For years as a student at Lincoln High School, Mary Martin would walk down Calaveras Street and fantasize that one day she would live in one of the graceful homes there. Her dream came true four years ago when a classic two-story Spanish-style home with a charming front courtyard came on the market.

She had wondered for years if this particular house was as beautiful on the inside as out. And when she first stepped inside, “I knew this was the one,” Mary said. “It was more stunning that I expected.”

Saltilo tile floors greeted her in the entryway with a sweeping staircase with curved wrought-iron railings. Two steps down took her to the grand formal living room with plenty of space for the baby grand piano and their whimsical orange and black “Halloween tree” that adorns the front window for the autumn Rose Garden Homes Tour in mid-October.

A rear addition had been added at one point to the 1938 home, opening up the kitchen to a new family room, with a master suite on top. The Martins have just completed a kitchen update.

Michael Martin is in the broadcast industry and has adorned his study and stairwell with his collection of electric guitars with signatures of major bands, including The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.

One of Mary’s favorite spots for a little solitude is the lovely balcony off the master bedroom where she often reads or enjoys a cup of coffee while overlooking the lush backyard and swimming pool.

To read about the courtyard makeover, click here:

Here’s the complete slideshow:

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 9:06 pm and is filed under Architecture, Backyard, Bathroom, Bedroom, courtyard, Dining Room, Family Room, Featured, Furniture, Garden, Home and Garden, House Tours, Julia, Kitchen, Landscape, Living Room, Mediterranean Style, Peek of the Week, Rose Garden, San Jose, Yard. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.