Special offer

Vintage Petaluma D Street

By
Real Estate Agent with Healdsburg Sotheby's International Realty

porte-cochere on Petaluma D Street

Petaluma's D Street is heaven for fans of grand old homes. I was searching in Petaluma for a country property that was close to town, but had a rural feel. This 1915 classic at 1310 D Street is close enough to walk to town, but you can ride your horse right out the back gate and access miles of trails without touching a street.

One of the architectural details you rarely find on new homes is a porte-cochere. A visually interesting and dry place to park your carriage while you go into the house has somehow turned into a facade of garage doors in today's homes. The porte-cochere pictured here is both attractive in its own right and a wonderful addition to the porch area where it extends shade and comfort to the lawn. Driveway facing facade of 1310 D Street in Petaluma

This is a substanatial property. It's approximately 1.2 acres overall, so there is room for the house, a party building, a 2 car garage, and an original barn that houses three cars, a workshop and office, and a second story. There's room for a couple mules and goats in the current menagerie. You can't have the mules, but the goats are negotiable.

The view to the left is of the long driveway and the long side of the house facing Petaluma. The house is primarily single story for the main living areas and master bedroom, but includes a shed dormer with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. I didn't include a photo, but on the other side of the driveway is a large in-ground swimming pool and a garden area. D street is in the background of this picture. The entry of the driveway is marked with two huge palm trees.

gently curved ceiling detail and window trim.

The interior of the house is beautifully detailed. This picture of the windows and ceiling in the dining room gives you a hint with the graceful curves of the ceiling and classic trim around the windows. This home was originally build on a 30 acre property and it's clear from even a casual inspection that it was one of the nicest farmhouses of the time.  

shoe rack in mud roomOne of the details I like about this house is the mud room. It's a classic farm house detail and quite common in other parts of the country, but it's unusual to find an entry area that is so clearly functional and attractive.

dairy barn is now a garage and workshopThe barn is another testament to the quality of building on this property. It was built as a milking barn around 1915. It has changed uses over time from milk to today's workshop uses. In nearly 100 years of existence the barn has maintained a plumb and square condition that is remarkable. You would expect leaning walls and crooked corners, but this is still sound and strong. The roof needs some work, but overall this is a classic California barn. There is room for three cars at the driveway level, a workshop, office and bathroom at the main level, and storage in the attic/mezzanine of the barn.  

The view from the rear of the barn and the paddock behind it goes westerly towards the hills and trail that lead to the Helen Putnam Regional Park.

 

The house is in generally good condition with a clean pest report. The three generations of original owners who lived here until ten years ago kept the house in original condition, for the most part, and the current owners have been careful not to detract from the details that make this home special. There is work to do, both routine maintenance, and some roof repair to the barn and party structure, but this country property inside the Petaluma city limits is a wonderful opportunity for a family that wants animals in their lives and charm and warmth in their house.

The home is listed by Gael Grove of Frank Howard Allen. 707-775-2230

Comments (2)

Anonymous
Don F. Hoirup Jr.

Hi Dave,

A wonderful property indeed...  My sister (Chris) and I were very dissappointed that our father decided to sell the home we grew up in and that my grandmother (Edna) and grandfather (Frank) helped establish.  Fortunately the folks who bought the house really cared about it.  They put a lot of effort into beautification!  If the lottery should come through for us, we would certianly purchase the home back--- in a flash.  Thank you for posting the excellent photos, they bring back some great memories and memorable 'events'.

Don F. Hoirup Jr.

Aug 18, 2008 09:33 AM
#1
Matthew Ricker
Keller Williams - Portland, OR

Dave,

Wonderful property and pictures.  My wife was recently in Healdsburg and talked about what a beautiful place it was.  We are going back again this spring for a wedding.  Just wanted to do a little research on the area to see what all the fuss was about.  If the rest of the homes there are this beautiful, I am in for a treat!

Oct 23, 2008 08:57 AM