(All Images via Alain Pinel Realtors – San Francisco)

When I’m searching for new listings to visit and/or write about, I try to err on the side of something almost, well, predictable. Easily identified architecture, a staged interior, and an interesting addition – like wine cellars or guest-houses.

I almost went right by this 4 bedroom, 3 bath home at 7200 Cougar Ln. in Santa Rosa, because, for a home built in 1995, the exterior shingles looked weather-beaten, and I wasn’t convinced it was hiding anything interesting enough to warrant the 1.9M price tag. I was wrong. I was working in a coffee shop (I know…it’s a cliché, but they have free WiFi…) and someone walked by, saw the house on my screen and exclaimed, “That’s SO CUTE!”

I had to take a closer look, and it turned out to be the first time I was happy to be proven wrong. The home looks small from the images, but in person, it’s hard to believe that the interior space is only 2,965 square feet;

Backyard patio.

While I use my phone to take pictures when I go look at listings, it doesn’t do as well as the professional images, so I’m going to use those to write from. The first area I went to was the backyard to get a feeling of how the land was being used.

Koi pond.

Koi pond.

There’s a koi pond out back, with pathways marked by stepping stones and stone stairways. It may have been the sun, but I was feeling like the house looked like a fairytale cottage from this vantage point.

Hot tub.

These stone steps lead to an in-ground hot tub.

Woodland trail.

I didn’t follow the wooden path; it was beginning to feel too ‘Hansel and Gretel’ for me.

Front door.

Entryway.

Stepping into the foyer, the size of this home is much more apparent.

Living room.

Continuing to the living room, it’s all light-filled windows and blonde wood. What I appreciated the most about this house is that it’s only ‘slightly’ staged – people are still living here, and it makes it feel more like a home, as opposed to a ‘house for sale.’

Sun room.

Speaking of light – this sun room off of the living room made me want to sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy the view. If they would have let me, I’d have pulled my laptop out right there and started writing.

Kitchen.

The sun room continues on to the kitchen.

Kitchen.

While the kitchen has a marble island, and crackle-glass cabinet fronts, it feels very homey and unassuming.

Master bedroom.

The master bedroom is a warm, inviting space. While I’m not a fan of too many decorative elements, it works here.

Master bathroom.

This stone pillar, which is the shower, is one of the only things in the home that threw me off. I couldn’t figure out what it was, and it looks entirely out of place. I would understand its placement if the fireplace had been faced with the same stonework, but I’ll just have to assume there’s a good reason for it being used as the decorative element here, though I can’t see why.

Master closet.

Now this…this is the biggest tell that someone is still here. The shoe collection almost distracted me from noticing how roomy this ‘closet’ is. It also reminded me of how boring the three pairs of black flats I own are.

Home office.

This home office is large enough for two people to comfortably work together.

Garage.

Heading back outside, the detached garage that looks like a barn was the second unexpected surprise.

Guest house.

This guest house that sits above the garage was the third surprise, and one of my personal favorites.

Guest house, interior.

The interior of the guest house looks as comfortable and well-appointed as the main home, but something about being over a garage (gas fumes, cars starting, cars being worked on…) makes me think it wouldn’t be as pleasant as someone may have hoped.

Solar panels.

The best surprise was discovering that this house is solar powered and that the panels are on the hill, not the roof.

View from the yard.

Views like this make me love living in Santa Rosa all the more.