Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897, is a well-preserved example of the Victorian Era in California. It was designed by the Dennis and Farwell architectural firm and was inspired by a French castle the original owner, Mrs. Cornelia Hill, visited on a trip to Europe. At 7,000 square feet, the structure qualifies as a petite chateau.
The first floor consists of ten rooms: a powder room, half bath, library, parlor, main hall, dining room, flower porch, butler’s pantry, kitchen, and laundry room. These rooms were used for greeting guests and entertaining.
The second floor was the personal living area for the family and includes a mezzanine with two bedrooms on each side as well as a conservatory.
The third floor, has additional bedrooms and a screened sleeping porch that would have been used in the hot summer months. It is now used for archives and office space. The house also has an attic and basement.
The Carriage House was built for the family horses and carriages and had a small apartment on the top floor for the caretaker.