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A showcase of the Bay Area and the very best it has to offer.

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Page 1: PLACE  /  Bay Area. Everything

P L A C E

ISSUE #1

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PARAGON-RE.COM

Choosing the right agent is everything.

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Welcome to the inaugural issue of PLACE. Bay Area. Everything. We live in one of the most unique and innovative places on earth, so we decided to showcase the very best it has to offer. Our bi-monthly publication will feature exclusive interviews with hyper-local voices on art, design, craftsmanship, nightlife, food, wine, homes, luxury, living, and lifestyle.

In this inaugural issue, we interview such Bay Area leaders as Florian Roeper, a custom furniture-as-art designer, and Michael Martin, a philanthropic visionary for the arts. We also focus on outdoor spaces, tiny space-saving ideas, and, of course, our robust real estate market.

We started this real estate firm over a decade ago with a focus on what we know best: San Francisco and the Bay Area. We’re just like you—part of a community— and know home isn’t merely a place to live but a way of life. We’re committed to your interests and serving our community with a sense of joy and accomplishment.

We hope you enjoy this first issue of PLACE as much as our team did when putting it together.

We are Agents of Change.

EDITOR’S NOTE

300 DRAKES LANDING RD. ST.120 GREENBRAE 415 .805 .2900

I needed a place to explore.

PARAGON-RE.COM

We’re just like you, part of a community, and know a

home isn’t merely a place to live, but a place where

one creates a life. We are committed to ensuring your

success in buying or selling, across all market segments,

from luxury homes to investments. Our goal is to create

tailored solutions for your unique real estate needs and

provide the “place” to create your own unique life.

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PARAGON-RE.COM

Celebrating eleven years of success.

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5A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 WE LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER

8 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: FLORIAN ROEPER

12 OUTDOOR SPACES: FIREPITS

16 SMALL SPACES: LIVING IDEAS

18 THE ARTS: MICHAEL MARTIN

22 MARKET OVERVIEW

24 REALTOR SPOTLIGHT: CAROLYN GWYNN

26 THESE WALLS TALK: DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO

29 FEATURED LISTINGS / SAN FRANCISCO

40 FEATURED LISTINGS / MARIN

42 FEATURED LISTINGS / DANVILLE

48 FEATURED COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

6

12 18

22

26 29

8

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WE HOSTED OUR 2015 HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE PLACE EVERYONE IS BUZZING ABOUT: DIRTY WATER.

Only in San Francisco would such an excellent restaurant-slash-brewery be located inside of a tech company’s headquarters—in this case, the new Twitter office space at Market Square, the fantastically refurbished Art Deco building on Market Street.

We know, you’re wondering about the name. Local legend has it that the moniker hearkens back to the pre-prohibition term for moonshine—a tongue-in-cheek reference, given that alcohol is not only legal but offered in stunning abundance at this new hotspot. The name inspires curiosity, for sure, and apropos, Dirty Water is highly focused on beverages: craft beers, carefully sourced wines, and creative cocktails.

Their wine is carefully curated and stored with a state-of-the-art preservation system so that they can offer nearly every vintage they sell by the glass. On-draught-only beer includes both local and interna-tional microbrews handpicked by the staff. And the liquor is equally sublime. Think: Hendricks Gin (a local favorite), “hard” Kombucha, and four types of Tai-wanese dessert wine. The mixologists at Dirty Water aren’t messing around, either, led by libations vision-ary and restaurant owner Kristian Cosentino. (Take a look at their “Libations” menu and read about their “Drink Love Philosophy.”)

Now, let’s talk about the food. Mmmmmmmm, the food. Chef Jared Gallagher refers to the menu as “paleo-friendly,” which means there’s a lot of meat. Charcuterie, grilled quail, grass-fed hangar steak, and deer tartare are all currently on the menu—a lot

of which is cooked in the open kitchen’s giant wood-fired hearth, filling the place with a divine aroma during lunch, dinner, and brunch.

There are also tantalizing sides to go along with the sophisticated caveman fare: fresh corn risotto, charred shishito and padrone peppers, and a glorious cheese selection. But above all there is the dessert,

WE LOVE THAT DIRTY WATERWRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

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FORGERY + VERSO: PLUMPJACK ADDS TO THE MIX

Craft cocktails are all the rage in San Francisco these days, and smart restaurateurs are capitaliz-ing on this trend by opening new venues citywide. Forgery is one of these, but with a twist: this historic Mid-Market space has actually existed for

which should not be missed, in our opinion. “Floating Islands” is a house specialty that we’ll leave up to your imagination.

Note that Dirty Water is also open for happy hour in their not one but four lounge areas, making it a great destination for techies and downtowners on their way home from work.

decades, once as Sloane and most recently as a glass-blowing studio; Forgery is just its newest incarnation.

Plumpjack recruited Ken Luciano and Jacques Bezuidenhout, who met while working at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants many years ago. They are hands-on leaders, working the bar and inventing drinks with what SFGate calls “a voracity for esoteric cocktails.”

