Unlisted: A Tudor Revival in Land Park
Built in 1930-31
2,536 square feet
3 bed, 2 bath
Purchase Price in 2007: $580,000
Est. Market Value: $1.1M – 1.45M
A leafy canopy shades a picturesque street in Sacramento’s Land Park neighborhood, where manicured yards frame one lovely home after another. At one particular home, a Tiffany blue front door is the first clue that the interior is something extraordinary.
Part of the College Tract, so named due to its proximity to the then-newly built Sacramento City College, was the first development of Land Park which broke ground in the late 1920s. The developers, Wright and Kimbrough, also developed Tract 24, known today as the “Fab 40s” in East Sacramento. Although the home’s architect is unknown, notable architects of the tract include Arthur Widdowson, Dean and Dean, and the renowned Frank “Squeaky” Williams, who designed his whimsical storybook cottages here, as well as in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The neat brick “cottage” is a streamlined Tudor Revival typical
of Land Park, along with French and Spanish Colonial Revival
styles.
The Carmel connection is strong, as current owners Tom Gaudio, 60, and Rob Eastwood, 51, married and honeymooned there in 2007 — the same year they purchased the home, which they share with their three English Labradors. Living just a block away from William Land Park, Gaudio and Eastwood enjoy their early morning dog walks and visiting with neighbors, some of whom have lived in the area for decades.
Gaudio’s mother was an antiques dealer, and the home has an
eclectic mix, including her Pennsylvania Amish pieces and a
German Art Deco grandfather clock from the 1930s. Sparkling
crystal and iron chandeliers in the dining room and kitchen can
be viewed from the living room.
They are the fourth owners but the first to make major renovations. The property has been updated to the highest standard, from the front yard, designed and planted by Eastwood, to the sophisticated, art-filled interior, and through to the jewel box of a backyard complete with a saltwater pool of their own design. Improvements were carefully considered to retain period integrity while updating functionality.
The pristine interior walls in this tri-level home, hand-plastered by Eastwood, display artwork collected during the couple’s frequent travels throughout the world, as well as from local artists. They own several pieces by friend and acclaimed artist Clifford Bailey, whose distinctive 1920s aesthetic is especially appropriate in the home. Gaudio often rearranges the art, just to keep it fresh.
Mirror tiles brighten up the galley kitchen and provide a
soft-glam backdrop to the traditional cabinetry.
In the galley kitchen, Gaudio and Eastwood kept the original narrow footprint but opened a wall for better flow from the living room with an archway that mimics an original arch between the living and dining rooms. The mercury glass mirror subway tile backsplash adds glamour “and a bit of a 60s vibe,” says Gaudio, while making the space appear larger. Honed Carrara marble is a timeless yet practical application on kitchen countertops, and the classic stone is used throughout the house, providing continuity and period authenticity. Gaudio adds, “We love to cook. Rob is a pasta maker, and I make pizza dough, and we roll it out directly on the counter. We love to make sushi, too.”
Downstairs is a large family room, bar area, full bath and a wine cellar built by the couple in a small, converted basement for a mere $2,000. Upstairs is the primary bedroom and bath, plus two bedrooms Eastwood and Gaudio use as a home gym and an office.
Gaudio painstakingly laid the patio with slabs of Carrara marble,
each weighing 70 pounds, while the landscaping was designed and
installed by Eastwood. (Courtesy photo)
The couple loves to entertain and has hosted parties and charity events for up to 100 people. Often, the parties are held in the backyard next to the classically inspired pool.
Future plans include adding another bedroom and bath. With their passion for architecture, art and design, and the propensity to make their plans reality, Gaudio and Eastwood ensure that an exceptional home continues to evolve.
Kendall Morlan is a Calaveras County-based writer with a background in design.
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