u c t s . com.
Brave new world High-tech appliance trends from the House Beautiful Whole Home Project Concept House BRANDPOINT On a tree-lined street in the Brookhaven neighborhood of Atlanta, a house built with the goal of better living through design opens its doors to the public this fall. Each space was created with comfort, peace and serenity in mind, from the decluttered entryway, to the intuitive kitchen with luxurious state-of-the-art appliances designed to easily bring healthy choices to a family’s nightly dinner and provide flexibility in food preparation, to the laundry room with (seemingly) space-age appliances that make the chore a breeze, to the fitness room that puts wellness at the heart of a family’s life. It’s the House Beautiful Whole Home Project Concept House, a first-ever custom-built house that showcases the idea that you can to decorate your way to tranquility. “House Beautiful’s Whole Home Project shows how your house can enhance the whole you: your energy, your peace, your happiness,” said Carisha Swanson, senior market editor, House Beautiful and Hearst Design Group. “This is the first-ever custom-built house that showcases ideas and innovations that feed happiness and drive well-being in every facet of our lives.” Here’s a peek at impressive appliance stand-outs in the Concept House: Kitchen: Luxury kitchen appliance brand Signature Kitchen Suite was chosen to showcase ingenious, purposefully designed tools crafted to respect our authentic connection to food. There’s the 36-inch Built-in French Door Refrigerator, with its convertible middle drawer featuring five temperature zones to choose from, offering the easiest of ways to maintain freshness and the integrity of everything you put in it. But the real heart of the space
Photo courtesy of Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful
is the new 48-inch Dual-Fuel Pro-Range. If you’re a home chef, this range will take your breath away; but for a “Technicurean,” or someone who is passionate about cooking and innovation, it just might bring a tear to your eye. Here are the highlights of this award-winning range: • Built-in sous vide: Once limited to the pros, sous vide is a cooking technique that utilizes precise temperature control to deliver consistent, restaurant-quality results. This is the industry’s first built-in sous vide home range. Home chefs can achieve professional-level results and capture the full, true flavor of foods. • Power up or simmer down: Two burners can deliver 23K BTU of horsepower for better
searing and quick stir-frying. Two burners simmer down to as low as 100 degrees to prepare sauces and sugary confections. All grates are dual-action for added ease. • Two-zone induction: When the recipe calls for instant temperatures and precision control, two induction zones meet the need. • True Combi-Steam: The 18-inch oven combines steam and convection cooking for gourmet results. • Wi-Fi-enabled: Through the touch of a button on the Signature Kitchen Suite app for Android and iOS devices, users can enjoy the benefits of smart functionality like preheating the oven remotely. Laundry: Make the “Ultimate Laundry Room” that helps tackle
all your laundry needs so you can wash every week and refresh every day. Running loads of laundry isn’t everyone’s favorite chore, but these new appliances from LG Electronics give it some high-tech fun, and more importantly, make the process more efficient and effective. Here are a few standouts: • LG TWINWash System with LG Sidekick: This two-inone powerhouse cuts up to 30 minutes off your washing time with TurboWash technology. But it’s the LG Sidekick that packs the punch. It’s a secondary miniwasher that sits beneath the main washer and is designed for small loads. Have a basket of whites with one red shirt? No problem. Pop the shirt into the Sidekick and run both loads at once—or run them separately. • LG Styler: A first-of-its-kind steam clothing care system and the only certified as asthma and allergy friendly by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, LG Styler reduces wrinkles and odor, sanitizes and refreshes garments with the fastest cycle on the market today—as little as 20 minutes. It’s a slim closet-like unit that uses pure steam (no chemicals!) to refresh, de-wrinkle and deodorize your clothes between cleanings. It also works with other items like bedding and sportswear. So, that raggedy old stuffed animal your toddler won’t put down ... ever? Pop that into the Styler and it’ll be fresh, clean and sanitized. Are they enabled with Wi-Fi? Oui-oui! Together, along with the companion dryer, they create the ultimate laundry room. After the public showing, the Whole Home Project Concept House will be put up for sale. You can read all about it in House Beautiful’s November 2018 issue. December 2018 – 37
Wine Country
real estatein October trends 2018 O