Forgery has more than 300 spirits on deck, wines by the glass, and beers on tap and by the bottle. Their craft cocktails involve innovative twists on old favorites plus original concoctions like “El Vampiro,” a brew of mescal, Manzanilla sherry, crème de cassis, and salt. Visionary combinations of flavors (Nutmeg and grape-fruit! Raspberry and absinthe! Who knew?) give the menu an air of originality and zestful bravado.

And recently, Forgery renovated the adjacent space to create an “entertainment complex.” Verso, which opened on December 19th, is a lively electronic music venue in what they call a “dramatic warehouse location.” Open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights only, the space will be available for events Sunday through Thursday and can accommodate over 400 guests.

Formerly the Lexington Club, a classic San Francisco lesbian destination, Verso is much shinier and flashier than its modest predecessor. After all, the Plumpjack Group—responsible for now-classic Marina bars Balboa Café and MatrixFillmore, as well as a host of other thriving properties from the city to Napa and Marin—doesn’t tend to do things modestly. We can’t wait to check it out.

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His pieces are in demand, and his studio in San Fran-cisco’s Design District is a hotspot for interior design-ers and individuals shopping for art-as-furniture to place in high-end homes.

Among the bounty of gorgeous showrooms in the Design District, Studio Roeper stands out not only because every piece is designed and handcrafted by Florian himself, but because it’s an artist-run gallery rather than a curated collection of pieces by a design professional. Walk into Studio Roeper on any given day, and you stand a chance of meeting the artisan himself.

Florian is certainly a talented business owner who has parlayed his skills and passions into a profitable studio, but he occasionally diverges from the furniture craft to delve into other mediums. Which is how it came to be that Studio Roeper is currently adorned with original paintings: a series titled High As a Kite.

WE KNOW FLORIAN OF STUDIO ROEPER AS A HIGHLY TALENTED LOCAL FURNITURE DESIGNER WHOSE WORK HAS GRACED THE LIKES OF FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND LUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES, IN ADDITION TO COUNTLESS PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN THE BAY AREA AND AROUND THE WORLD.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHTFLORIAN ROEPER

WRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

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BERLIN DINING TABLE

HOLLYWOOD SMOKED WALNUT COFFEE TABLE

DIVIDED LANDSCOFFEE TABLE

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“For the first time in my career I’ve been able to focus on my painting,” Florian says. “The beauty of this gallery is that I have so much wall space—perfect for my new body of work—alongside my furniture. My painting is so different than my furniture, and a lot of my customers are surprised by the answer when they ask ‘Who is this artist on the wall?’ I like that reaction, because I don’t want to just replicate my furniture style and slap it on the wall. I want to explore and express new territory.”

Indeed, Florian’s paintings are expressive and unique. They start with wood, which makes sense, given his furni-ture background. But they depart wildly from there. Gold leaf, ultra-gloss epoxy resin, and lacquer adorn unique shapes with mixed-media depictions of butterflies, bal-loons, and halos. They are romantically articulated objects suspended in space, and they are beautiful.

Florian revels in the creative expression of his paintings. “Furniture has to be a certain size,” he says. “It has to perform a certain function; it’s a functional object that’s built to last, whereas painting gives me a nice balance as an artist because I have the freedom to design and express ideas and concepts. That doesn’t mean I don’t like building furniture—I love building furniture—but it creates a nice balance.”

Florian Roeper’s new series High as a Kite is a selection of mixed-media paintings reflecting on the nature and pursuit of dreams, and the inherent challenges in achieving them. The works consist of appealing and novel imagery, butterflies, balloons, and halos, grounded or contorted by reality. Pared down compositionally, the pieces make use of explicit graphics as visual punch line: an arrow, shot at a golden California sun with a stark black bulls eye, must kink itself to make its mark in Errochite, and an enormous Zeppelin airship is rendered in cap-sule form more fitting of the behemoth vessel’s actual speed and carrying capacity in Express Voyage to a Slow Place.

Using his background training in furniture-making as a vehicle for inspiration, Roeper insists on the expressive potential of blending unexpected materials such as gold leaf, ultra-gloss epoxy resin, and laser-cut wood. Meticulously crafted, and with an uncompromising emphasis on crisp lines and three-dimensionality, High as a Kite, in Roeper’s own words, is poised to “flirt with art, craft, and design alike.”

> ABOUT HIGH AS A KITE

THE BRIDGE SIDE TABLE

EXPRESS

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PARAGON-RE.COM

I needed a place for my bike.

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Call it the new hot tub—the firepit is the “it” back-yard accessory these days. We can’t imagine a more toasty way to warm up those chilly Bay Area nights and add a spirit of camaraderie and/or romance—depending on the circumstances—to backyard shenanigans.

Today’s firepits are beautifully designed installa-tions—a far cry from the rudimentary beach con-structions of yore. The expression “firepit” doesn’t really do them justice, of course. As we’ve toured Bay Area homes lately, we’ve seen some aesthetic masterpieces in the firepit genre—outdoor builds that look beautiful and add to the charm of the home even when there’s no flame.

When designing a firepit for your outdoor space, there are plenty of design directions you can go in, but of course, you’ll want to find one that jibes with your existing landscaping and the external face of your home. Permanently installed aboveground firepits built of stone, brick, or rock offer the ability

to add a bench or ledge for fireside sitting. Sunken firepits can be subtly woven into the landscape in a completely natural way. And upcycled metal con-tainers add a hip, rustic look.

