3955 Happy Valley Road

Homes on Happy Valley Road all are highly prized, but several things make this exceptional estate stand above others.  First, it not only is well removed from street traffic and noise, down a tree-shaded lane; it is wholly invisible from Happy Valley Road.  One lives in tranquility and solitude.  Second, it is immense:  a 3.6-acre lot, with 13,737 square feet of living space in the main dwelling under soaring ceilings, with six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half-baths.  Third, the estate offers an exceptional venue for outdoor entertaining:  a pavilion with elite appliances, ample bar seating and counter space, and two televisions.  Fourth, the pavilion adjoins a charming brick-lined casita for guests, fully appointed with a complete kitchen, living room, walk-in closet, kitchen, full bath and dining nook.  Finally, the pastoral grounds provide tranquility on every side:  mature trees, grassy play areas, and one’s choice of outdoor seating areas in both shade and sun.  A corporate CEO made this his family home for 18 years, and a visit to the estate makes it easy to understand why.

Now, the details.  Leave Happy Valley Road behind, and pass mature trees on the lane to the home’s security gate.  The home’s ivy-covered walls and koi ponds beckon.  Enter through a grand doorway under a 26-foot ceiling, with nearby windows admitting abundant light.  (Alternatively, enter by the garage into a mud room – a mud suite, actually – with lockers for wet-weather gear and a laundry room with two washing machines and two dryers.)  Then enjoy the exceptional living room, under elevated ceilings over Venetian plaster walls and exceptional hardwoods.  An oversized wood-burning fireplace, with a distinctive surround, wards off any winter chill, and an adjacent wet bar stands ready to serve guests in comfort.  One of three stairways to the upstairs living areas rises dramatically from the living room.

Also downstairs are two less-formal gathering areas:  The Great Room (which truly is great), under another elevated ceiling, features an oversized wood-burning fireplace with an impressive mantel and surround.  A casual family room, under still another elevated ceiling, is just steps away, featuring a built-in oversized television with a sound bar.  The kitchen sits between, with elite appliances (including two SubZero refrigerators, two garbage disposals, two ranges, and a five-burner Wolf cooktop), a large butler’s pantry alongside, an informal breakfast bar, and wide counters and a spacious island.  An informal dining area adjoins the kitchen, featuring a custom buffet.  For more-formal meals, the dining room is close at hand, also under high ceilings; it currently is configured to seat 12, but the room easily could accommodate a second table to host still-more guests.  The outside pavilion provides another venue for entertaining and is certain to be the center of outdoor gatherings.  It offers an elite grill, extensive counters and an island, a bar easily seating 10, complete appliances, four heaters and an immense overhead fan to provide comfort in any season, and two Sun Brite televisions for any manner of entertainment.  Adjacent is a shady patio for more friends to gather, and a grassy play area that could be configured for croquet.  The casita sits adjacent, accommodating guests in privacy and comfort.  An additional shaded patio, with a covered area and fireplace, sits behind the home.  Work from home is easy in the spacious first-floor office, featuring two separate work stations, built-in cabinetry and shelving, and garden views.  A separate library with custom shelving provides space for reading and reflection; it could be configured as a second office.  The first floor also offers a media/movie room, with comfortable seating and a huge screen for airing one’s choice of films.

Two bedrooms are located downstairs, at either end of the home; one looks to the rear gardens, the other to the pavilion and casita.  The other four bedrooms are upstairs, accessed by two separate stairways in addition to the grand staircase rising from the formal living room.  Breakfast in bed is a pleasure upstairs; a dumbwaiter brings a meal to one’s door.  All bedrooms offer spacious walk-in closets with ample shelving and hanging space, and en-suite baths with marble tile and distinctive fixtures.  The principal suite is particularly exceptional, with an oversized oval shower with three heads and a spacious bench, dual sinks, an LG television, a spacious walk-in closet with ample shelving and hanging space, and a second laundry room to supplement the principal one downstairs.

Parking for residents and guests is easy.  Two garages house four cars, and the parking court, inside the gate at the front of the home, accommodates numerous more.  The refrigerated wine cellar sits adjacent to one of the garages.

This estate, though just three or four minutes to Lafayette’s shopping, restaurants and amenities, and via the 24 freeway to the rest of the Bay Area, is a distinctive and rare retreat from the bustle and cares of the outside world.