The Glass Box

Original Restored Eichler Beauty- Ready for a Magazine Shoot!

4149 Sacramento Street, Concord

As we get farther and farther away from the mid-20th century, Eichlers in clean, original condition become exceedingly rare. So many Eichlers in California have fallen prey to midguided money invested into their renovations during the 1980's and 90's. 

Interestingly, historically less valuable Eichler neighborhoods have meant fewer altered homes... thankfully. Concord has been lucky in that respect. It's a treasure trove of original Eichlers which a few lucky buyers pluck from the market like sparkling, vintage jewels. 

Of course Concord, CA is not the bargain it used to be thanks, in part, to word getting out- through magazines such as CA Modern, Atomic Ranch and Dwell- about the amazing 1960's Eichlers there.

Fortunately, the rise in property values is recent enough that most owners are educated in the MCM aesthetic and the value of restoring it, and if they are lucky enough to have an original home... keeping it alive and vibrant!

One such Mid Century jewel has just come on the market in Concord. Sold by the second owners who lovingly restored the home to it's original glory, this is a true time capsule house. New appliances are present where necessity dictates, but over-all this home is totally original, and simply STUNNING!

4149 Sacramento Street, Concord   asking $695,000

Contact: Ken Fox  East Bay Modern Real Estate  510-999-0923

Staged by Redux Stage Co.

1,795 sf, 4/2, 7,280 sf lot

atrium, 2-car garage

Claude Oakland Designed, built 1963

Rancho del Diablo neighborhood (a great Eichler enthusiast neighborhood!)

Summary:

Totally original home with minimal, sensitive updates. Extremely clean! New siding with Tevac wrapping underneath. All new paint. Some new Milgard windows (with correct milled aluminum finish). Original sheet rock in pristine condition. Luan in beautiful condition. Newer Armstrong VCT flooring throughout home is period correct. All lights and luan intact. Glass intact. Original kitchen and bathrooms. Fireplace is unpainted. Original Eichler stained ceiling. Original mahogany trim, interior doors, and Eichler closet doors in incredible condition.

This Eichler has a pool which has been refurbished. It also has a pool house built by the original owner in the 1960's with Eichler-like materials. Side yards are very clean and updated. New fencing and modernist gates.

Basically, this home is a true gem, like stepping back in time. Whoever buys it will be extremely lucky to live there!!

exterior view of 4149 Sacramento Street, repainted and sensitively restored

this is a reproduction door handle and escutcheon which looks great on the Eichler door

view of atrium from just inside the home

beautifully restored original kitchen

original cooktop and cabinets

original *flying coffin* cabinet in kitchen

in kitchen looking right towards garage door, notice how lovely the luan and door look!

great hanging cabinets in room off kitchen

going through the original swinging door into the dining area, all luan intact!

dining area

from living room looking back to dining... you get a sense of the lovely, airy Contemporary Architecture!

fab seating area in living room with original brick fireplace

the sheer beauty and simplicity of an original Eichler hallway!

this hall closet door and surrounding door trim is an example of this home's original mahogany

all original hall bathroom

master with a view of the pool

original master vanity

this is a great example of an original Eichler closet door in perfect shape... they are all intact in this home!

all bedrooms have original stained ceilings, closet doors, and mahogany trim... this one has a great hanging, mahogany Cado-type system

this bedroom was being used as an office, in perfect condition!

nice atrium view from office

going into the back yard....

the back yard is minimal, but well groomed with a sparkling pool

groovy pool house built by original owner in the 1960's

immaculate side yard with new siding on home; and new paint,  fencing, hardscape and rain chains

other side yard is a little deeper, very clean

same side- opens onto the street, new siding, paint and modernist gates. blue door opens into second bath

back out front- new period correct Eichler numbers!

Eichler curb numbers are a great touch, and a lovely way to leave this gorgeous home!

 

 

**all photos by Suzanne Dunn, The Glass Box. Please only use with permission...**

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any realtor or real estate brokerage. I am not a general contractor or home inspector. I am an Eichler homeowner with 15 years of renovation experience. Observations on homes are my own and are made during a walk through viewing. Buyers should obtain their own inspection by a qualified home inspector before purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tale of Two Concord Fixer Eichlers- Bring Your Imagination & Tool Box!

4119 Phoenix Street, Concord    exterior view

With the San Francisco Bay Eichler market climbing at a dizzying rate, it should not surprise me where the market currently is, even for Eichler fixers.

Yet, here we are, and here I am in shock how values have soared. Now even the least of them- the ones which have seen misunderstanding, neglect, deferred maintenance, and even loathing from their owners are surfacing in this time of real estate gold rush.

Bottom line... it's a tough road for those who are buying their first time home with so much pressure from rising SF Bay Area wealth.

With the aid of popular magazines such as Dwell and Atomic Ranch, and too many midmod blogs to mention, MCM real estate is the hot ticket. Those looking for a *modest* mortgage had better get creative, accept a whole lotta bad with the good, and tuck into a home which will need some major renovation- even beyond what would be considered a livable, cosmetic fixer! 

Concord still offers the best bargain for an Eichler in the Bay Area, easily commutable to SF, but values have climbed steeply in the last 2 years!