If you’re D.I.Y.ing it, make sure to keep the poten-tial flame area far away from flammable elements of the landscaping, accounting for shifts in the wind pattern and smoky nights. If you live in a particularly

OUTDOOR SPACES: A SPARK OF WARMTH

WRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

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dry part of our already-too-dry climate (although recent rains have been nice!), consider installing a screen guard. And note that gas burns cleaner than wood—a consideration when deciding on fuel type, but certainly not the only consideration.

Gas-burning firepits offer the ease of turning them on and off quickly, and require zero cleanup after the fact.

A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

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I needed a place to unwind.

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PARAGON-RE.COM

1625 CAMPESINO COURT / ALAMOThis one-of-a-kind home exudes warmth and casual ele-gance as soon as you enter through the arched wrought-iron doors. The artisan hand-chiseled walnut and pecan flooring was designed after the Louvre Museum in Paris. There are 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths, and a half bath within the home’s 7,440+ sq. ft.

115 STEPHANIE LANE / ALAMOCompleted in 2006 by Gene Schmidt, this traditional estate affords a private cul de sac adorned with lighted olive trees, beautifully landscaped lawns, and continu-ity of luxury. Columns flanking the entrance and Porte Cochere, dramatic under eave lighting, and the copper roofs over the bay windows provide a stately but welcoming feel to this home.

154 CHANTICLEER LANE / ALAMONestled in the hills of Round Hill North, this beautiful, Mediterranean-style home has just undergone a complete renovation. Upon entering, you will be captivated by the views! This home has many beautiful finishes, including the extra high ceilings, custom crown molding, gorgeous chandeliers and sconces, porcelain tile, Carrara marble in bathrooms, and refinished hardwood flooring.

OFFERED AT $3,275,000 CELESTE PACELLI 925.395.1511

OFFERED AT $7,288,000 CAROLYN GWYNN925.336.7525

OFFERED AT $1,779,000 CELESTE PACELLI 925.395.1511

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TINY LIVING: SPACE-SAVING IDEAS FLEXIBLE LIVING IN CONFINED SPACES ISN’T JUST A TREND THESE DAYS;

FOR MANY BAY AREA RESIDENTS, IT’S A NECESSITY.

Here are a few tips for how you can make your small space look and feel bigger, without relying on the old wall-to-wall mirrors trick or painting every surface bright white.

WRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

Murphy bed by bredabeds.com

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1. MULTIPURPOSE YOUR FURNITURE.Storage furniture that doubles as a seat or end table makes the most of tight quarters and can add a unique design element, as with the Ottoman. You can also upcycle an antique—consider turning a vintage trunk into a table.

2. MAKE LIKE NATURAL LIGHT.For rooms that aren’t blessed with giant windows, you can find clever ways to replicate natural light, which automatically opens up a space. CoeLux makes a ceiling LED fixture which mimics the effects of skylights so well that the company was named one of the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Technology Pioneers.

3. GIVE YOUR CEILING SOME DEPTH.It might seem counterintuitive, but painting a ceiling a bright or dark color—or even apply-ing a pattern—draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of height. This is an effect that works best with plain, light-colored walls. You can easily DIY this effect by hanging textured or embossed wallpaper or pre-fabricated paneling.

4. CREATE MOBILE STORAGE. Small carts on wheels that can tuck under counters or into tight corners make for great space savers. Consider the RÅSKOG utility cart from IKEA, which can be used as a drink cart and trotted out for get-togethers, a storage space for your craft supplies, a mini-pantry on wheels, or any number of other things. And it’s got a colorful, cute industrial-chic thing going on.

5. DANGLE THINGS.In a small kitchen where you need to store a lot of things but don’t have a lot of space, take advantage of unused ceiling space to hang a pot rack that will free up counters and cabinets and simultaneously allow easy access to your cooking accouterments—not just pots and pans, but ladles, whisks, and other essentials. And pot racks don’t have to be strictly utilitari-an; choose one that works with the style of your kitchen, like a custom-forged pot rack.

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THE ARTS MICHAEL MARTIN, CHAMPION OF ARTS CURRICULUM FOR LOCAL KIDS

WRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

18 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

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IT’S NO SECRET THAT ARTS EDUCATION HAS UNIVERSALLY SUFFERED OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE LOST ARTS FUNDING, AND THEIR FOCUS HAS BEEN HONED TO A PRECISE POINT: THE CORE CURRICULUM STANDARD, NOTORIOUSLY BEREFT OF AN ARTS COMPONENT.

Yet, studies repeatedly prove how important art is to young minds. When Michael Martin created the non-profit MMG Foundation in 2000, her vision was to create an outreach organization that could trans-form fine art dollars into arts education.

Here’s how most art galleries work: the gallery owner rents an expensive space in a prime urban area (like Union Square). Art is sold, and the pro-ceeds are split neatly between the artist and the gallery owner—whose share goes back to running and maintaining the gallery, for the most part. Michael saw the possibility of a different approach: one where the gallery owner wasn’t beholden to a profit-driven landlord, and could instead direct her share of the profits to a greater good.

