522 Northern Ave. Mill Valley, CA

ULTRA-CHARMING COTTAGE WITH LUSH GARDENS

As if from the pages of Better Homes & Gardens comes this wonderful 2 bedroom plus den, 2 bathroom cottage-style home in Mill Valley designed for both delightful living and effervescent entertaining. From the front, the quaint rock wall, stone pathway, and crepe myrtle trees lining the driveway set the stage. Inside, the well-appointed rooms and brilliant color palette emote richness and warmth. Two sets of French doors enable easy indoor/outdoor flow to the backyard gardens. What a treat.

The great room features a tall vaulted ceiling making a voluminous, airy living space. The great room is open to the chef’s kitchen with high-end stainless-steel appliances, granite counters, custom cabinetry, and a large island with bar stool seating for relaxing while sipping a cocktail or glass of wine while the chef prepares dinner.

A dramatic faux-painted red dining room has unique modern walls sconces and chandelier. The built-in temperature-controlled 700-bottle wine cellar with glass doors is a show stopper that invites you to pull velvety pinots, cabernets, and chardonnays for lively evenings with family and friends. An adjacent living room/library with solid wood built-in bookcases, plantation shutters, and a marble gas fireplace welcomes you to settle in for a movie, Netflix binge, or your current favorite novel.

The master bedroom has a dramatic vaulted wood ceiling; French doors to the garden and hot tub; and an adjacent designer bathroom featuring a high ceiling, large linen closet, vintage sink, wood floors, and classic tile-work shower. The second bedroom features large windows that draw natural light and frame the front garden like impressionist art. Its beautifully designed en-suite bathroom offers a clawfoot tub.

A modern office/den with an 8-foot-long desk/work surface and built-in bookcases is perfect for a home office, hobby room, or guest room.

Concrete hydronic floors in the great room, kitchen, laundry, office, master bedroom, and second bathroom make for evenly comfortable living without the dust and drafts of conventional heating systems. A convenient laundry room with a washer and dryer and a detached 2-car garage (new in 2011) complete the 1,944 sq. ft. home (per public records).

Unusually flat for Mill Valley, the backyard, with a bluestone patio, hot tub, stone pathways and even a charming foot bridge, bursts with colorful flora and mature trees including dogwood, bay laurel, Japanese maple, lime, apple, and cherry plum trees and roses, dahlias, irises, lilies, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and azaleas. It is truly gorgeous.

Exceptional in location, 552 Northern Avenue is close to Good Earth Grocery and minutes away by car are Whole Foods, Safeway, Mollie Stone, boutiques, cafes, top-notch schools, and more. Outdoor play is all around, including hikes and bike rides in Muir Woods, Tennessee Valley Beach, and Stinson. Plus, easy access to Highway 101 makes for breezy commutes.

552 Northern: what a wonderful opportunity for a designer home in a dynamic location.