Gorgeous Victorian Flat by 4th Street Shopping

About Brad and Pear Mitchell

Pear and Brad purchased this historic 1896 Eastlake Victorian in 2005 and began renovating it while pregnant! The next four years were occupied in a complete overhaul of the structure and happily almost all of the beautiful, original walls and unique Victorian craftsmanship was preserved or rebuilt to match. Next the interior design and decor were painstakingly planned with eco advanced custom paint mixing and energy efficient lighting design. A mix of salvaged fixtures, doors, windows and appointments and more modern energy star rated appliances was the achieved aim. They have combed the Bay Area for appropriate and comfortable antiques to furnish the rooms. Brad has always loved the classic 'Alice in Wonderland' and, being of the Victorian era, it served as a kind of motif for the house - the classic original Sir John Tenniel art from the book is on the imported tiles surrounding the two person soaking tub in the upper flat. Brad and Pear lived in the lower flat themselves until just this summer of 2009, when they finished further renovation of the downstairs and moved out to rent it also to vacationers. They own two lovable dogs and miss their gorgeous cat who passed away in 2008. They now live nearby in Piedmont CA - close enough to maintain the property and check in whenever needed. As parents, pet owners and people aware of allergies as well as increasing concern with household toxics, Pear and Brad are very happy to provide an upscale, high end experience to vacationers - even and especially to those who travel with children, pets or chemical sensitivities. Brad works as a technical director and Pear divides her time between managing the properties, home staging and freelance writing. They will have their first vacation in four years this summer in Paris, France with their daughter Evelina - staying in a VRBO only a few blocks from the Luxemburg gardens! Yipee!!

Brad and Pear Mitchell purchased this Condo in 2005

Why Brad and Pear Mitchell chose Northwest Berkeley

Pear grew up in Berkeley, went to UC Berkeley and lived near Solano Ave. She has never left the Bay Area for long and knows quite a bit about Berkeley's many neighbrohoods and has seen them change and develope. One of the most compelling is this neighborhood of Oceanview. It is the oldest neighborhood in Berkeley and was the home to many settlers in very old Victorian homes that still stand today. The shipping, railroad, mercantile, artisan and building history of the town has its roots here. In the mid 1980s, the area began to transition from solely working class residences to a renewal of artist studios, eateries, retail outlets and business offices. It thrives today 25 years later housing thriving boutiques, fine dining, artist collectives and creative commerce. Schools, parks, playrgounds and bike routes also began to reclaim the area for residential and recreational use. Brad and Pear wanted a large yard for their dogs and daughter (the lots in Oceanview are twice the size of most other Berkeley neighborhoods); they wanted to be in easy walking distance to most everything - especially a good latte and pastry in the morning (Fourth street has the largest Peet's coffee as well as Bette's Oceanview diner for breakfast and several other GREAT breakfast, lunch and dinner choices within a few blocks of the house); they wanted big, airy, sunny - not tiny cramped bungalow - rooms (the house has the highest ceilings and windows on both floors of almost any other private residence in the city); and they wanted to be close to the freeway and BART for Brad's commute (they are a few blocks from the central Berkeley exit of I-80 and about a half mile to North Berkeley BART.) They got it all (not for cheap in 2005! but they did get it!)

What makes this Condo unique

Sunny tall windows, spacious rooms, beautiful furnishings, restful muted ocean inspired interiors, crisp soft sheets, exquisite housekeeping, flowers, dimmable lights, DVD collection and library, DVR and cable, flat screen TVs, well equipped office with updated computer system and wifi, local information, recommendations and coupons, convenient location, gorgeous large backyard, personalized attention...