Bay Area Sweet Digs

May 2, 2007

Palo Alto: Outside-of-the-Box Eichler

419 Ferne ft Palo Alto: Outside of the Box Eichler

At first glance, 419 Ferne Ave looks like some military cargo plane accidentally dropped a railroad container on top of an Eichler.

419 Fern Kit Palo Alto: Outside of the Box Eichler

But if you can move beyond its odd shape, inside, this house is well designed and pleasant. Great color choices, inviting spaces, cool kitchen, and lots of light. The main living space is open to a lush Asian garden, and unlike most Eichlers, the window wall is double-paned, so you won’t have to don your arctic gear in the winter.

419 Ferne bk Palo Alto: Outside of the Box Eichler

The box-on-top holds the master bedroom suite, and it’s a fun space with a great view to the garden. This house is perfect if you have teens who “need their space” and want entry into Gunn High School, which has the highest test scores in town.

The location is a mixed bag. The house backs up onto the Cubberley track and community center, a plus in my book. The downside is that this house is a lone gem in a sea of uninspired Eichlers. I’m sure the neighboring houses will eventually be improved, but it could take a few years.

Location: 419 Ferne Ave
Price: $1,795,000
BR: 5, BA 3
Sq. Ft: 2,580
Lot Size: 8,500 Sq Ft

**************************
My Rating: 85 out of 100

Location: 7, quiet, tired Eichler neighborhood
Schools: 10 Gunn HS
Noise: 8, backs up on a soccer/track
Layout: 9, great for teens
Construction quality: 9, excellent remodel
Curb appeal: 7, requires “out-of-box” thinking
Maintenance: 9, completely updated
Style: 8, acquired taste
Privacy: 9, lush private garden spaces
Function: 9, perfect for family with teens

[Scale: 1=negative, 10=positive]
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419 Ferne map Palo Alto: Outside of the Box Eichler

Posted by Kris Newby on May 2, 2007 1:38 PM | del.icio.us | Digg

  • What I wouldn't give to have the forethought of design and craftsmanship of an Eichler here in NYS!! We ran a story a few years ago about the painstaking way some owners wish to revive -- without ruining the clean lines of their Eichlers. Don't worry, there is a support group out there to help you stay committed! -- diane
  • Mid C Modern
    Kris,
    If you are "not a big fan of ruining the look-and-feel of Eichler neighborhoods with Starter Castles", why would you call this house a "Gem" when its shingle siding and second story add-on go completely against the look-and-feel of the Eichlers in the neighborhood?

    btw, you might want to tour the neighborhood one more time. There are probably about 25 Eichlers on this street and its cul-de-sacs. There are may be 2-3 houses that have "faded paint and scruffy yards". I know of about a dozen houses that have spent major $s on restoration within the last few years!
  • Kris Newby
    Let me clarify my phrase "uninspired Eichlers." The Eichlers in the immediate vicinity of this listing are not well maintained. Many of them have peeling, faded paint and scruffy yards. Though Eichlers are not my personal favorite style of home, I respect that there are many people who appreciate them, and improve the original design flaws, such as lack of insulation and single pane windows.

    I'm also not a big fan of ruining the look-and-feel of Eichler neighborhoods with "Starter Castles."
  • greenmeadow
    If the author cared to educate himself/herself about the "uninspired neighborhood" he/she would find that the neighorhood was nominated to the National Historic Register last year. It has been toured by The National Association of Architectural Historians and The SF Museum of Modern Art. An Eichler two blocks away is in April issue of Sunset Magzine. Another Eichler house two blocks away won a historic preservation award last year and was featured in backdrops for the Williams Sonoma / Holdeverything Xmas catalog. Another Eichler house in the neighborhood won a Home of the Year Award from Metropolitn Home Magazine and yet another was featured in the New York Times last year for its modern Green features. The list goes on and on but you get the point. It is the author who is living an uninspired life with a bag over his/her oblivious head
  • Joe Eichler
    "The downside is that this house is a lone gem in a
    sea of uninspired Eichlers. I'm sure the
    neighboring houses will eventually be improved,
    but it could take a few years."

    You are correct in a way - it will take a few years to collect enough Home Depot materials like spanish tile and brass door knobs to transform the neighborhood into a mesh of mini-mansions like the rest of Palo Alto.

    The intersection of real estate agent values and architectural aesthetics is the empty set; Your spouting off about improving Eichlers is almost as ludicrous as your fatuous rating system. I've seen what ignorant real estate agents do to Eichlers to prep them for a quick sale - starting with painting exposed beams.
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