ur Sonoma office is a drop off point for Sonoma Rotary collecting supplies and donations for the fire victims in Paradise. Please see the attached links if you’d like to help us help. https://www.sonomanews. com/news/8943549-181/giftcards-sought-to-assist?sba=AAS https://www.facebook.com/609596657/ posts/10155903826876658/
GERRETT SNEDAKER, CRB
6.3 months supply of inventory based on the current sales pace. The Days on Market for the 18 closings last month was 91 days. Approximately 55% of the Luxury Market inventory (price in NAPA Fifty-four percent of the excess of $2,100,000) in Napa inventory in Napa County is in County is in the Up Valley Marthe City of Napa. There were ket (58 homes). There were five 226 available homes and condo- luxury home (price in excess of miniums in inventory at the end $2,100,000) closings in the Up of October in the City of Napa. Valley Market last month and This is a 35% ahead of the seven new luxury home sales. supply at the end of October 2017 (168) and it is essentially AMERICAN CANYON Market Comparisons equal to the inventory at the There were 33 available to October 2017 end of last month (227). New homes and condominiums in The wildfires across Wine sales (85) were 15% ahead of inventory at the end of October Country occurred in early Octothe pace of October 2017 (74) in American Canyon. This is ber of last year. A good number and they were essentially equal 44% ahead of the inventory of homes were to the pace of last month (86). a year ago (23) and it is 14% removed from There is a 2.7 months supply of ahead of the supply last month the market in inventory based on the current (29). New sales (14) were 75% later October sales pace. The Days on Market ahead of the pace of October 2017 as folks for the 81 closings last month 2017 (8) and they were 40% tried to figure was 60 days. The median price ahead of the pace of last month out the impact of NAPA COUNTY of the 81 homes that closed in (10). There is a 2.4 months the fires. Thus, the City of Napa in October LUXURY HOMES supply of inventory based on the inventory of If one takes the highest was $649,000. This is 5% ahead the current sales pace. The Gerrett Snedaker available homes quartile (25%) of available of the median price of the Days on Market for homes that was unseasonably low for the last inventory as the “Luxury homes closed in October 2017 closed in American Canyon three months of last year. Some Market”, the Luxury Market ($620,000). last month was 65 days. The of the percentages are quite high begins at $2,100,000 in Napa median price of the 12 homes comparing this year to last and County at this time. The UPVALLEY NAPA COUNTY that closed in American Canyon that is partly driven by the fires number of closings (81) of The inventory of homes and in October ($544,000) was 2% last year. Luxury Homes (sales price in condominiums for sale in the lower than the median price excess of $2,100,000) in Napa Up Valley Napa County market of a year ago ($557,000). The NAPA COUNTY County for the period 11/1/17 (Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, median price in November 2010 The inventory of homes and Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena was $272,000. to 10/31/18 compared to 71 condominiums available for sale closings in the period 11/1/16 and Yountville) at the end of in Napa County at the end of Gerrett Snedaker, CRB, is a to 10/31/17. There were 105 October (127) is 21% ahead October (417) is 31% ahead of luxury homes in inventory at of the level of 105 in October Broker/Partner with Better the inventory in October 2017 the end of October 2018 com2017 and it is 4% ahead of the Homes and Gardens Real (318) and it is just slightly ahead pared to 91 at the end of Octo- level last month (122). There Estate|Wine Country Group. of the inventory last month were 24 new sales in the month Contact Gerrett at gerry.sneber 2017. There were 11 new (412). New sales (130) are 14% Luxury Home sales last month compared to 28 a year ago and daker@winecountrygroup.com ahead of the pace of last year resulting in a 9.5 months supply 17 last month. There is now a or 707-939-2009
38 — Distinctive Properties
(114) and are 13% ahead of the pace of last month (115). There is a 3.2 months supply of inventory based on the current sales pace. The Days on Market for homes closing in Napa County is currently 68 days. For the purpose of our MLS (BAREIS) “Days on Market” represents the time from when the property is first listed in the MLS to the date the property goes into “pending” (all conditions removed) status. On average, it can take anywhere from 0 to 30 additional days for properties to close after going pending. The median price of the 114 homes closed in October in Napa County ($668,000) was 7% higher than the median price of a year ago ($625,000). 44% of the inventory in Napa County (104 properties) are priced at $1,000,000 or above.
of available Luxury Homes based on the current sales pace compared to 3.2 months supply for the County as a whole.
