Delores Arabian’s blog Vignette Design often showcases her lovely old house in San Mateo, California.
It was built in 1906 as a summer home for a family looking to escape the fog and noise of San Francisco.
Now Delores and her husband are selling it and moving from the suburbs to the city themselves. Take a look!
The listing says, “Exquisitely restored circa 1906 home, masterfully renovated for 21st century living. Set on approx .5 acre with private lush rear yard with pool and built-in BBQ. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own one of the finest homes on the Peninsula.”
Delores says, “It’s hard to tell what is original and what has been added on to or ‘improved’ throughout the years, but my take is that it was originally a Craftsman style home. The staircase in the entry hall reflects that style.”
Readers of her blog may remember when the entry hall was green.
Here’s an older photo of it:
She says, “I love mixing patterns! The dining room is the perfect place to do that too.”
The kitchen features countertops with honed Calacatta Oro marble and white subway tile on the walls.
I love how warm it looks.
This makes me want to go downstairs right now and paint my white cabinets green.
She says she pretty much lives in the sunroom off the kitchen, and I can see why!
The breakfast area next to the kitchen has a cozy built-in banquette with an extra long farm table and wicker chairs.
A photo of the space from the listing:
Delores says, “Our house has seen its fair share of parties over the years, from Little League to band parties and even a couple of 50th birthday parties. It has been a wonderful home to raise our children, and it is full of memories.”
As hard as it must be to leave it behind, she says they’re ready to pass it on to the next family to create their own memories here. “That’s the beauty of this old home — we are just a small part of her history!”
Thanks to Delores for sharing her home with us!
Check the listing with Harber and Harber for more information.
Photos by Nate Donovan.
In the early 70’s I painted an old cedar chest that same green color that is in her kitchen. I still like the color and am amazed that it is popular with others. Wishing them the best of luck with their sale and move and remodel project.
I love that shade of green — so classic and pretty!
Great house! Thanks for sharing it.
This is one of the prettiest houses I have ever seen! Old-World and Modern decor blend so well from one room to the next.
Wow, that’s some house. It’s a bit big for me, but it’s decorated nicely. Love those wicker chairs in the breakfast area, and the green kitchen cabinets as well. Wonder how many children she has – this house looks like it could hold a family of 10 or 12 and they’d each have their own room to sit in!
Yeah, it’s pretty big! Their kids are all grown now, so they’re downsizing. I can’t wait to see what they do with their new place in San Francisco!
Her house is one of my favorites in blogland. LOVE every inch of it and the way it’s decorated. If only I lived on the west coast…
Shelley
4.1 million. Gorgeous home.
Okay, I have to go to bed now, I am sick with envy.
Ha! Love it. Maybe you’ll feel better after a little nap. 😉
I have loved her home for a long time now. Those green cabinets were what first drew me to it. They are gorgeous!!! All those windows really make it look so light and bright. My favorite space in the house is that breakfast room…sigh.
I love that breakfast room, too. Dreamy!
So nice to see Delores’ home featured. She has beautiful taste, and her blog makes you feel like you’re vacationing or antiquing with a friend. It’ll be fun to see if she uses the same lovely colors and furnishings in their new home.
Ohhhh how I love that wallpaper in the dining room! It reminds me somehow of one of the cottages you featured some time ago, Julia. The redone little school house maybe? or maybe I’m mixing up two of them. Well, I just love it and could see some fun yellow with it. Also, I don’t know if this home is in a gated community or not, but I’d be perfectly happy with a tent in that backyard! Seriously. They’ve already forecasted (fortunately did not materialize…yet) snow here!
Snow?! Oh, no. I hope that forecast is wrong for your sake, Jonia. I don’t think any of us is ready for that yet!
Thank you Julia for featuring my home! I’m so honored to be featured on Hooked On Houses!
I’m both happy and sad to say it sold on Saturday. A lovely family bought it and I feel so good about passing it on to them. ~Delores
Congratulations! I knew it wouldn’t last long, but wow, that was really fast. What a lucky family they are to be moving into that house, and what a lucky family you are to have the memories of raising your children there. 🙂
Hi Julia, what a big, beautiful home. How do you walk away? I wish them all the best in their new adventure. That kitchen is dreamy, is that colour Olive Green? and the sun room I could go on and on …. but I won’t. Thank you for sharing dreamy. Regards Esther from Sydney.
What a beautiful house!!! I haven’t checked out Delores’s blog, but I will now!!
I lived in San Francisco for many years before moving back to Dallas (because I ran out of money and refused to live with 4 people) and I’m always amazed at the architecture and beauty of the homes out there. But I have to ask, what do these people DO that they can afford to live there!!! 🙂 They can’t all be doctors and lawyers, can they? Sigh. I will keep dreaming for the day I win the lottery. And I can’t wait to see her new place 🙂
I love this! Every inch is perfection! I don’t think I could give this up, but maybe I’ll feel differently when my kids are no longer at home. I see how happy downsizing has made my folks and I understand the logic behind it, but still! 🙂
I’ve had a picture of her breakfast room – back when it had colorful throw pillows and valance in a French country style – bookmarked forever. I wonder if her kitchen cabinets are a paint color you can buy or are a manufacturer’s finish? I’ll have to go to her blog to see if I can find out. Fabulous house and Delores has great taste!
I just went to her blog to see more and she said the house sold in it’s first weekend on the market. Very bittersweet, I’m sure.