About two decades ago, she began to put her vision into action. She founded a grassroots art gallery which showcased the art of emerging artists, mainly in third-world countries. Asking artists to donate art and companies to donate space, Michael put together auctions to raise money for at-risk youth—first in the Mission, and eventually all over the city.

Today, we’re seeing galleries shut down left and

right in Union Square and other expensive parts of San Francisco. But Michael’s project is still going strong. Her current gallery space, called Contempo-rary Art & Discussion, is in the aptly named DoReMi neighborhood—what we’re now calling the area nestled at the intersection of the Dogpatch, Potrero

Hill, and the Mission. This unlikely new art-world epicenter, rife with cheap warehouse space and fixer-uppers, is suddenly a magnet for artists.

The cultural landscape is shifting south; like the SF Chronicle stated in their article from last March

titled “DoReMi: Creating an arts oasis in a forbid-dingly costly city”:

“ In the gallery world, this great diaspora south is the equivalent of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s move from the Civic Center to South of Market 20 years ago.”

This geographic relocation of the art world meshes well with Michael’s work, which focuses on providing arts funding to public schools in areas that need it most. Her first recipient was Marshall Elementary School in the Mission, and her next scheduled gal-lery event will benefit Daniel Webster, an elementa-ry school right in Potrero Hill.

Michael’s organization, the MMG Foundation, works in partnership with Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an innovative education program that began with a mission to train docents at SFMOMA and has now moved into helping raise money for arts program-ming in local San Francisco public schools. They also now collaborate with the De Young and other area museums, helping kids get more access to art in museums and using museum resources to better train those who teach kids art.

As Michael says, “Art is beautiful to look at, but often expensive to see. It can certainly be made accessible to lower-income eyes, but I would like to take it a step further: selling it those who can afford it, then turning that money around and giving it right back to those who can’t—in a way that involves them with the arts directly.”

“ART IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SEPARATE PEOPLE... IT’S SUPPOSED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER”

—MICHAEL MARTIN

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I needed a change of scenery.

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PARAGON-RE.COM

10 FERN AVENUE / BELVEDERE ISLANDNestled high on the hillside of Belvedere Island, this Mid-Century modern home boasts mesmerizing eastern views—spanning from Mt. Tiburon past Old St. Hilary’s church, overlooking the San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs, Belvedere Cove, and Lagoon, to Angel Island continuing over to the Bay Bridge.

OFFERED AT $2,495,000 PAT CARAPIET415.990.9125

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MARKET UPDATE: 2015 REAL ESTATE RECAP

WRITTEN BY | JOSLYN MCINTYRE

ONE OF OUR INTERNAL HEROES HERE AT PARAGON IS OUR CHIEF MARKET ANALYST, PATRICK CARLISLE— RESIDENT MASTER OF DATA.

• Not surprisingly, the median sale price of homes hit an all-time high in 2015. Even during the Boom & Bubble of 2002 to 2007, the median price of a house in San Francisco peaked at $895,000; in 2015, it was $1,250,000. Condos averaged $1,100,000, and TICs $947,000.

• The interest rates on 30-year mortgages stayed low, around 4%. Over the course of the entire year, interest rates only fluctuated a seventh of a percent—interesting, since paranoia about inter-est-rate spikes was at an all-time high in the media.

• The oldest house that sold in 2015 was at 956 Van Ness in the Mission. Built in 1872, it sold for $2.674 million. However, more new houses con-dos sold last year than those of any other archi-tectural era: 1,036 houses condos built between 2000 and 2015.

• When measured by average dollar per livable square foot (houses only), Bayview and Visitation Valley ranked lowest, while Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow/the Marina ranked highest—with Noe, Eureka, and Cole Valleys right behind.

He aggregates numbers and turns them into stories, as you can see on the feature of our website called San Francisco Real Estate Market Reports.

Throughout 2015, Patrick’s analysis of the local real estate market has yielded plenty of fantastic insights. Here’s a recap of some of 2015’s statistical highlights.

For the past four years, since the recovery began in 2012, the spring selling season has been the most frenzied of the year—and the period during which most of the home-price appreciation has occurred. Will that high demand/low supply, highly competitive dynamic repeat itself in 2016, or has the market finally reached an inflection point leading to a plateau in appreciation? Will the financial-markets volatility that erupted in early 2016 continue and, if so, what effect will that have on the new year’s real estate market?

We shall soon see.

• For condos, those numbers are differ-ent, with South Beach, Yerba Buena, and Mission Bay ranking highest, and Diamond Heights at the bottom.

• Of course, the biggest houses were sold in the Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights neighborhoods, with Sea Cliff and the Marina coming in second and third.

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APR2014

MAY2014

JUN2014

JUL2014

AUG2014

SEP2014

OCT2014

NOV2014

DEC2014

JAN2015

FEB2015

MAR2015

APR2015

MAY2015

JUN2015

JUL2015

AUG2015

SEP2015

OCT2015

NOV2015

DEC2015

57

9 7

53

4

9

4

3

4

4

9 11

7

12

6

3

3

6

9

5

58 56 50 55 26 69 39 50 22 33 80 79 75 64 78 46 32 59 50 49

SPRING 2014

SPRING 2015

STOCK MARKET VOLATILITYAUG. - SEPT.