Building Relationships for Life,
Making wine country your home Thank you friends, family and clients for making our Give Thanks event a success! Because of your generosity we collected 422 pounds of food and multiple cash donations for CANV (Food Bank)
www.17Chaudhary.com Offered at $1,100,000
www.532Westgate.com Offered at $575,000
Our outstanding track record, superior negotiation skills & personal attention to our clients needs is what makes us such valuable assets to anyone buying or selling. Real Estate is local and we can provide the most up to date information for your home. The Napa Market is on the move...if you are considering moving call us today for a free Market Analysis. Terry Wunderlich
Chris Wunderlich
Associate Partner mobile 707.486.6388 CalBRE #00619968 terry@napawunder.com
Associate Partner mobile 707.529.0987 CalBRE #01787555 chris@napawunder.com
www.napawunder.com
Showtime! 4 ways to recreate your entertaining space BRANDPOINT The holidays, the big game, New Year’s and everything in between: At this time of year there are plenty of reasons to invite family and friends to your home to entertain. In addition, there are also plenty of times—particularly on cold winter nights—when you just want to have a place you can go to get cozy, play a video game or watch a movie in peace. Either can be an appealing option, but do you have an entertaining space that fits the bill? One where you want to spend your free time? If the thought of your entertaining space has you sadly shaking your head no, the good news is there’s no reason you have to settle for a less-than-ideal solution. Like the events you use it for, your space can change as needed. To help you make the most of your space for all of the group and individual events you have planned, follow these tips. • Control light. A common design tip for most spaces is to 40 — Distinctive Properties
allow for lots of light. You may want that when everyone comes together to watch a game, but for those times when you want to watch a film or play a video game, a darker environment may be more immersive. To keep total control of the light in your entertaining area, invest in room-darkening blinds or dark curtains that can block out the sun when you crave darkness and let in the light when you don’t. • Redefine your viewing experience. When people come to your home, they will often be there to watch something on the screen. That makes the right technology essential. The 4K UHD Laser Smart Home Theater CineBeam Projector is perfect for binge-watching the hottest shows, enjoying an immersive gaming experience or cheering on your favorite team. The projector itself can be ceiling mounted or set up to reflect onto any screen you want, and because it is empowered with Smart TV, you’ll have access to wireless streaming, Netflix and
YouTube. What’s more, HDMI and HDCP input make your projector ready for Blu-ray and gaming consoles right out of the box. Whatever you want to do or watch, this project enhances your experience. • Install a seating strategy. Every entertaining area has viewing seats that are less than ideal, and while a new projector can expand your viewing options, there’s still no reason to settle for second-class seating. If you’re planning to have a large group over on game day, a simple platform can provide your room with stadium seating and give everyone that at-the-game feel. If stadium seating isn’t for you, strive for an open arrangement and place display tables and other storage solutions behind seating when guests come over. Those items don’t need a good viewing angle anyway. • Add a few extra comforts. It’s time to take customizing your entertaining space up a notch by adding a few elements that are uniquely you. From full bars to
mini fridges, humidors and portable air conditioners or dehumidifiers, there are several tiny additions you can make to any entertaining area to make the space more enjoyable. If you’ve ever wished you had something nearby, now’s your time to add it. Think it over and you’ll see that the right additions can have a big impact on how you use the space and how much you enjoy it. Reshape your entertaining space today. With so many big events coming up, every moment you waste in reshaping your entertaining space is another opportunity missed, so don’t delay. Start visualizing your space for what it could be instead of what it is and you’ll be on your way to creating the entertaining space you’ve always wanted. To learn more about the LG’s latest 4K UHD projector and to see it in action, watch the team from Inverse play this year’s hottest game on this one-of-a-kind technology at https://www.inverse. com/squad-up.
