Featured Home: Custom all original Streng Bros hits the market in Davis!
We got a chance to tour this iconic Streng Bros built & Carter Sparks custom designed home that has remained with it’s original owner since its construction in 1968. Located in the community of University Estates in Davis, CA, this unique property is surrounded by hundreds of its brethren of other Mid Century Modern Streng homes. The owner’s preservation of this property is one of the best we’ve seen anywhere. According to the listing agent, the last remaining owner peacefully died in the home at the age of 99 years old. You could tell this home was a family home with many cherished memories, we noticed the laundry room had height measurements dating back to their kids and grandkids. Imagine living in this home for the last 54 years? How lucky.
Interior redwood paneling brings a rich and organic feeling to the living spaces. Clerestory windows above a wide rear slider door create a massive see-through wall bringing the elements of the backyard into the living room. A tea house sits over a koi pond, and is only accessible via bridge-over-water. The tranquility of the outdoor space gives one pause to slow down the fast paced world and to enjoy the sounds of bubbling water and natures little creatures abound in the trees above. Colorful elements such as the orange and blue workshop bench tops, red and blue bathroom countertops, and blue living room flooring showcase the designer's creative stretch during this era.
This home is extra special for several reasons, although Carter Sparks and Streng Bros had some cookie cutter floor plans in planned development areas they also build some with extra special specs like this one. Some features that stand out from the rest are the extra wide floor plan with extra square footage than usual. Then we have our entryway door which has the blue door that creates a seamless illusion of being really tall, this was something used in this era but not common for Streng or Carter. Coming into the home, you notice the til floors which are original and resemble the brick fireplace modern stacked motif that Streng and Carter typically used. The bathrooms and bedrooms with 60’s colorful built-in cabinetry are pretty special too, you don’t normally see these finishes in the Streng Bros homes. You can tell they liked to have fun with color.
While there is opportunity to update the property, we certainly feel that it would be best suited to a new owner who would love and enjoy this property as close to it’s current design style–no need for any farmhouse or modern flips. This home hit the market at $1,100,000 and went pending quickly after one weekend of showings, rightfully so. Although we didn’t have a buyer for it, we hope they found the perfect buyer that will honor the home and preserve it for years to come.