4TH QTR. 2014

4TH QTR. 2015

SAN FRANCISCO LUXURY HOME MARKETHouse, Condo, Co-op & TIC Sales of $2,000,000+

Sales reported to MLS.

Luxury Home Sales ($5,000,000+)

Luxury Home Sales ($2,000,000 - $4,999,999m)

8

Sales in one month generally reflect the state of the market 3 to 6 weeks earlier, when the sale terms were negotiated: Stock market angst in September meant a weaker luxury home market in October; the stock market recovery in

October brought about a stronger real estate market in November and December.

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After all, there are a lot of nice houses in the Bay Area—and particularly in Diablo Valley, where I most often represent clients buying and selling homes. But from the very beginning, the house at 115 Stephanie Lane struck me as unique.

The home itself—a 9,372-square-foot 5-bedroom suite estate on a private cul de sac—is fairly tradi-tional (albeit gorgeous) in its architectural style, but there’s something very comfy and homey about it, despite its grand size. The layout just makes sense, so the home seems roomy and spacious, yes, but never cavernous. The lighting adds to the effect: perfectly placed recessed lights reflect off the warm hardwood floors to create an intimate ambience in a big house.

I love the house, but what makes 115 Stephanie Lane truly special are the grounds. The sellers were the home’s first owners, and used their European aes-thetic (they are Russian) to transform a flat acre and a half into a textured, dimensional, and lush panora-ma of gorgeous landscaping. They had their hearts set on a vanishing-edge pool, for instance, but the flat plot of land presented a challenge. So, they

enlisted Chuck Bauman of Creative Environments to build a pebble tec pool in order to provide not just a vanishing edge, but a 360-degree vanishing spa with a copper spillway and Oceanside glass tile.

Christopher Lines is the landscaping genius who designed the grounds, and his vision is apparent in many details: lighted olive trees, flagstone patios, and French antiquities imported by Jan de Luz. The stunning bronze fountains—made in the 1930s—were imported from Paris. I’ve been all throughout France, and when I stepped onto the property of 115 Stephanie Lane, I felt like I was viewing the grounds of a rural French chateau.

The fountains are strategically lit with Luminaire wa-ter jets lights that can be coordinated to the beat of piped-in music. It’s a profound effect and will equip the next owner of this house with the means for bril-liant outdoor entertaining—a great bonus in an area known for its long, balmy summers.

And a quick note about the fountains and the water in general: perhaps the most unique and special aspect of 115 Stephanie Lane is that all water is

AS A REALTOR, I VIEW A LOT OF VERY BEAUTIFUL PROPERTIES.

REALTOR SPOTLIGHT:CAROLYN GWYNN

WRITTEN BY | CAROLYN GWYNN

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pumped through a private 1700-gallon well on the land—not drawing from the imperiled public water supply at all, but totally independent of it. On an-other environmental note, the 120 LED light fixtures that illuminate the property at night are powered by sustainable solar modules.

There are so many more details of this property that I could share. If you’re interested in reading more and seeing the entire portfolio of property photo-graphs, please visit www.115stephanielane.com.

> ABOUT CAROLYN

Carolyn Gwynn is a consistent top producer in the Diablo Valley and Lamorinda real estate markets. A consummate busi-nesswomen, Carolyn’s 20+ years of sales executive experience

in the computer hardware and software industries, working with global accounts like Chevron, HP, Apple, and Nike, makes her an excellent negotiator, marketer, and deal-maker. She has a large person-al and professional network, and deep knowledge of the communities she serves. To contact Carolyn about the house at 115 Stephanie Lane, or other properties you are interested in buying or selling, visit www.carolyngwynn.com

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Of course, Potrero Hill has always been about settling down. For decades rich in family culture and mom-and-pop shops, it’s a neighborhood that people don’t leave—which makes for less housing turnover than you see in other parts of the city. Somehow, Potrero Hill feels like San Francisco’s last best-kept secret.

As Molly Ditmore opined in The Bold Italic in 2014, “It feels isolated from the rest of town despite the street theater of the 22 Fillmore bus zigzagging to its termi-nus on Third Street. We have sweeping city views with a perfectly framed downtown skyline. The ships on the bay and the blinking lights of Oakland are part of the show… People here are lifers.”

When a great house in Potrero Hill comes on the mar-ket, people perk up. And so it is with the ELEVATION-haus at 776 Wisconsin Street. This modern masterpiece

was recently renovated—stripped to the studs and built back up—by renowned local developers Strong-Hold Construction. Known for their custom steel work, StrongHold built a stunning oversized steel-and-glass entry door that hints at the breathtaking design work within: a custom-designed Studio Becker kitchen, a spacious media lounge, ceilings soaring over a wall of quartz stone in the entryway...

From the infrastructure to the fine details of the finish, quality is paramount. And built on travertine rock with three steel moment frames, the aptly named ELEVA-TIONhaus is not going anywhere—even should “the big one” ever arrive.