BACKYARD
BIRDING Prepare your backyard now and create a safe haven for birds in bad weather BRANDPOINT Ready or not, bad weather is on its way. Before the snow starts falling, take some time to transform your backyard into a safe refuge for winter-weary birds before unpredictable, harsh weather begins. The experts at Cole’s Wild Bird Products suggest timely tips to encourage birds to seek sustenance and shelter in your backyard this winter. Start by taking an inventory of your existing feeders. Inspect each for damage and replace if necessary. Consider adding new feeders to attract even more birds and allow for fewer trips to refill them during especially cold and stormy days. Now is also the perfect time to stock up on high-energy bird feed so you’re ready to go when the first flakes fall. FIGURING OUT FEEDERS Different species of birds not only prefer different types of feed, they prefer different types of feeders. Consider providing a variety of feeder types to increase the diversity of your avian visitors. A tube feeder is a must-have, since these all-purpose feeders keep seed dry while allowing a wide variety of birds to feed from multiple ports. Specialty wiremesh tube feeders, designed for birds that cling, can easily dispense tiny, oil-rich niger seeds, protein-packed dried mealworms and other specialty feed. Mesh feeders allow clinging birds like woodpeckers to grasp the side of the feeder while selecting food— and prevent larger, more aggressive birds from hogging the feed. If you want an easy-to-use, one-size-fits-most feeder, select a
bowl style with a protective dome that can be raised and lowered to thwart large birds and squirrels from getting to the feed while helping to protect seed from rain and snow. Easy to hang and fill, bowl feeders accommodate any seed, suet or even chopped fruit. Also, be sure to include at least one suet cage in your feeder array since suet provides a critical source of energy for birds in cold weather. CLEAN TO PREVENT DISEASE As you prepare your feeders, a necessary chore is to clean out any residue before filling with fresh seed. Unfortunately, some feeders are hard to scrub out, but Cole’s tube feeders have a built-in “quick-clean” feature, making cleaning a breeze. Just push a button and the bottom pops off for easy access to the inside. Use soapy water and a bottlebrush to scrub, then rinse with cool water. This ensures that mold or mildew aren’t present and helps prevent disease. SELECT TOPQUALITY FEED You may not realize that some commercial birdfeed is treated to prevent spoilage or packed with cheap “filler” seeds like milo, wheat or red millet—which birds seldom eat. Offering top-quality feed means less waste and ensures an increase in birds at your feeders. Cole’s takes exceptional care to select only the top 1 to 2 percent of the highest-quality seeds birds like to eat. The seed is delivered
Brandpoint
in “Harvest Fresh Lock” packaging, which protects nutritional content and doesn’t allow seed to spoil or dry out like other bird feed. No dangerous pesticides, chemicals or mineral oils are used, keeping seed as close to a natural state as possible. Your seed choices should provide birds with the biggest energy boost possible. Sunflower is a great seed option for winter because it’s rich in oil, which attracts birds and provides plenty of energy. Cole’s Oil Sunflower is the highest-grade black oil sunflower seed, at over 99 percent pure! Peanuts are another high-energy option. Choose hulled varieties that are whole—and more nutritious than peanut pieces. And don’t forget high-fat foods, like suet, the solid fat rendered from beef, or vegetables that provide concentrated energy to help birds maintain their increased metabolic rate during winter when their normal
