Presenting a unique opportunity to buy a rare and very special Berkeley Hills two-parcel property. Offered as a trustee sale, for the first time since the early 60’s, 1160 Miller is waiting for your vision for next generation living. It’s not a fixer, in that it’s livable now, but it could benefit from some cosmetic updating for the kitchen and baths to give it a more contemporary feel. Here is your chance to bring your aesthetic vision to your home and create your very own Berkeley legacy.

The property consists of two adjacent parcels with a 2882 sq ft main home, plus a 579 sq ft detached studio (not an ADU). The two parcels are divided by Stephenson Path, owned by the city of Berkeley, but constitute one address. Total of the two lots is 12,000 sq ft.

THE MAIN HOUSE
The main house is a unique hybrid of Berkeley brown shingle charm and mid-century elements. The elegant, vaulted wood beam living room with brick fireplace is large enough to hold a baby grand, and you’ll want to host many gatherings here. House concerts, political fund-raisers, holiday parties, salons? This room is the perfect backdrop. The kitchen, den, and bedrooms have a distinctly mid-century quality, with clean lines, ample wood cabinetry and built-in shelving. The bedroom wing affords great separation of space and a feeling of privacy within the home. The common rooms are light and airy with treetop views to the Bay and beyond.

The upper floor features 2 ample bedrooms, each with ensuite baths, plus a smaller bedroom with built-in shelves and an exterior door, making it infinitely flexible for use as a nursery, child sized bedroom, an office, tv room, and more. The dedicated den area, off the foyer and kitchen at the entry, provides extensive built-in bookshelves plus a second fireplace and views of the private entry courtyard, and can function as separate home office, writers den, or study. The kitchen provides a convenient U-shaped layout generous enough for more than one cook to work together, two large wall mounted ovens, a pass through to the dining room from the stove, views of the Bay from the sink and a wealth of storage from workspace cabinetry to the adjacent pantry just off the main kitchen. An exterior door with doggie door in the pantry makes it convenient to get groceries and pets in and out with ease.

Downstairs is a large, finished bonus room with built-in desk and cabinetry and an ensuite full bath that can function as a 4th bedroom, as a teen wing/rumpus room, or a potential in-law space. You’ll also find a large workshop area plus an old dark room, laundry room, and a bonus room with closet. Downstairs is accessed via an interior staircase but also has two exterior doors, rendering this space flexibility for a wide variety of uses. Built in 1939 and updated multiple times over the years, the home has been lovingly maintained and has many modern elements, including two hot water heating systems, one a gas fired tank system and a second tankless system for the bedroom wing of the house. Extensive retrofitting was done in the 90’s.

THE STUDIO
Previous owner was a renowned academic and researcher at UCB, and in the early 90’s he hired Levitch Architects in Berkeley to design a detached studio building on the second parcel to serve as his personal workspace. The 579 sq ft structure features a vaulted ceiling, beautiful woodwork that provides tons of storage and bookshelves, a half bath and a mini fridge. This is a perfect space for writing your next book, or starting your home-based business, in an ample, inspiring and beautifully built space. This is not a converted garage; this is a dedicated space for great creative minds to work.

THE PARCELS AND THE PATH
The combined lots total 12,000 sq ft, are terraced and gently sloping so that they provide both a sense of privacy from the street and a wealth of outdoor living opportunity. The yard includes several stately old oak trees, a multitude of both species and Japanese lace leaf maples, a spectacular 50plus year old wisteria, several younger wisterias of different colors, rhododendron, azaleas, and more. There is small view deck off the dining room and a large, detached deck in the lower yard. The terraced yards above and below the studio provide so much space for gardening, play space, spots to sit and admire the view. In front of the main house, you’ll find a two-car garage with automatic door at street level, and then down a short path you find the private entry courtyard to the main house. The courtyard is ringed by mature plants, including a graceful and tall species maple. Under the garage within the courtyard is a large separate storage space including a wine room.

The wood path between the two structures is Stephenson Path and is part of the Berkeley Paths network. If you haven’t hiked these paths yourself, you will be delighted to learn about them at berkeleypaths.org. One of Berkeley’s hidden treasures!

All sq ft is pulled from public record and past appraisals. Agent makes no warranties and buyers should confirm sq ft and room count to their own satisfaction.