Mill Valley California has a certain cachet. Over the years it has been home to the rich, the famous, and the infamous. In the ’60s the hippies loved it and, in recent years, the hip love it. Laid back, but sophisticated with a modern edge, Mill Valley remains a hot spot in the real estate market, despite the overall decline in many parts of California.
What makes Mill Valley real estate so desirable to modern homebuyers? Obviously the proximity to San Francisco is a big draw for Mill Valley and, indeed, all of Marin County. Less than 15 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, Mill Valley is about a 30 minute commute to San Francisco, which is perfect for those who work in the city but want to a quieter pace for their family life. The public schools are excellent, and there is a wealth of outdoor activities for the active family.
Another big attraction to Mill Valley is the mild Mediterranean climate. In the winter temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is abundant – which provides Mill Valley with its beautiful forested areas. In the summertime, temperatures range between 75 and 90 degrees and there is little, if any, rainfall. What’s not to love about that?
If the natural attributes of Mill Valley aren’t enough, buyers looking for Mill Valley real estate will find some amazing architecture. In addition to condos and traditional style homes, Mill Valley is rich with mid-century modern design. The Strawberry Point area has a very exclusive neighborhood developed by Joseph Eichler in the 1960′s. These homes, designed by Claude Oakland, are a bit larger than most Eichlers and many feature great views of the San Francisco Bay. You’ll also find homes designed by greats such as Lee Stuart Darrow and Jon Bolles in the Strawberry Point area of Mill Valley.
For the patient homebuyer, Mill Valley homes designed by well-known architects occasionally come up on the market. Soriano, Paffard Keatinge Clay, Daniel Lieberman, Rex Rathbun, and Francis Joseph McCarthy are all modern pioneers who contributed to the richness of Mill Valley architecture in the booming age of modernism that began in the 1940′s and lasted well into the 1960′s. More contemporary architectural firms such as Kappe+Du, Endresware, Ohashi Design Studio, and Sheahan & Quandt are also represented in Mill Valley real estate. These custom homes are not large, but they are smart and well designed. The homes do not come cheap, but they can be considered an investment in a work of art in addition to a home.
Nothing is inexpensive in Mill Valley, but everything is relative. For those who dream of owning a home in Mill Valley but find the designer homes to be a bit too pricey there are other options. In the hills surrounding the town, small cabin style homes sometimes come up for sale. Many of these places have lovely views, a rural feel, and some even have studios. Another relatively cost-effective alternative would be to purchase a tear down and put a prefab in. These days prefabs, also called modular homes, are becoming increasingly popular. They come in many different designs – including modern, are generally not as expensive as building a house “from scratch”, and take less time to construct.
For now the Mill Valley real estate market remains solid and, with such an eclectic background, there truly is something for everyone. Mill Valley has a lot going for it: great location, lovely climate, excellent schools, and interesting architecture. For $750,000 you can get your foot in the door – from there, the sky is the limit!
By: Renee Adelmann
Posts Tagged ‘Golden Gate Bridge’
Marin County Real Estate Community Profile: Mill Valley
November 10th, 2009Art Deco Makes a Comeback in Architectural Doors
September 17th, 2009Doors are becoming less of an afterthought in modern home design and more of a focal point. In fact, many homeowners today are choosing custom-designed architectural doors for their home’s exterior. Sometimes an entire home design is planned around a customized architectural door. Doors are being recognized as an important part of the aesthetic value of a home’s exterior. An artistically-designed and professionally-built exterior door can raise the value of a home while providing enormous curb-appeal.
One of the fastest-growing trends in architectural doors today is the art deco door. The art deco style of design first emerged in the early 1900’s. It was an international design phenomenon in the 1920’s and 1930’s. It was during this period of time that a number of famous landmark buildings were erected, the design of which has become a part of pop culture and history. Though many people can’t put a name to the style, they will instantly recognize buildings created during the art deco trend. One such example is the distinctive spire of New York City’s Chrysler building, built in the mid 1920’s. Other renowned examples include New York’s Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Like most trends, art deco faded from construction history for a time in favor of more modern, streamlined designs. But also like many trends, art deco has re-emerged throughout the last century in various manners. Today, this includes architectural doors.
Art deco designs are based on mathematical, geometric shapes. Chevrons, sweeping curves, sunburst motifs and multi-tiered steps are characteristic of art deco. The Chrysler Building is a prime example of a curve and sunburst theme with steps that become smaller until they reach the spire at the top.
Architectural doors take the best of these geometrical designs and add modern twists, like sharp, uneven lines, mirrors and contemporary colors. The result is a door that is truly a work of art. These works of art become the focal point for the design of the new home. They often inspire other elements of the home, like windows, exterior colors, and even the shape of the roof. Like someone who purchases a loved work of art and then paints and designs the room it hangs in to match it, homeowners and builders start with a custom-designed architectural door and then look to it for inspiration for the entire exterior.
Art deco architectural doors can be designed to fit any type of home. They can be standard size, or can be crafted to fit unorthodox door frames for truly individualistic style. They don’t sacrifice functionality either. They can be built to accommodate high-security features, and can even be built to mask multiple locks and other security mechanisms. This results in an architectural door whose artistic quality hasn’t been sacrificed for the sake of fortitude.
By: Jenny Schweyer