food sources are scarce. Or, try a suet-seed mix like Nutberry Suet Blend, an energy-packed, powerhouse feed mix of premium fruits, preferred nuts, suet kibbles and whole kernel sunflower meats. PROVIDE WATER AND SHELTER Birds need fresh water, especially in cold weather. Choose a heated birdbath and place it in a sheltered spot for safe access. And since birds may unwisely choose the coldest days to take a bath, consider placing a few rocks inside to discourage bathing, while still allowing birds room to drink. Birds also appreciate warm, dry shelter from wet, snowy conditions. Offering well-insulated nest boxes will provide them with a cozy place to harbor. Preparing for birds now will enable you to continue to enjoy them throughout the winter and birds will benefit from your extra-special care. December 2018 – 41
We Offer the Most Comprehensive Home Search Web Site in Napa County! www.NapaValleyRegister.com/Homes
NAPA COUNTY’s MOsT RECENT HOME sALEs * Address
reCOrd dATe
sAle PriCe
Bed BATh sq fT
American Canyon 137 CARMEL DR
10/12
$67,500
3
Yr BlT
Address
reCOrd dATe
sAle PriCe
Bed BATh sq fT
Single Family
1208 REGINA DR
9/14
$565,000
3
2
2
1957
2 HOFFMAN AVE
9/20
$570,000
2
9/28
$575,000
3
9/28
$575,000
1,032
Yr BlT
1,385
1962
1
954
1942
2
1,482
1964
3
2
1,403
1967
15 FLAMINGO CT
10/2
$425,000
3
2
1,618
1956
126 ROOSEVELT ST
128 KIMBERLY DR
9/14
$430,000
3
2
1,024
1971
2410 NORTON ST
225 LOS ALTOS DR
10/2
$449,500
3
2
1,330
1954
2027 SHURTLEFF AVE
9/5
$579,000
2
1
1,240
1940
46 ALTA LOMA DR
9/28
$465,000
4
2
1,549
1955
4455 MOFFITT DR
9/17
$580,000
3
2
1,408
1970
10/16
$525,000
4
2
1,804
1954
2101 REDWOOD RD
9/11
$615,000
3
2
1,519
1953
9/14
$527,000
3
2
1,337
1995
3109 MONTCLAIR AVE
9/18
$625,000
3
3
1,220
1958
10/12
$540,000
4
3
2,716
2001
2108 ELLIOTT DR
10/5
$543,000
4
3
1,848
1969
1033 JOHNSTON ST
9/14
$640,000
3
2
1,268
1962
93 CRAWFORD WAY
10/2
$545,000
3
3
1,625
1988
428 WILSON ST
9/26
$650,000
2
1
858
1902
572 CATTAIL CT
8/31
$552,500
5
3
2,082
2002
329 RIO DEL MAR 134 ELKE DR 546 MARLA DR
1640 E ST
9/7
$655,000
2
1
1,092
1924
2065 W PUEBLO AVE
10/4
$675,000
3
2
1,380
1965
115 CRESTWOOD LN
9/17
$554,000
3
2
1,841
2006
35 PIENZA DR
9/26
$568,000
4
3
2,126
2002
4363 CHABLIS DR
9/28
$680,000
4
2
1,549
1976
59 TOSCANA DR
9/21
$585,000
3
2
1,841
2004
4436 SPRINGWOOD DR
9/13
$685,000
3
2
1,313
1970
302 RINGNECK ST
9/17
$585,000
3
2
2,132
2004
224 E FIRST ST
8/29
$699,000
3
2
1,500
1952
6 MONTECARLO WAY
8/31
$605,000
3
2
1,859
2002
1527 BEHRENS ST
106 TAPESTRY LN
9/7
$633,000
4
3
2,498
2011
428 WILSON ST
7 REEDGRASS CT
10/12
$650,000
4
2
2,376
2004
3730 RUSTON LN
9/19
$733,000
4
4
2,999
2013
4463 STILLSON ST
15 SELVINO CT
1712 GARNETT CREEK CT
9/13
$2,950,000
3
Napa 2540 INDIANA ST
2
2
792
1900
$705,000
2
1
858
1902
9/28
$720,000
4
2
1,785
1972
10/10
$725,000
3
3
1,925
1999
9/5
$730,000
4
2
1,854
1952
9/20
$759,000
4
3
1,904
1988
2 SKIPPING ROCK WAY
10/2
$775,000
4
3
2,166
1999
1139 MASSA DR
9/18
$785,000
4
3
2,251
1959
Single Family
482 CROSS ST
9/26
$800,000
2
2
1,065
1900
4
3,277
1991
4103 LINDA VISTA AVE
$700,000
3140 HYDE PARK DR
Single Family
Calistoga
6/8 9/26
1506 BANKS AVE
10/4
$256,500
4
2
1,509
1955
3808 VILLA CT
8/31
$829,000
4
2
1,458
1942
10/16
$830,000
3
2
1,742
2000
9/11
$330,000
4
3
3,528
2018
3347 BRITTANY CIR
10/4
$837,500
3
2
1,649
1988
10/12
$410,000
3
3
1,635
1902
1415 GORDON DR
9/21
$850,000
4
3
2,287
1996
423 CROSS ST
9/24
$460,000
1
1
638
1907
2992 ALDERWOOD CT
9/20
$852,000
4
3
2,250
1973
2645 YAJOME ST
9/11
$478,000
3
2
1,107
1951
887 TRISTEN LN
10/12
$862,000
4
3
2,163
2015
3612 IDLEWILD AVE
9/25
$490,000
4
2
1,714
1961
2721 LAUREL ST
8/31
$873,000
3
2
1,883
1938
174 CHELSEA AVE
10/10
$505,000
2
1
855
1941
2293 JANETTE DR
10/12
$510,000
3
1
1,613
1953
35 S NEWPORT DR
9/18
$970,000
3
3
1,931
1990
9/19
$510,000
2
3
1,682
2005
3330 DAVID DR
8/31
$975,000
4
3
2,469
1980
10/12
$515,000
3
2
1,273
1969
1191 ROSS CIR 1423 G ST
820 OMAHA CT 972 WINDSOR ST 1602 PINE ST 1745 SIERRA AVE
4048 FOXRIDGE WAY 34 LIGHTHOUSE CT
9/24
$520,000
2
1
1,060
1935
10/12
$520,000
3
1
1,122
1954
3617 TIMBERHILL LN
1489 THOMAS DR
9/13
$527,000
3
1
1,115
1953
3189 TIFFANIE LN
3654 WILLIS DR
9/14
$537,000
3
2
1,481
1973
3518 FOXRIDGE CT
717 S MINAHEN ST
9/13
$552,000
3
2
1,287
1955
1507 SILVER TRL
*As recorded at the Napa County Tax Assessors Office / John Tuteur (707) 253-4459 / Property sales reported may include partial interest transfers; sales that are included with other properties; sales that are less any liens on property.
