Library Loft with a Mountain View

This sweet home is perfect for you if  you need a home office, studio, hobby room, playhouse or guest space. Two marvelous energy-efficient pods of corten steel provide the space and style you  want. Featured in the October 13, 2008 issue of Archinect magazine, the 197 square foot library and the 100 square foot office were designed by Dale Clifford and Jason Vollen, former professors in the University of Arizona School of Architecture.

 

The ladder leads up the the library loft, with a tree top view of the Catalina Mountains.

Equally fabulous is the two-car garage, which you know is a rare find in the desirable Blenman-Elm neighborhood.

Enjoy your serene back yard from the huge covered patio. The Meyer lemon tree will be fondly missed by the sellers. Parties spontaneously combust at the outdoor fireplace.

The straw bale wall curves to hug the beautifully landscaped front yard.

IKEA kitchen sports stainless appliances, bamboo floor and glass-front cabinets. Laundry room off kitchen.

 

The main house has three bedrooms and one bath. Heated and cooled Arizona Room offers flexible space. Tankless water heater. Hard surface floors through out.

The interactive floor plan is here. Sold for $300,000 on July 16, 2014.

Kitchen Inspired by Julia Child

I am really ready to let go of this terrific rental I bought in 1996. Great location in the desirable Jefferson Park/Samos neighborhood, where neighbors know and look after each other. R-2 zoning may allow addition of another house; buyer to verify. Only two blocks to Campbell Avenue, with its home-grown restaurants and coffee shops galore. Only four blocks to the Mountain Avenue bike path.

Ride a mile and a half south to University of Arizona or a little over two miles north to the glorious Rillito River walking and biking trail. Walkscore.com calls this location "Very Walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot".

Hard surface floors in all rooms except bedrooms, which are carpeted. Dishwasher, refrigerator and gas stove.

Vintage '50s pink and burgundy tile has been removed from the kitchen. I have installed new base cabinets, counter tops, sink and faucet.

This is where I take inspiration from my fellow Smithie, Julia Child. I planned to paint the upper cabinets blue and the lower cabinets green, like Julia's kitchen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her kitchen is now in the Smithsonian, in honor of the food revolution Julia started with her book, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". However, the sky blue she used on the upper cabinets was just too '60s, so I used a luscious yellow called Cork. The lower cabinets are celery green, like Julia's. I installed some pegboards as Julia's husband Paul did to hold her pots and pans. I used round chrome cabinet knobs like Julia's. What do you think?

Solid brick construction. Air conditioning. Two carpeted bedrooms, one tiled bath, plus a heated and cooled Arizona Room with concrete floor.

 The floor plan is here. Large covered back patio for enjoying the private, walled yard. Laundry closet is inside. Washer and dryer are included. Carport with 12' x 12' shed. Block wall and mature trees.

I owned this sweet desert home as a rental for 18 years and I was sad to let it go for $145,000 on July 30, 2014. At least I had multiple offers.