When Jennifer Tornatore and Eric Knutson married in 2003, seven years after joining households, they lived in a ranch-style home in Point Richmond. “Eric came as a package with two young sons, so we had a family-friendly home in a good school district,” Tornatore says. “But the home was uninspiring.”
Tornatore, an account executive with Uber, comes from the Sacramento suburbs. Knutson, an architect, grew up in the Bay Area. His design specialty is high-end residential, smaller commercials and multifamily homes.
After the children grew up, the couple wanted to move closer to Tornatore’s Sacramento family. In 2011, they bought a gorgeous Craftsman home in Boulevard Park. Their real estate agent lived in the neighborhood and suggested they visit. “We were instantly smitten,” Knutson says.
The 1,900-square-foot house has three bedrooms and two and half bathrooms. A full basement, neither heated nor cooled, adds important living space with an office for Knutson, and a storage and rumpus room.
Built in 1906, the home’s architect was Alden W. Campbell. A newspaper article printed at the time describes the two-story, seven-room house as “Colonial” in style. It cost $3,127 to construct.
Interior Photos
by Donald Cox
“The home was in pretty good shape when we got it. But the yard and carport were a total mess,” Knutson says. He designed and built a new garage to match the original architecture, with Craftsman details and carriage doors.
“And then a huge tree came down on the rear screened porch, which spurred us to build a new laundry room in its place,” Knutson says. “It was a huge improvement over what was there previously.
“Inside, we painted everything, and we restored the redwood trim. And we used rich colors like gold, rust, red and teal blue that would have been period to this home’s era.”
A stained-glass window in the downstairs hallway provided inspiration for the color scheme. Kitchen and bath remodels took years. But the walls and doors are original.
They kept many of the original kitchen cabinets and only changed the wall that houses their Wolf range and vent hood. Yellow-gold tiles form a colorful, striking backsplash.
Furnishings throughout complement the Craftsman design, with original antique and vintage pieces, along with new furniture in the Stickley style.
Exterior Photo
by Aniko Kiezel
Interior Photos
by Donald Cox
“My favorite part of this home is that it is comfortable. It’s comfortable in my upstairs office, comfortable for the time Eric and I spend together on the first floor eating and relaxing, and also comfortable for overnight visitors,” Tornatore says.
Knutson loves the neighborhood, its huge tree canopies and nice neighbors. “Our porch has two rocking chairs, and we love to sit outside with a gin and tonic,” he says. “And our outdoor spaces add another 1,200 feet of usable space for us.”
They both love the location, close to everything they need. “All in all, it was the best decision we ever made on a home,” Knutson says.
Preservation Sacramento showcases six Boulevard Park properties, including this home, for the 48th Annual Historic Home Tour and Street Fair Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit preservationsacramento.org/hometour.
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