42 — Distinctive Properties
9/17
$975,000
3
3
2,353
1990
10/10
$1,100,000
3
2
1,891
1990
8/31
$1,100,000
4
4
2,384
1978
10/10
$1,240,000
3
3
2,714
1988
9/7
$1,365,000
5
4
3,114
1991
9/28
$2,100,000
3
3
1,702
1959
www.NapaValleyRegister.com/Homes
We Offer the Most Comprehensive Home Search Web Site in Napa County! www.NapaValleyRegister.com/Homes
NAPA COUNTY’s MOsT RECENT hOME sALEs * Address
reCOrd dATe
sAle PriCe
Bed
9/28
$1,150,000
3
1191 HUDSON AVE
2
2,058
1968
9/13
$890,000
2
2
1,517
1955
10/10
$1,050,000
3
2
1,364
1956
Single Family
Yountville 1885 MULBERRY ST
Yr BlT
Single Family
St Helena 1516 SULPHUR SPRINGS AVE
sq fT
Single Family
Rutherford, Oakville 1641 SULPHUR SPRINGS AVE
BATh
reCOrd dATe
10/10
$910,000
3
2
1,581
5080 LOVALL VALLEY RD
6/12
$34,500
2
1
1,260
1925
2257 MONTICELLO RD
8/31
$550,000
1
2
1,200
1949
1544 ESTEE AVE
9/17
$1,043,000
4
3
1,576
1947
1210 OLIVE HILL LN
10/9
$2,400,000
2
3
5,296
1995
4227 BIG RANCH RD
9/19
$2,585,000
3
3
2,040
1938
10/12
$4,320,000
3
3
4,500
1986
3050 VICHY AVE
$23,000
1
2
1,344
1990
1973
3
1
1,532
1965
224 MADRONE KNOLL WAY
8/31
$1,900,000
4
4
4,210
2003
10/16
$2,600,000
4
0
4,342
1973
9/14
$2,730,000
2
2
1,822
2003
1,384
1987
3 FOXGLOVE LN
9/17
$1,563,000
4
3
1,876
1997
2,715
2006
Condos
Napa
Rural Residential
Pope, Chiles, Wooden Valleys $478,000
2
3
Rural Residential
9/18
3
4
Yr BlT
10/12
$1,100,000
$2,075,000
Bed BATh sq fT
6430 GORDON VALLEY RD
8/31
10/16
sAle PriCe
Napa
1179 LAS POSADAS RD
1929 VINTNER CT
1986 ADAMS ST
Address
173 KNOLL PL 200 FAWN PARK RD
Rural Residential
Rutherford, Oakville 130 AUBERGE RD
9/14
$4,500,000
5
6
6,593
2000
79 VILLAGE PKWY
9/14
$240,000
1
1
636
1985
76 VILLAGE PKWY
9/24
$255,000
1
1
636
1985
18 BELVEDERE CT
9/4
$334,500
2
2
960
1972
3548 SHELTER CREEK DR
9/28
$375,000
2
2
1,210
1972
1950 KELLY RD N
6/28
$9,000
2
1
1,237
1945
3232 VILLA LN
9/18
$429,000
3
3
1,216
1992
1950 KELLY RD N
8/2
$450,000
2
1
1,237
1945
3154 VALLEY WOOD LN
10/12
$485,000
2
1
896
1973
69 FOUNTAIN GROVE CIR
10/16
$515,000
2
2
1,481
1989
3141 VALLEY GREEN LN
8/31
$528,500
2
1
896
1972
1 VALLEY WEST CIR
9/12
$575,000
3
3
1,734
1989
912 MARINA DR
9/14
$580,000
3
3
1,803
1980
588 MAIN ST #207
9/24
$700,000
1
1
948
2009
834 AUGUSTA CIR
9/21
$765,000
2
2
1,015
1979
1600 ATLAS PEAK RD #277
9/26
$815,000
2
2
988
1968
588 MAIN ST #319
9/13
$1,170,000
2
2
1,821
2009
Condos
Yountville 1923 OAK CIR
8/31
$750,000
2
1
915
1984
Rural Residential
Calistoga 10 ROSEDALE RD
10/10
$1,800,000
2
1
1,266
1950
347 SHAW WILLIAMS RD
10/16
$2,045,000
3
2
1,288
1960
Rural Residential
Southern County/Carneros
Rural Residential
Yountville 1522 YOUNTVILLE CROSS RD
9/20
$1,680,000
2
2,105
1960
Vineyard Residential
Calistoga 5800 PETRIFIED FOREST RD
3
10/2
$8,300,000
2
5
8,049
2007
Vineyard Residential
Calistoga 46 KREUSE CANYON DR
6/18
$180,000
3
2
2,169
1978
29 FOREST DR
8/31
$2,325,000
4
4
4,282
1963
4205 BIG RANCH RD
9/28
$3,007,000
3
3
3,346
1953
1350 HESTIA WAY
9/28
$9,300,000
6
5
7,200
2001
Vineyard Residential
Southern County/Carneros 1960 KELLY RD N
*As recorded at the Napa County Tax Assessors Office / John Tuteur (707) 253-4459 / Property sales reported may include partial interest transfers; sales that are included with other properties; sales that are less any liens on property.
