Where Architectural Warmth Meets Effortless Living

Tucked behind a magnificent redwood tree in Menlo Park’s South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks neighborhood, this beautifully appointed home pairs warmth and architectural character with an exceptional layout for everyday living and entertaining. Completely rebuilt from the foundation in 2017 with architect Larick Hill, it was thoughtfully designed around natural light, connected gathering spaces, accessibility, and enduring materials.

Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an elevator, and a detached studio ADU create remarkable flexibility. From the street, the driveway extends beside the home toward a pass-through garage, while a shaded pathway beneath the redwood creates a memorable approach to the front door. Inside, intimate spaces give way to an expansive kitchen, dining room, and family room that open broadly to a flagstone patio and mature backyard.

An Inviting First Impression

The living room immediately establishes the home’s relaxed architectural character with wide-plank white French oak flooring, exposed beams, wood-clad ceilings, and a corner fireplace surrounded by fossil-bearing Jerusalem stone. These rich materials continue throughout the main-level living spaces, creating a warm and cohesive backdrop as the home unfolds. Windows overlook the tree-shaded front garden, while daylight cascades down the open staircase to brighten the room from within.

Just off the living room, a main-level bedroom enjoys windows on two sides and a generous closet. With a fully accessible bathroom nearby, it offers valuable flexibility for family members with accessibility needs, guests, multigenerational living, a private home office, or changing needs over time.

Made for Cooking, Dining, and Entertaining

Positioned toward the back of the home, the kitchen, dining room, and family room create a generous multipurpose setting for daily life and entertaining, while allowing the more intimate front rooms to remain removed from the activity. Each space retains its own identity, yet all three are connected by an easy, intuitive flow. The spacious dining room is finished with a drum pendant light overhead and French doors opening directly to the patio.

Across from it, the kitchen centers around a substantial eat-in island topped in leathered Neolith, selected for both its beauty and durability. Paneled Sub-Zero refrigeration, honed Basalt perimeter countertops, abundant cabinetry, and a Thermador dual-fuel gas range with an electric oven bring serious functionality to the space. A GE microwave and convection oven integrated into the island provides another flexible cooking option.

Around the sink, glass-fronted upper cabinets align with exterior windows behind them, allowing natural light to pass through the cabinetry. A favorite architectural detail of Larick Hill, the design brings additional brightness into the kitchen while creating a distinctive display area.

The adjoining family room expands beneath a cathedral ceiling. Custom built-ins frame a large picture window overlooking the backyard, while a built-in 4K Epson projector and automatic screen transform the room for movie nights and at-home entertainment.

Folding glass doors open the family room broadly to the flagstone patio. Together with the French doors from the dining room, they establish a circular flow through the home and garden, allowing conversations, meals, and celebrations to move naturally between indoors and out.

A Backyard That Extends the Home

The flagstone patio creates a natural outdoor counterpart to the kitchen, dining room, and family room, with generous space for dining, lounging, and entertaining beneath a canopy of mature trees. Beyond the patio, a lush lawn gives the garden an open, relaxed quality while providing room for play and everyday enjoyment.

Set between the driveway and backyard, the pass-through garage was designed as more than a place for parking. Doors at both ends make it easy to bring catering, furniture, and equipment directly into the garden. When not housing vehicles, the protected space can also function as a workout area, play space, or flexible extension of the home without being exposed to the street. Wiring is already in place for a future EV charger.

A Detached ADU with Its Own Personality

Set apart from the main residence, the detached ADU feels like a destination of its own. Its distinct materials, hardwood flooring, cathedral ceiling, and abundant windows create a bright, independent setting within the backyard.

The open main room offers space for sleeping, relaxing, and dining, complemented by a kitchenette and full bathroom with a step-in shower. A loft adds another cozy and flexible area. Previously enjoyed by visiting friends and family, the ADU is equally well suited for extended stays, a private workspace, or potential rental use.

A Private Primary Suite Among the Trees

Upstairs, the primary suite is a peaceful retreat overlooking the backyard. A vaulted ceiling and chandelier bring volume and elegance to the bedroom, while its west-facing balcony extends toward the tree canopy. Finished with fossil-bearing Jerusalem stone underfoot, the balcony feels much like a private treehouse and offers a beautiful vantage point for watching sunsets disappear behind the trees.

The suite offers exceptional storage, including a skylit walk-in closet with custom built-ins. Just beyond the closet, a finished bonus room provides valuable flexibility as a private office, creative space, additional dressing room, or another use tailored to changing needs.

In the ensuite bathroom, cathedral ceilings rise above a freestanding soaking tub with a floor-mounted filler, two individual vanities, and a glass-enclosed corner shower. Calacatta marble and herringbone-patterned flooring bring a refined material palette to the space.

Light-Filled Upstairs Bedrooms

Two additional upstairs bedrooms each receive natural light from windows on two walls and include generous double-door closets. Between them, built-in bookcases and cabinetry add functional storage and architectural interest to the landing.

Skylights and an oversized stairwell window fill the upper level with daylight, giving the hallway an open, airy quality. The shared bathroom features a wide vanity, Calacatta marble, and a glass-enclosed shower over the tub.

Accessibility, Thoughtfully Integrated

Accessibility was considered from the beginning of the home’s 2017 rebuild and incorporated naturally into its architecture. An elevator connects the main and upper levels, while the main-level bedroom and nearby full bathroom create a comfortable arrangement for guests, multigenerational living, or evolving mobility needs.

The bathroom was designed specifically for accessibility, including a level-entry shower that can accommodate wheelchair access. These features add meaningful ease and adaptability without feeling visually separate from the rest of the home.

Rebuilt for Contemporary Living

Behind the home’s warm materials and traditional character is a carefully considered network of modern systems. Radiant floor heating extends throughout the main level, while Nest controls, CAT5 wiring, and integrated speakers across the main living spaces and outdoors support comfort, connectivity, and entertaining.

The dedicated laundry room includes full-size appliances, a utility sink, upper cabinet storage, and generous countertop space for folding. Jerusalem stone containing visible fossils carries into the room, connecting it materially with the fireplace and primary balcony.

The laundry room also preserves the one remaining piece of the original residence: a built-in ironing board marked with the names of everyone who has lived in the home. It is a small but meaningful record of the property’s history, carried forward into its complete rebuild.

Connected to Menlo Park and Palo Alto

Set along a tucked-away, dead-end street in Menlo Park’s South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks neighborhood, the property feels removed while remaining remarkably close to everyday destinations. Willows Market is just around the corner, offering a thoughtfully selected range of gourmet groceries, prepared foods, and specialty goods. Seminary Oaks Park, positioned at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University Avenue, provides another nearby neighborhood destination.

Palo Alto, Stanford University, and Silicon Valley employment centers are all close at hand. Nearby Willow Road provides convenient access to US-101, connecting the neighborhood with San Francisco, SFO, SJC, and destinations throughout the Bay Area.

Warm, distinctive, and comprehensively considered, 203 Santa Margarita Avenue brings together architectural character, sophisticated entertaining spaces, mature outdoor surroundings, detached accessory living, and accessibility designed gracefully into the home.