Seller Love Letter to Magical Medway
49 Medway was love at first sight. We (John and Amy) still remember our first visit. We walked up the magnificent staircase to the main level. We took in the exquisite craftsmanship of the mahogany ceiling beams and wood paneling, the marble fireplace, and the gleaming oak floors with their walnut inlays. The graceful warmth took our breath away. Amy’s parents quickly christened the home Medway Manor It is grand yet welcoming, elegant yet cozy. We had wonderful dinner and birthday parties with family and friends. We celebrated holidays with abundant decorations and lights inside and out. The kitchen is spacious and functional—perfect for entertaining, with its Carrera marble island and two sinks and two dishwashers. Guests would gather in different areas. Yet the flow of the space meant we stayed connected.
The living room and dining room, with their built-ins and alcoves, provided plenty of space to display cherished items from our travels. Despite its grandeur, the Manor has comfortable nooks in which to read or contemplate. Both Amy and John had home offices. Yet often, John would work on a loveseat in the alcove off the living room, a cat purring on his lap. Amy would settle in the living room or library.
We enjoyed the friendly neighborhood. There is an annual Medway block party We are surrounded by families with small kids, retirees, and everyone in between. Good Earth is a six-minute walk. Downtown Fairfax, with its restaurants, quirky shops, and music clubs, is just a few minutes farther; downtown San Anselmo is close as well. We enjoyed hiking the many trails nearby, and John regularly biked Mt. Tam. John commuted to San Francisco by bus or ferry Either way, he found the commute low stress.
John spent many a day, and even more evenings after work, on the glorious porch. He would sit on an Adirondack chair. The loquat tree was in the foreground, redwoods and oaks beyond. Birds twittered and sang. One time, John watched a squirrel climb the loquat and, at the top, take an uncertain, tentative bite of the tree’s yellow fruit. Its body language dramatically changed, and it devoured the rest with enthusiasm. We thus learned how delightful loquats are. They are sweet and tangy—a cross between a peach, mango, and lemon. We also enjoyed the property’s figs, apples and, especially, Meyer lemons.
Our understanding is that the original home dates from 1911 and that much of the top floor was added in the 1940s or 1950s. But the previous owners largely rebuilt the home in the early 2000s. It was an intensive, two-year labor of love. Working with local craftsmen at San Anselmo’s Nichelini & Sons, they built what they described to us as their dream home. For example, they expanded the Manor by adding the entire lower level—previously a full-height crawl space—and extended the home towards the street. They chose the
Honduran mahogany for the living and dining rooms and for the stair railings; they worked with the craftsmen to create subtle patterns in the wood. They planned the stained-glass patterns for the display cabinets and found a San Francisco craftsman to execute them. They designed the window pattern in the downstairs southeast bedroom. We inherited the previous owners’ dream and, every day, we appreciated the flow and elegance and detail.
More prosaically, our understanding from Nichelini & Sons is that the electrical and plumbing systems were replaced during the rebuild. According to geotechnical reports, reinforced concrete piers support the new front foundation. Construction photos show steel beams supporting the front extension.
However, the exterior of the home was less than perfect. The garage was falling down and the concrete stairs from the street were utilitarian. In 2021, we built a new garage-designed by architect Camden Hicks and built by Ken Mayer, both of San Anselmo—that complemented the Manor’s aesthetic. We also worked with Monarch Gardens to create a more organic and attractive landscaping and hardscaping flow. We moved the entry gate and added a curved flagstone path to the new stone stairs. We replaced the front fence with one in keeping with the Craftsman style of the home and added pavers to the parking space. Monarch Gardens built the meandering garden path and chose layered plantings and trees to better connect with nature. Now, we feel the calm and grandeur of Medway Manor when we approach the property, not just when we reach the front door.
The previous owners moved to Paris as, now, have we. Paris offers its own magic, though we wish we could bring the Manor with us. So much love has gone into the home, which it returns in even greater measure. Our hope is that the new owners will benefit as much as we have from its warm, loving embrace.