6/28
$9,000
2
1
1,336
1954
www.NapaValleyRegister.com/Homes
December 2018 – 43
The whole truth 4 insurance myths and misconceptions dispelled BRANDPOINT There are several myths and misconceptions that exist when it comes to insurance. For example, true or false? It costs more to insure red cars. The answer is false. Car color has no impact on insurance premiums; however, factors like your driving history, annual mileage driven, the cost of your vehicle and other things will affect how much you’ll pay for insurance. Insurance is one of the most useful investments you can make to help safeguard your belongings and financial assets, but it’s important to know what you’re purchasing. Here are four things you should know about auto, homeowners or renters insurance policies to ensure adequate protection in the event of an unforeseen or unexpected loss. 1. MYTH: AUTO INSURANCE COVERS ALL VEHICLE-RELATED ISSUES Most states require drivers to carry auto liability insurance. This coverage provides financial protection if you’re found to be legally responsible for causing injury to another person or their property. It doesn’t cover damage to your vehicle, however, or items stolen from your vehicle, or damage from a storm or vandalism. Collision insurance covers you while your vehicle is in motion and you crash into another vehicle or with a fixed object, like a pothole, guardrail or light post. This coverage is typically required by a lender when you finance a vehicle. Comprehensive insurance is coverage that protects your vehicle when it is damaged while not in motion. Examples of this could include vandalism, theft or an act of Mother Nature like a hailstorm or fire. 44 — Distinctive Properties
against you because a visitor slips, falls and injures themselves inside your rental unit,” says O’Rourke. “Renters may not be responsible for repairing the home they live in, but there’s always a chance their possessions and valuables will need to be replaced if they are damaged or stolen, so purchasing a renters insurance policy is a smart way to provide financial security.”
Brandpoint
“When financing a vehicle, the lender may require you to carry this coverage until it is paid off. If your vehicle is older, however, and it has been completely paid off then comprehensive insurance may not be the right coverage because a vehicle’s value decreases with age. Consider whether the savings of not having comprehensive insurance are enough to offset the risk of potentially having a large repair or replacement bill,” says Kevin Quinn, Vice President of Auto Claims at Mercury Insurance. 2. MISCONCEPTION: HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PROTECTS AGAINST DAMAGE FROM ALL NATURAL DISASTERS Homeowners insurance covers losses or damages to your house and personal belongings in the event of a fire, sudden flooding caused by a broken pipe, theft and even objects falling from the sky like airplane debris. It also provides liability coverage if visitors suffer injuries on your property, and it can extend to events off the premises as well like if personal property is stolen from your vehicle.
“Generally speaking, homeowners insurance is designed to help you rebuild your home and replace personal property if it is damaged or stolen,” says Christopher O’Rourke, Vice President of Property Claims at Mercury Insurance. “However, you may need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home from floods, because these events are usually not covered by a homeowners policy.” Homeowners should contact the National Flood Insurance Program to inquire about coverage for floods, rising tides or storm surges. 3. MYTH: RENTERS INSURANCE IS UNNECESSARY Renters insurance is very affordable; however, only 41 percent of renters purchase it. And without renters insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket if your personal belongings are damaged in a fire or are stolen. “Unfortunately, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover any of your personal belongings and it won’t provide liability protection if a lawsuit is brought
4. MISCONCEPTION: YOUR AUTO INSURANCE POLICY PROVIDES COVERAGE WHENEVER YOU ARE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE A personal auto insurance policy protects drivers in case they’re involved in a collision. However, there are certain situations where more coverage is needed. “With the advent of the gig-economy, many people are turning to ride-hailing jobs, where they can be their own boss and set their own hours,” says Quinn. “Without the proper insurance, however, they’re putting themselves and others at risk if they get into a collision, because your personal auto policy doesn’t cover you when you use your vehicle for commercial purposes. This includes driving for Uber or Lyft, or even pizza delivery. “Mercury provides ride-hailing insurance, but if it isn’t currently available in your area or you’re using your vehicle to make money in another capacity like delivering pizzas, you’ll want to purchase a commercial auto policy.” Insurance is a sound investment, but can be complicated, so it’s always a good idea to speak to an insurance agent. These highly trained professionals can provide expert advice and guidance to help ensure you are adequately protected.