Here's what's happening... three Eichler homes are on the market this week, shaken loose by triple digit equity & short days on market. One is lovely and exceptional (see companion post, following this one, from July 14), & two are straight up fixers.

Here's the low down on the two in need of serious work:

HOUSE ONE

4119 Phoenix Street, Concord   asking $595,000

Contact: Ken Fox 510-999-0923  East Bay Modern Real Estate

2,121 sf (expanded) , 4/2, 7,200 sf lot

Claude Oakland Designed, 1963

Rancho del Diablo neighborhood

2-car garage, atrium (enclosed), pool

Summary:

This home is helped tremendously, in parts, by the staging!!

But, over-all, it's rough around the edges. Atrium was enclosed and needs some work. Bathrooms seem dirty & smelly; and the the kitchen is worn, dated, non-Eichler. There is evidence of some dryrot and possibly mold in walls.

Original VCT Eichler floor was taken off a while ago and owners were living on bare slab. A good thing is that the demo is done for you, but plan to re-floor entire house.

Home does have a few original ball lights left. This model has a great pantry off the kitchen! Original glass appears to be intact. Large side yard on right.

Entire lot needs cleaning up and refreshing, including fencing. Pool will needs some work. Bathrooms and kitchen are a gut job. Looks like the home with need new sheet rock in parts, and some new interior and exterior doors. Luan needs stripping or replacing. Will need paint inside and out, and new siding as well. Basically... lots of time, effort, and money to bring this one back. Great neighborhood, big home, lots of potential. 

4119 Phoenix Street Concord   front view

enclosed atrium is dark, but could be turned into something cool!

atrium view from living room

dining room area with stripped siding... great potential to use a Cabot stain on the siding (like was originally on the Eichler)

area in kitchen- can be used for eat in, or as family room

kitchen is worn, ready for demo

kitchen

large pantry off kitchen

view from master bedroom to back yard pool

master vanity

master toilet sitting all alone

original Eicher tiled shower is cracked, will need renovation including new blue board

repair and possible mold in wall of bedroom closet

going outside....

exterior looking into living room

back fencing is chain link and wood.

back pool is in decent shape, but may need rehab

pool deck- well, this is novel!?

 

HOUSE TWO

4010 Salem Street, Concord   asking $600,000

Contact: Ken Fox 510-999-0923  East Bay Modern Real Estate

1,811 sf , 4/2, 9,240 sf lot (large lot!!)

Claude Oakland Designed, 1965

Rancho de los Santos neighborhood

2-car garage, atrium 

Summary:

This Eichler is a true fixer!! Neglected big time! Lots to strip away, clean, and repair here before renovation. This one is totally vacant...

This house needs a total refreshing and some repair. Large lot needs to be cleared. Horrid, exterior commercial air con unit and ducting need to be removed and exterior tongue and groove repaired (was cut in for ducting). Plus evidence of dry rot in eaves. Siding is cooked in parts from total lack of maintenance. Yard is totally abandoned looking with dead above ground pool, oil drums, weeds, and rotted deck and patio cover.

Slab in the kitchen has a pretty significant slope. Bedroom has a busted slider. House needs total repainting. I am going to assume a new roof is needed (once you take off all the giant ducting). New exterior hardscape and landscape needed. 

Well, the bones are still there! Atrium is original and open. Kitchen is original layout with flying coffin and swing table which need to be brought back to 1965 form. Home does have a few original ball lights left. This model has a great pantry off the kitchen. Most of original glass appears to be intact. Large yard.

Like the house on Phoenix Street... lots of time, effort, and money to bring this one back. Another great neighborhood with lovely neighbors! This is a good sized home, with large lot, it has potential with a big investment.

4010 Salem Street, Concord

atrium, looks pretty good

atrium (concrete here looks good here)

kitchen with bad tile, but original layout and cabinets under the refacing!

right side of kitchen, door on right leads to large walk-in pantry

kitchen (left hand side), door leads to 2-car garage

kitchen has replaced window (older) and this odd skylight

nice glass corner at kitchen (right) and living room (left)

living room is carpeted, and original fireplace is faced in dated marble, back glass looks OK

living room to dining area, original luan, or siding, wall is covered in mirrors.

hall bath is non-Eichler renovation

master slider is shattered

back yard has tons of potential once you clear out what's there. All wood is rotted here... looks like two hot tubs on property

back right corner of lot is pie shaped, got lots of room though!

back right corner of lot

the siding on the right side of the house is roached! Will need new siding 

now the left side... that needs a lot or cleaning, repair, demo, removal before landscaping

left side exterior electrical... the eaves, the t&g, look pretty bad here

not sure why someone would install this oversized, commercial air con unit in an Eichler?? Horrible. They cut out the tongue and groove here which will be hard to repair.

dead above ground pool also on the left side of lot. more demo and removal...

going back out- the door knob is changed, but at least the escutcheon is still there!!

original house numbers

 

**all photos by Suzanne Dunn, The Glass Box. Please only use with permission...**

 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any realtor or real estate brokerage. I am not a general contractor or home inspector. I am an Eichler homeowner with 15 years of renovation experience. Observations on homes are my own and are made during a walk through viewing. Buyers should obtain their own inspection by a qualified home inspector before purchase.