The clean lines and modern aesthetic of the interior are complemented by the exterior landscape—a spacious, multi-level garden and patio. This is a home that’s

well-designed both inside and out, beckoning to a future owner who cherishes an indoor/outdoor lifestyle and the space to entertain in either.

And then there’s the view: through the upstairs floor-to-ceiling windows, a sweeping panorama from bridge to bridge. The view of the Bay from high up on this hill is unrivaled. This view is one of the reasons that couples, families, and local titans of industry are choosing to set-tle down in Potrero Hill. Just down the street, in fact, is a home that recently sold for 9.5 million, and the founder of Pandora has now moved in around the corner.

Potrero Hill has indeed become the new “it” neighbor-hood for luxury housing, but it’s the juxtaposition of a beautifully designed home with a classically laid back San Francisco neighborhood that makes this piece of property so compelling.

THESE WALLS TALK:DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO — POTRERO HILL IS THE NEW HEIGHTS

WRITTEN BY | SUZANNE GREGG

ONCE UPON A TIME, THE MONEYED ELITE SOUGHT OUT PROPERTIES IN CLASSIC NORTHERN SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE RUSSIAN HILL, PACIFIC HEIGHTS, AND NOB HILL. BUT SAN FRANCISCO HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PROGRESS; DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO IS IN OUR GENES. AND SO IT IS THAT THE NEW PARADIGM IN LUXURY HOUSING IS MOVING SOUTH.

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PARAGON-RE.COM

I needed a place to smell the roses.

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29A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

30 160 27TH STREET31 1727 29TH STREET32 164 BELVEDERE STREET33 260 CASTRO STREET34 4173 CESAR CHAVEZ STREET35 95 CLARENDON AVENUE36 496 CRESTLAKE DRIVE37 50 FAIR OAKS STREET 38 50 GOLETA AVENUE39 44 MENDOSA AVENUE

RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS: SAN FRANCISCO

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30 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED NOE VALLEY HOME

WWW.EXTRAORDINOE.COM

More Than Just a Home—A Bold Step Forward! This stunning Noe Valley Victorian has been transformed by a local builder into a comfortable and very livable 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, three-level home. The main floor has an open plan with a formal dining room, living room with fireplace, home office, large open eat-in kitchen, and family room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The outdoor living area, that opens directly out from the kitchen, features IPE decking, gas fire pit, beautifully situated outdoor dining area, and extensive landscaping. High ceilings and modern finishes compliment the gorgeous stained silver/white oak floors.

160 27th STREET / OFFERED AT $4,659,000

SUZANNE GREGG415.701.2604

[email protected]

Lic# 01045513

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31A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

CENTRAL SUNSET – A HOME TRANSFORMED

WWW.1727-29thAVE.COM

Artful architecture, solid engineering, and quality construction transformed this 1939-era house into an astonishing modern dream home. Re-built in 2010, the house was expanded by adding a horizontal addition and by developing the lower level. As part of the redesign, ceilings and roof were raised, seismic upgrades, new plumbing, electrical, flooring, windows, doors, skylights, and finishes of the highest quality were put into place. Other amenities: Golden Gate Bridge views, open floor plan with 13’ vaulted ceilings, radiant heat, solar panels, spa baths, sound system, 2-car side-by-side garage, and fantastic outdoor space.

JANE R. POPPELREITER415.378.8635

[email protected]

Lic# 01469916

1727 29th AVENUE / OFFERED AT $1,485,000

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32 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

WWW.164BELVEDERE.COM

This is your chance to buy into a partially completed Victorian masterpiece in highly desirable Cole Valley. Currently under construction, the finished project will consist of 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half-baths, a media room, and a 2-car garage. Three floors of living space add up to 4,316 sq.ft. Excavation and new foundation have been completed. Framing of the three levels is underway. Make the finished project your own with choices of appliances, fixtures, and colors. The developer will complete the project or bring in your own contractor.

GINA ENRIQUEZ415.738.7074

[email protected]

Lic# 00895779

164 BELVEDERE STREET / OFFERED AT $3,500,000

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33A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

MAGIC!

WWW.PARAGON-RE.COM

This is what you have been waiting for. 260 Castro is quintessential San Francisco charm and intrigue. The entryway leads to a dramatic sunken living room. Gardens wrap around the home to create great indoor/outdoor livability. You will love the deck and garden off the kitchen. The home has two good-sized bedrooms and one bathroom. This fantastic location is walking distance to the Castro and Market St. shops, Duboce Park, and Buena Vista Park. Buy and perhaps do simple renovation or DEVELOP! Sellers are including detailed development plans by Geddes Ulinskas Architects. Want more? Buy this one WITH the lot and house next door at 262 Castro Street (MLS #436206) to create an incredible compound with infinite possibilities.

260 CASTRO STREET / OFFERED AT $1,595,000

GINA ENRIQUEZ415.738.7074

[email protected]

Lic# 00895779

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34 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

NOE’S NEWEST MODERN MASTERPIECE

WWW.4137CESARCHAVEZ.COM

4173 Cesar Chavez is a gorgeous residence with unparalleled finish quality—the definition of modern luxury living and refined design. The home’s palate is neutral but rich in material without competing with the architecture. Structurally executed to maximize light, this home is luminous, with floor-to-ceiling windows and an oversized skylight that runs to the lowest level of the home. Its cohesive layout features custom millwork throughout, enhancing each space while ensuring functionality. This combination of expansive, open floor plans, sweeping scale, extraordinary natural light, and attention to detail makes this modern masterpiece absolutely unique.

