Exceptional Orinda home

Welcome to 1 Ardilla Rd, a mix of Craftsman charm with modern California living. Exceptional custom built home with many design features that create a safe, comfortable home for the new owners. This 4 bedroom, 4 bath home has a desirable open floor plan with a great room that has soaring ceiling, open chef’s kitchen, fireplace open to both the great room and family room.  The main level includes a bedroom and full bath, laundry room and lots of storage. There is beautiful hardwood trim and doors throughout, all hand-stained. The family room with cathedral ceilings opens to the yard and deck area for indoor/outdoor living. The split-level upstairs area leads to the primary suite with it’s own fireplace, balcony and en-suite bath. At the next level is an open loft to the great room, 2 more bedrooms and another full bath. The lower level has a great media/game room, another full bath, fireplace and tons of storage. There is also garage access to an over-sized garage.

The list of improvements includes ICF construction with insulated cement walls into the first floor, lots of insulation in the attic, sprinklers throughout, extensive alarm system, metal roof, this home provides safety and security with structurally strong ICF construction. It’s built to lower utility bills and provide a cleaner indoor environment.

This tree-studded private lot has abundant outdoor spaces for relaxing and entertaining. You’ll feel secluded here but are still just a short distance to Orinda shopping, restaurants, BART, Orinda Park, Orinda Library and top-rated Orinda Schools. You’re close to freeway access and lots of great parks and rec areas, too.

Benefits of 1 Ardilla Road

• Geological foundation recommendations were implemented as recommended by the Geological report (attached) which includes concrete steel reinforced pillars drilled to bed rock. There has been no movement in earthquakes or seasonal swelling of doors or windows.
• Attic fully insulated with spray foam insulation sprayed directly on the underside of the roof. This eliminates the need for roof vents and the hot or cold air never gets into the attic area. This is a very energy efficient solution.
• The ICF foam structure of basement, first floor, and great room wall (see pictures) - no termites or bugs, fire resistant, excellent thermal insulation (hot or cold) and superior sound suppression, no seasonal swelling of doors or windows, and many other benefits. More info about ICF construction: https://newhousebuilder.com/insulated-concrete-forms/#:~:text=How%20long%20will%20an%20ICF,when%20protected%20behind%20wall%20finishes.
• The house has three gas fireplaces designed specifically to heat the house by zones. In combination with the efficient spay foam roof insulation and ICF walls, the heater and air conditioning rarely needs to be used.
• Primary Bath has heated floors, great for cold mornings.
• Heater, AC, Air/Pollen Filters - Great filtration system for those with allergies.
• Metal roof - fire protection and the leaves slide off instead of going in the gutters.
• All gutters have leaf guards.
• Entire house has a fire sprinkler system (shut off is in the basement side room.
• Entire yard is planted with a variety fruit trees and is on automatic watering system. (control room is in the basement side room)
• There is a majestic historic Oak tree in front of the garage and the driveway is lined with Coastal redwood trees for privacy. Most rooms have an unobstructed view without seeing any neighboring structures
• Alarm wiring - every single door & window is hard wired by hand, so if one is cut the others still work. Not dependent on Wi-Fi.
• Bay Alarm panels in safe room allow for addition of cameras and the system has cellular back sending unit in the attic up incase phone lines are cut.
• All lines & telephone line are routed in the safe room with the steel doors (not rated as bullet proof, but real close).
• Safe Room - steel doors, hidden entry/egress door which doubles as a fire escape in case of fire at the entry door, temperature regulated, quiet Wired for movie theater….access panel on east side of fireplace chase.
• Because the saferoom is the lowest part of the house there are drains in the floor of the basement and bathroom in case the fire sprinklers are activated. Those drains are equipped with an auto drip system to keep the p-trap filled with water so no smell comes in.
• Within the safe room there is a full bath
• The safe room has gas fireplace for heating and can be used if power is shut off.
• Fire hoses with high pressure 1” lines- front & back, 3rd one by driveway near laundry room but not accessed
• Backyard – thick pavers to take the weight of an automobile or heavy equipment in case any excavation or major landscaping was required. Sliding gate on west boundary next to outdoor fireplace (permission from neighbor would of course be necessary)
• Perimeter is fenced for pets (dogs). 
• Storage shed - hardy shelving, well insulated.
• BBQ - separate gas shut off valve for safety (shut off also shuts off the gas fire pit)
• Water heaters - two tankless on demand.
• All wood cabinets & trim all hand stained and finished.
• Vacuum outlets - in bedrooms, living room, dining room, media room, kitchen & laundry room.
• An artist was hired to sculpt the artistic one-of-a-kind art piece wall in the sunken family room on the south side of the see through fireplace in the great room
• Walls - in sunken family Room & Basement are completely surrounded 3/4” plywood with sheetrock on top, for mounting heavy artwork or decorative items in any location.
• Master Bedroom - specially insulated for sound via noise protection & sound barrier sheetrock.
• Main electrical panel is equipped for back up emergency generator to run the entire first floor - need to buy the generator, plug is by the panel and labeled. Seller used Duro Max generator, others may also apply, consult licensed electrician.
• Stucco has color included – makes it longer lasting, more fire retardant and doesn’t need painting.
• Attached garage has an extra tall garage door, great for tall vehicles. Garage ceiling is tall enough for a car lift or car stacking device for car buffs.
• Location - not up in hills where there is entrapment and fire danger, 1 mile from BART, Wagner ranch elementary school, downtown and San Pablo Reservoir (great for cycling, fishing and recreation).
• ½ mile to Orinda Village shopping, grocery and other shops.
• Easy freeway access in all directions
• highest ranked public schools
• Orinda is extremely safe with its own fire and police department, and Contra Costa Warning System
• Friendly community and local neighbors (community get-togethers).