Protect
preserve AND
ID 126770212 © Millafedotova | Dreamstime.com
Why you must insure the ‘little’ things in life BRANDPOINT The gift-giving season is upon us once again! Whether you’re buying your loved ones a new pet, some fancy jewelry or the latest mobile phone for the holidays, one thing is for sure—these gifts come with costs and complications that can add headaches in the long run. For instance, new pets will inevitably need visits to the vet, electronic devices are often accidentally damaged, and valuables such as jewelry, art or cameras can get stolen or misplaced frequently. Therefore, this holiday season, investing in pet insurance, device insurance and valuable personal property insurance is the thing to do, so that the “little” things in life do not turn into big problems when things don’t go quite as planned. Here are a few reasons why you should consider purchasing insurance this holiday season:
PET INSURANCE Coverage is flexible and nondiscriminatory. A major bonus of pet insurance is the flexibility associated with it. For example, unlike health insurance policies for humans that often require you to use a specific group of providers, pet insurance policies allow you to choose the veterinarian you prefer. Likewise, pet insurance does not favor certain ages of pets. You can choose to begin insuring your pet at any time, whether that is at the time of adoption/purchase or many years later when your pet reaches maturity. Perhaps most compelling is the fact that many pet insurance policies reimburse owners at least 3/4 of costs after deductibles. This is a significant chunk of change, especially when a seemingly small procedure, such as having a foreign object
removed from a pet’s stomach, policies have a certain limit for can cost nearly $800. valuable items categories. For example, a typical homeownDEVICE INSURANCE er’s policy may have a limit of Accidental electronic device $1,500 in coverage for jewelry. damage is all too common. A valuable personal property polApproximately one-third of icy provides coverage for highall users damage their cell phone er-ticket items such as jewelry, within the first year of owning silverware, fine art, stamps and it, and as we all know, repairing coins, instruments, etc. that may or replacing these devices can not be adequately accounted for be quite pricey. While a phone in other property policies. This warranty typically does not cover type of policy also provides covloss or theft, many insurance erage for damage or loss, which is providers offer protection plans a major distinction from a homethat do and save you money to owner’s or renter’s policy. boot. USAA has partnered with It is the smart and financially ProtectCELL to offer a smart- savvy decision to protect your phone protection plan. purchases for loved ones this holiday season, especially when VA L UA B L E P E R S O N A L it comes to meaningful and valuPROPERTY INSURANCE able gifts such as pets, electronic Ho m e ow n e r’s a n d re n t - devices and personal property, er’s insurance do not always such as jewelry or art. To learn cover valuables. more about these varieties of Many homeowner’s coverage insurance, visit: USAA.com. December 2018 – 45
New home searches start here www.napavalleyregister.com/homes Find your new home, research the neighborhood, look up school test scores and more. All on your local newspaper website.
46 — Distinctive Properties
780 Trancas Street, Napa, CA 707-255-0845 | GoldenGateSIR.com
Picturesque Stage Coach Valley
A rare opportunity to own your own micro Napa Valley! 20 ± acre property with 4 ± acres of Bordeaux varietals and an additional 4 ± acres available to be planted. Amenities abound including a pond, a tennis court, a relaxing swimming pool and a bocce ball court. Extensive grounds and gardens for perfect wine country entertaining. A captivating old stage coach stop is ready to serve as a future wine pavilion! Potential for a wine cave. Property is situated adjacent to high end wineries, and is only minutes to all the excellent shopping, restaurants and wine tasting that downtown Napa has to offer. Please call to arrange your private tour of the exciting property.
Offered $3,695,000
Silverado County Club
A single level, Silverado Springs 3BD/2.5BA home. Overlooks lush vineyards and with views of the Eastern hills. This popular neighborhood is across the street from Silverado’s world famous south course and offers acres of common grounds including 2 lakes, waterfalls, tennis courts, swimming pool, spa and lighted walking paths through manicured lawns! Enjoy an active Napa Valley life style in this beautiful home.
Offered at $990,000
New Construction
One of five newly constructed designer homes within Skyline Oaks, a private enclave down a private drive. Vineyard and mountain views! Large great room with island kitchen and abundant windows and glass doors that open to the deck and views. 4BD/2.5BA. Wood flooring, granite counters, tiled baths, stainless steel appliances, are a few of the many designer features.
Offered at $1,039,000
Main Street Napa!
Geyer built modern farmhouse tucked behind a private gate, adorned by redwood trees, in a serene setting. Live the Napa Valley Life, with the romance of the wine train, fine dining, and a turn key home with incredible finishes. 3BD/3.5BA with a master suite and junior suite, local stone counter tops, floors and showers. A loft or den can be an optional 4th bedroom. Only the nicest finishes and touch points.
Offered at $879,000
Happy Holidays to All! Measuring Our Success By....The People We Help Brian Gross 707-337-3689 CalBRE# 01908361
For More Information Please Visit www.GaryRose.GoldenGateSIR.com
Gary Rose
707-256-2147 CalBRE# 00940226