SAN FRANCISCO – (Sept. 10, 2007) – Tucked away in the upscale East Bay neighborhood of Piedmont, this secluded, gated estate, located on 2.5 acres, was designed in 1958 by famed San Francisco architect Gardener Dailey. The magnificent grounds were landscaped by Thomas Church and include expansive lawns, swimming pool and tennis court. The 8,000-square-foot residence is an expression of Bay Area Traditional Modern Style. The private retreat, originally built for Stephen Bechtel Jr. of the prominent Bechtel Group Inc. and most-recently occupied by the late Kenneth Rainin, Bay Area businessman and philanthropist, is now for sale. Listed at $7.8 million, 26 Sea View is nothing short of stunning.“The architecture of this house is modern, yet the extensive use of natural materials gives it a traditional sense of warmth, a signature characteristic of Gardener Dailey’s architectural genius,” said Jeanette Roach. She and Nancy Rothman of Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate are the listing agents.“This amount of land is so unique to find in Piedmont,” Rothman explained. “The property is a period piece that has been maintained beautifully, keeping many of the original finishes.”The residence features several of Dailey’s trademark elements, including walls of glass, high ceilings, rich use of materials such as slate floors, herringbone wood floors and more. The architecture allows the flexibility to adapt to any style of interior design and the dramatic gallery hallways are particularly suited for large-scale art collections. Dailey further distinguished the property with his exceptional craftsmanship and detailed perfection of construction.Grand-scale public rooms include formal living and dining rooms, comfortable family room, gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry and library. A master suite with two baths and two dressing rooms, six additional bedrooms, and five updated bathrooms make this home a study in comfortable, contemporary luxury living.The master outdoor plans of rolling lawns, stately redwood trees and large oak trees was designed by Church to create a private retreat, offering complete seclusion to its owners. The gently sloped property provides for an interesting change of levels featuring Japanese-style gazebos, a cabana and large swimming pool. A lighted tennis court is tucked away on the expansive grounds.This elegant and understated estate is truly one of a kind and offers its residents a lifestyle of magnificent living.For more information, contact Nancy Rothman 510.701.0230 and Jeanette Roach 510.409.8887.Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate – OrindaLive. Work. Play. Invest. Located in close proximity to San Francisco and Walnut Creek, the Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate Orinda office reflects the distinctive lifestyle in this sought-after community. Since 1975, Pacific Union GMAC has been thoughtfully matching generations of buyers and sellers throughout the greater the Bay Area. As a leading, locally managed real-estate company with knowledgeable, experienced real-estate professionals, Pacific Union focuses on a global vision, using technology and superior service to deliver a quality experience to a full spectrum of sophisticated clients. Pacific Union is a member of the Christie’s Great Estates network and is a GMAC Home Services company. For information, call 925-258-0090 or visit www.pacunion.com/orinda.