107 6th Street, Petaluma CA 94952

When an architect sets about restoring their own home, you know that extra care and thought went into each decision, and that the fit and finish are likely to be special. Such is the case with 107 6th Street in Petaluma. The architect’s hand is seen in every decision. Not just hardwood floors… walnut hardwood floors. A teak primary bathroom vanity. Custom kitchen cabinets with fabulous wood grains. Decks large enough for entertaining. And the added value of a new garage with expansion space above.
All of this luxury is packed into a Victorian farmhouse from the pioneer days.
If you moved to Petaluma in the 1800s, you were a pioneer. Moving west before 1869 meant a dangerous four- to six-month trip by land or a harrowing “around the horn” trip by sea. Perils were assured along the way. In 1869, the last spike was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad, changing the equation immensely, but it was still a leap of faith. The people who made San Francisco and Petaluma their home were encouraged by promises of a better life, gold, silver, fertile land, and temperate weather. James McNear convinced his family to move west from the East Coast, and he was not alone.
The Victorian farmhouse at 107 6th Street appears to have been built in the early 1880s, and the Sanborn maps of 1883, 1894, and 1906 all show the house. Louis Antonio Capucetti arrived in Petaluma from Switzerland in 1886 and bought the 6th Street farmhouse in 1895. He was one of Petaluma's earliest and best-known pioneers, the proprietor of the French-Italian Restaurant on Main Street. His wife, Marie Capucetti, also from Switzerland, was a noted gardener who won prizes for her mammoth chrysanthemums and pet canaries. They were married in the cottage on 6th Street.
In the 1940s, the city editor for the Argus-Courier, Harry J. Olberg Jr., owned the house.
Today, the home has been spectacularly remodeled to bring it into the present day. A fabulous three-stage great room greets you: a picture window and fireplace, a dining room with a piano window, and a modern kitchen with porcelain waterfall counters, Café appliances, and too many special enhancements to mention. The den provides a casual space for movie night or homework. The two bedrooms on the first floor allow for single-level living if desired. The first-floor bathroom features Carrara marble floors, a soft-close vanity, and a shower-over-tub. The first floor also houses the laundry room.
Upstairs is a very chic hall bath dressed completely in black tile. The primary bedroom has a vast closet and a two-room bathroom with a shower, dual sinks, and a separate WC. The second room could be an office, nursery, or second den.
A new garage includes a permitted early-stage ADU above that can become your dream space. The yard is perfect for gardening, chickens, a dog run, grilling, or simply enjoying the weather.