JESS WILLIAMS415.828.6164

[email protected]

Lic# 01428113

4173 CESAR CHAVEZ STREET / OFFERED AT $4,850,000

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35A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

CONTEMPORARY HOME WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS!

WWW.95CLARENDON.COM

• Four bedrooms all on one level• Two and a half bathrooms• Panoramic bay and GG bridge views• Open floor plan• Custom kitchen• Separate family room and office nook

• View decks and patio• 2-car side-by-side garage• Abundance of storage• Year built: 1964 (per tax records)• Square feet: 2,611 (per draftsperson)

SHANNON CRONAN415.819.4059

[email protected]

Lic# 01949759

95 CLARENDON / OFFERED AT $2,695,000

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36 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

LAKE VIEW HOME ON THE PARK

WWW.496CRESTLAKE.COM

496 Crestlake Drive is a special address with Pine Lake Park for a neighbor and beautiful views of the water. This fully detached grand home has been in the same family for over 40 years, and its architectural integrity has been beautifully preserved. Paying homage to its Spanish Revival roots are the original gleaming hardwood floors, exposed beams, fireplace surround, and wonderful period detail throughout. The grand foyer is anchored by a gorgeous curved staircase and leads into the living room, dining room, kitchen, and breakfast room. The home is freshly painted inside and out and ready for the next generation to make it their own.

HELENA ZALUDOVA415.517.2944

[email protected]

Lic# 01472256

496 CRESTLAKE DRIVE / OFFERED AT $1,595,000

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37A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

STATELY 10 ROOM VICTORIAN ON DISTINGUISHED LIBERTY HILL BLOCK

WWW.50FAIROAKS.COM

An extraordinary two level Victorian situated on celebrated Fair Oaks St. on the warm southern slope of Liberty Hill. Oak floors, tall ceilings, elaborate picture railings, and other Victorian details are abundant in this fantastic building, while expansion possibilities for additional living space abound, as there are just 3 rooms on the ground level and 7 rooms on the second level, plus an attic above. The front garden is majestic while a lane running behind the property provides access to the garage and the garden space at the rear of the property. This property lends itself to expanded or multi-generational family living but also presents a huge opportunity to incorporate lots of unused and underused space into a magnificent Victorian landmark home for generations to come.

PETE BRANNIGAN415.401.9901

[email protected]

Lic# 01117161

50 FAIR OAKS STREET / OFFERED AT $2,399,000

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38 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

SUNNY, EXPANSIVE MEDITERRANEAN HOME

WWW.50GOLETA.COM

Boasting a rarely available six-bedroom, four-and-one-half bathroom floor plan, this stately Mediterranean home offers a world of possibilities! Awash in light from expansive windows and skylights, the main level offers a formal living room and expansive open kitchen beautifully appointed with Cambria counters, stainless steel appliances, and abundant custom cabinetry. This level also has three bedrooms and two-and-one-half baths including a lovely master suite with spa bath. The home’s lower level is wonderfully configured for entertaining with a spacious family room, custom wet bar, and luxurious sauna. An additional three bedrooms and two baths on this level offers space for an extended family, nanny’s quarters, and home offices.

CHRISTINE SCHOEN415.215.8405

[email protected]

Lic# 01945394

50 GOLETA AVENUE / OFFERED AT $1,895,000

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39A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

ELEGANT ENGLISH TUDOR HOME

WWW.44MENDOSA.COM

• English Tudor home on coveted Forest Hill• Sweeping Bay and City views• Four bedrooms and 4.5 baths• Family room with adjacent deck and yard• Formal living room with gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings• Formal, dramatic dining room

• Lovely wood floors• Luxurious baths• Secure front and rear gardens• Generous storage space• 3,016 square feet, per tax records• Built in 1922

44 MENDOSA AVENUE / OFFERED AT $2,250,000

MARY MACPHERSON415.701.2621

[email protected]

Lic# 01839976

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40 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS: MARIN41 10 FERN AVENUE

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41A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

ENCHANTING VIEW MID-CENTURY BELVEDERE HOME

WWW.BELVEDEREVIEWHOME.COM

Nestled high on the hillside of Belvedere Island, this Mid-Century modern home boasts mesmerizing eastern views—spanning from Mt. Tiburon past Old St. Hilary’s church, overlooking the San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs, Belvedere Cove, and Lagoon, to Angel Island continuing over to the Bay Bridge. Take full advantage of this enviable perch with its indoor/outdoor layout, whether entertaining or watching the ferry or boats sail by. It is a spot you may never want to leave. Belvedere is known for its great Marin lifestyle, award-winning schools, ferry service to San Francisco, and the amenities of Main Street in Tiburon. Living in Belvedere has all the qualities of a small town with summer concerts in the park, parades, an active community center, and library.

