When Elise and Eric Steinman first walked their 2.5-acre Rosemont property in February 2021, winter transformed the landscape into a lush retreat. Heritage oaks, hundreds of years old, towered overhead.
“I remember looking up at those trees and feeling so humbled and awed,” Elise says. “We feel extremely privileged to live here and maintain a sense of responsibility to steward this home and property for the next generation.”
The couple bought the property in March 2021, during the pandemic. They wanted more space and quiet for their family, plus a connection to the natural worlds they experienced growing up. Elise was raised in Carmichael. Her husband grew up on a large property in Oregon.
After returning to Sacramento from Seattle, the family lived in East Sac. But with a young son and a love of old houses and the outdoors, they wanted something larger and rural.
The historic Victorian, built around the 1860s, offered both. They are the fifth owners.
Now the property is home to the couple, their 8-year-old son and Eric’s father, who lives in a new accessory dwelling unit. The main residence is just under 3,000 square feet, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms upstairs and a powder room downstairs. The 1,000-square-foot ADU has two bedrooms and one bathroom.
The previous owner restored the Victorian. Original hardware, moldings and other features were preserved. Modern conveniences—heating and air conditioning, laundry and a bathroom—were added.
“I love old things, handmade things, items with character and history, says Elise. “Most all the furniture in the house are antiques—gifts from relatives of mine or mid-century furniture restored that I purchased from Mid Century Sacramento—who does an incredible job sourcing and restoring mid-century modern pieces.”
The grounds were largely undeveloped. There was no irrigation. Several old outbuildings were beyond repair. The family tore them down and saved the lumber.
Next began a multiyear effort to transform the land.
The homeowners installed a swimming pool, built a new fence and created a driveway from the historic entrance. A garage and the ADU followed. Then came garden areas and a pond.
“There are always things to do and maintain, and I actually love that,” Elise says. “I get to continue to be creative and work on aspects of the home and garden.”
Her objective was not to tame the property but create outdoor spaces that transition from formal gardens to the wild, mostly untouched perimeter.
The result is a landscape that feels intentional without appearing manicured. Garden rooms, gathering areas, edible plants and recreational spaces connect the Victorian, garage, ADU, pool and pond. Towering trees are the defining presence.
Inside, pinecones, feathers, acorns, shells, books and artwork reflect memories and discoveries. Elise cites a rambling Victorian in the film “Practical Magic,” filled with dried flowers, old books and art, as inspiration.
“I relish being surrounded by lots of things that have a memory attached or are beautiful to me,” she says. “My cutting garden fills the home with flowers.”
The heritage oaks are especially important. Oaks are a local keystone, supporting a network of organisms that depend upon them for food and habitat. The gardens incorporate fruit trees, vegetables and other edibles.
Elise’s passion for combining beauty, sustainability and food production has grown into a new business, Aldercone Design, which helps clients create environmentally beneficial and productive landscapes.
For all its history and beauty, the property’s greatest value is the life that unfolds there.
Her son has room to explore and invite friends to play and swim. The family shares flowers and produce with visitors, gathers around the pool during summer and enjoys quiet moments beside the pond.
Morning is a favorite time, coffee on the porch, birds singing in the trees.
“It is a dream come true living here,” Elise says.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
