Sacramento home with river views, incredible indoor fire element sells for $2.4 million. See it
A Sacramento-area residence called the Art House — with extraordinary views of the American River and an indoor fireplace designed to resemble a bonfire down by the water’s edge — has recently sold for $2.4 million.
The home in Carmichael, which was originally listed in February 2024 for $3.2 million, spans 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The asking price had dropped incrementally until it hit $2.6 million in August.
The riverfront residence takes seamless indoor-outdoor living to a new level with elements straight from nature displayed abundantly throughout. There are unobstructed views of the American River from every room.
The property provides one of the best views of the American River from anywhere in the region as the iconic waterway wends around River Bend Park. Only a strip of private lawn and a narrow greenbelt separates the backyard from the river.
Jasmine Gosney of Allison James Estates and Homes represented the seller. The new owner’s name hasn’t been disclosed, but Gosney said the buyer knows the area well and appreciated the location and “exclusivity” of the property.
“Its proximity to the river provides a sense of serenity and a connection to nature that is hard to find in other properties,” Gosney said earlier this year. “Additionally, the sound of the flowing water can create a calming ambiance, making it a perfect retreat for those looking to unwind and relax.”
A strong connection to the outdoors can be felt throughout the two-story home with the use of hand-hewn beams, large river rocks, interior trees and wooden floor planks imported from Sweden.
One of the most fascinating highlights are the stars, spirals and river pebbles embedded in the concrete parts of the floor. The effect makes it appear as if the bank of the American River extends under the glass windows and doors of the patio and right up to a stone fire pit in the living room. The fire element is designed to resemble a bonfire down by the river’s shore.
The seller was art aficionado Kathryn Kirkpatrick, who said in March that the large boulders surrounding the fire pit came from the North Fork of the Yuba River.
“They were rescue rocks,” she said. “A PG&E plant was going in (on the river) and a rock hound — this isn’t a guy with a little rock collection, he has a couple of acres of boulders that he adores — collected the water-worn boulders and that’s what I chose for my fire pit there in the center of the house.”
Smooth indentations on the boulders allow the rocks to serve as seats around the fire element.
“The whole idea was the river theme, and that was supposed to be like a bonfire at the river, surrounded by stones,” she added.
Sacramento artist Larry Meeks, whose ironwork is displayed throughout the home, designed, created and signed the huge textured metal ventilation hood over the fire pit — as well as the tall, slender, metal “reeds” that emit flames to “create warmth and movement,” according to the property description.
Meeks also created the iron railings for the stairs.
Kirkpatrick bought the home in 2007 for $1.6 million, according to property records.
The house immediately underwent a major renovation.
Two massive tree trunks, debarked and smoothly polished, bring more of the outdoors feeling inside. They stand next to the fire pit as impressive pieces of natural art. One of the tall trunks even functions as a major support beam.
“I chose that tree out of a pile of about 50 trees that had been harvested after they were already dead,” Kirkpatrick said. “It was from the Geronimo Pole Co. in North San Juan, California.”
Geronimo Pole sells and exports custom hand-crafted beams, rafters, rustic fencing, fireplace mantles and traditional, fine-crafted Japanese tokobashira poles, among other products.
“There’s a Japanese style of architecture that requires the kind of harvesting they do, and I chose mine because of the ‘cat’s eye.’ You could see where the bark broke open and amber formed in one area. I thought it was beautiful. And it met structural requirements. It’s an actual support of the house.”
The other tree is a companion, Kirkpatrick added.
“I thought, ‘Oh one big tree, maybe it would be lonely. I should have another one.’” she explained.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 10:52 AM.
