535 Kingsley Avenue, Palo Alto

Presenting authentic Victorian Shingle Style architecture from the 1890s, this Professorville home was built in 2004 yet exudes a vintage ambiance from the outside. Situated on one of the best blocks in Professorville and nestled among oak tree canopies, this is a rare opportunity to own a newer home on a lot of over 15,000 sq-ft just blocks away from vibrant downtown Palo Alto. 

From the wavy shingled front façade and gingerbread design, to the extra-large covered front porch and 100-year slate roof in a Necco wafer pattern, the home is a clear representation of this transitional style between Victorian and Craftsman. Even the reclaimed San Francisco cobblestone with grass median strip recalls the earlier era along with English roses, flowering shade trees, and magnificent heritage live oaks and abundant fruit trees.  

Inside, the welcoming style is exceptionally bright and flowing over three levels connected by a central staircase and elevator. The rich hue of cherry wood, on floors, moldings, columns, and Victorian spindles, is complemented by contrasting maple on wainscot and cabinetry. A formal living room and formal dining room await entertaining, a tucked-away office is perfect for today’s work-from-home needs, and the powder room showcases an antique encaustic tile floor. At the heart of the home is the kitchen and family room combination with high-end appliances, built-in casual dining area, and seamless connection to the rear yard. Recreation and everyday living continue on the lower level, which opens to a private patio with staircase to the rear yard. 

There are 5 bedrooms perfectly arranged with 4 on the upper level, including a primary suite with rare Brazilian quartzite finishes and ceiling-filled infinity tub. Family bedroom and baths were designed to be children-friendly with such features as mini door connections between rooms and retractable step stools to reach the sinks. Completing the accommodations is a bedroom and bath on the lower level ideal for an au pair or guests. 

Set on a rarely found lot of over 15,000 square feet, with gated entry, the surroundings offer ample space for outdoor living, gardening, and entertaining. The detached 2-car garage offers additional living space with a fully finished overhead room and half-bath perfect for added office space, fitness, or hobbies. Adding the finishing touch is the home’s superb location just 7 blocks from downtown shops and restaurants on famed University Avenue, 3 blocks to Gamble Garden, and access to highly acclaimed Palo Alto schools. 

At a Glance

• Lot size of approximately 15,118 square feet
• Built in 2004 with an architectural design replicating vintage treasures in this desirable Professorville neighborhood
• Victorian Shingle Style from the late 1890s designed to fit comfortably within the Professorville neighborhood 
• 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths arranged over 3 levels, all connected by elevator 
• Detached 2-car garage with finished second-story room with radiant heat and half-bath 
• Cherry and maple finishes throughout 
• Approximately 5,353 square feet
• Excellent Palo Alto schools

Offered at $18,950,000

Details of the Home

MAIN LEVEL 

• Grand-sized fully covered front porch with Douglas fir decking
• Wide-plank refinished cherry floors begin at the entrance and continue throughout the main level along with maple wainscot and cabinetry, cherry moldings, columns, doors, and Victorian spindles above room entrances
• Three-story open sky-lit staircase in the center, and elevator access 
• Formal living room with fireplace featuring soapstone hearth and Archetile custom white onyx and green marble mosaic surround 
• All cherry wood office with library and literature organizer file storage 
• Formal dining room has wainscot, chandelier, and wall of custom maple cabinetry with integrated serving counter
• Beadboard kitchen cabinetry topped in soapstone plus furniture-style island with butcher block top and electrical outlets; custom tiled Archetile backsplash with integrated display of teacup collection
• Casual dining area with built-in wraparound banquette seating
• Appliances include a Viking gas range with griddle, Asko dishwasher, Sub-Zero refrigerator with magnetized front, and Hoshizaki ice machine
• Family room, fully open to the kitchen, has a full wall of maple cabinetry and closets plus French doors and matching windows to the rear deck

UPPER LEVEL 

• Large carpeted landing area with banquette seating 
• Primary suite has 100% organic wool carpet, two fully organized walk-in closets, and en suite bath in rare Brazilian quartzite; features include floor with mosaic medallion, two pedestal sinks, infinity edge chroma-therapy jetted tub with ceiling-mounted laminar fill, and private commode room
• Three additional bedrooms with transom windows, two connected by a children’s mini door and each with customized closet
• Hallway bath features terrazzo tile floor, dual-sink Corian vanity, glass-enclosed tub with overhead shower, and feature strips in colorful array of glass tiles, and private commode room; retractable step stools beneath the sinks assist children 
• Upstairs laundry room with Corian countertop, farmhouse sink, Shaker peg rail, and pillow-edged marble checkerboard floor

LOWER LEVEL 

• Recreation room has two drum chandeliers, custom cabinetry, and access to the rear patio
• Bedroom with patio access and on-level bath with frameless-glass shower and river-stone tumbled granite floor
• Private side patio with Topanga Art Tile mosaic art mural

OTHER FEATURES

• Formal powder room with reclaimed Belgian encaustic tile floor
• Customized mud room with five generous organizational cubbies 
• Sun-filled upstairs laundry room with Corian countertop, farmhouse sink, Shaker peg rail, washer/dryer, and pillow-edge marble checkerboard floor 
• Maple-paneled elevator
• 100% organic wool carpet in bedrooms and lower level
• Detached 2-car garage with electric car charging outlet and finished overhead room with cherry floors, windows, lots of storage, and half-bath
• Dual-zone heating and air conditioning 
• 100-year slate roof with Necco wafer pattern
• Dual-paned, argon-filled windows 
• Central vacuum
• Lower-level mechanical room with significant storage

GROUNDS 

• Electronic custom front gates
• Reclaimed San Francisco cobblestone driveway with median strip of natural grasses
• Splinter-free Northern white cedar rear deck with arbor trellis covered in rose vines and hardy kiwi
• Landscaped and private spacious rear yard with inground dancing water fountain
• Many flowering shade trees, English roses, and heritage live oaks
• Extensive and established edible landscaping, including almond, pie cherry, tangerine, apple, avocado, fig, blackberry, kiwi, and a special blueberry hill