PAT CARAPIET415.990.9125

[email protected]

Lic# 00895957

10 FERN AVENUE / OFFERED AT $2,495,000

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42 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

44 4 TYLER COURT 45 6 TYLER COURT46 115 STEPHANIE LANE47 154 CHANTICLEER LANE 48 1625 CAMPESINO COURT

RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS: DANVILLE

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43A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MODERN CRAFTSMAN

WWW.MARILEEHEADEN.COM

Energy-efficient new construction in the heart of Old Danville. Enjoy all the luxuries of a new home in a wonderful, established neighborhood. The open floor plan is designed for today’s lifestyle. This beautiful craftsman home features 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and an office in 4005 sq ft. and offers high ceilings, great finishes, and a large lot (17,701 sq ft). Make this your next home. Close to twelve years of Danville schools, shopping, and dining. Ideally located, this home has easy access to the 680 freeway. All the energy- efficient features of a new home make this a smart buy. The future homeowner will truly enjoy living in the heart of old Danville.

4 TYLER COURT / OFFERED AT $1,995,000

MARILEE HEADEN925.330.2380

[email protected]

Lic# 00616127

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44 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MONTEREY-STYLE HOME

WWW.MARILEEHEADEN.COM

Energy-efficient new construction in the heart of Old Danville. Enjoy all the luxuries of a new home in a wonderful, established neighborhood. The open floor plan is designed for today’s lifestyle. This beautiful, Monterey-style home features 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths in approx. 4,206 sq ft. Offering high ceilings, stunning finishes, and a large lot (approx. 19,343 sq ft), make this your next home. Very close to twelve years of great Danville schools, shopping, dining, and good freeway access.

MARILEE HEADEN925.330.2380

[email protected]

Lic# 00616127

6 TYLER COURT / OFFERED AT $1,795,000

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45A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

MASTERFULLY AND SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED

WWW.115STEPHANIELANE.COM

Completed in 2006 by Gene Schmidt, this traditional estate affords a private cul de sac adorned with lighted olive trees, beautifully landscaped lawns and continuity of luxury. Columns flanking the entrance and Porte Cochere, dramatic under eave lighting and the copper roofs over the bay windows provide a stately but welcoming feel to this home. In addition to 5 bed-room suites, the main house boasts a library, two bonus rooms, and three powder rooms plus a six car oversized garage with motor court.

CAROLYN GWYNN925.336.7525

[email protected]

Lic# 01888136

115 STEPHANIE LANE / OFFERED AT $7,288,000

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46 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE DREAM HOUSE

WWW.154CHANTICLEERLANE.COM

• Newly renovated in 2015• Approx. 4,500 sq ft.• Lot size approx .70 acres• 4 bedrooms/ 3.5 baths• 3 gas fireplaces• Round Hill North

• Huge bonus room• Gourmet kitchen• Designer paint colors• 5+ car garage with epoxy floor• Panoramic views of oak trees, hills, and a horse farm• Top-rated San Ramon Valley schools

CELESTE PACELLI,925.395.1511

[email protected]

Lic# 01862387

154 CHANTICLEER LANE / OFFERED AT $1,779,000

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47A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

A ONE-OF-A-KIND HOME

WWW.1625CAMPESINOCOURT.COM

• 6 bedrooms/5.5 baths• Approx. 7,500+/- sq. ft.• Built in 2008• 3-car garage• Lot size approx. 1.4 acres• Coveted west side Alamo

• Gourmet kitchen• Oversized family room• Formal living and dining room• 5 fireplaces and firepit• Movie theater• San Ramon Valley schools

• Easy access to 680/24 and BART• Close to parks, shopping, and dining

1625 CAMPESINO COURT / OFFERED AT $3,275,000

CELESTE PACELLI,925.395.1511

[email protected]

Lic# 01862387

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48 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

49 708 POLK STREET 50 769 PAGE STREET51 937 HARRISON STREET

44 708 POLK STREET45 769-773 PAGE STREET46 937 HARRISON STREET

COMMERCIAL LISTINGS: SAN FRANCISCO

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49A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

GREAT POLK STREET OPPORTUNITY!

WWW.PARAGON-CB.COM

Call for details.

708 POLK STREET / CALL FOR PRICE

DAVIS NGUYEN415.874.5039

[email protected]

Lic# 01509978

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50 A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

SPACIOUS EDWARDIAN FLATS

WWW.PARAGON-CB.COM

Located on one of the best blocks of Lower Haight, these spacious units have much to offer. The property has been under the same ownership for many years and has been well-maintained. The units have hardwood floors and period charm. The top floor six-room flat is rented for $3,695, the middle five-room unit is rented for $3,795 and the first floor four-room flat is rented for $2,455. Wedged between Hayes Valley, Divisadero, and Haight Street, this is an incredible buying opportunity.

ADAM FILLY415.874.5031

[email protected]

Lic# 01354775

769-773 PAGE STREET / OFFERED AT $2,195,000

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51A PARAGON REAL ESTATE GROUP PUBLICATION

GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!

WWW.PARAGON-CB.COM

Call for details.

937 HARRISON STREET / CALL FOR PRICE

DAVIS NGUYEN415.874.5039

[email protected]

Lic# 01509978

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