Perched on the north side of the Woodlake neighborhood is a majestic brick Tudor Revival home. It was built in 1921 by Carl Edward Johnston, who lived on the property until he died in 1953. His wife stayed until 1972.
The house was owned by the North Sacramento Land Company, founded by Johnston and his brother D.W. in 1910. The firm controlled more than 4,000 acres from the Rancho Del Paso land grant and helped shape North Sac.
Grandson Bob Johnston Slobe manages the land company with his sister. Slobe bought the house from the estate in 2023. He was president of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy from 1990 to 1997, working on park, wildland and open space acquisitions.
The home was designed by architect Arthur Widdowson, who emigrated from England in 1907. Widdowson was a society architect who specialized in Tudor Revival. He designed the Johnston home in 1919, soon after opening his practice.
Several generations lived in the Woodlake home, including Slobe’s mother and aunt. “It was just too wonderful and had too many family memories to let go, knowing what could potentially happen to it,” Slobe says.
After an 18-month restoration and renovation, he moved in last summer
“The original layout and footprint of the house remained exactly as it was built,” Slobe says. He updated the mechanics, roof, windows, kitchen and bathrooms. What was once called a “baby room” became a master closet.
Fireplace tiles were designed by Ernest Batchelder and created in Pasadena, the center of California’s Arts and Crafts Movement in the 1920s. Gray and brown glaze inspired the home’s color palette.
“I had some great design help with the renovation from my friend and architect Lynn Pomeroy and designer Curtis Popp, who worked on various aspects of the house. Designer Gary Johnson also contributed to the project,” Slobe says.
The move was just down the street for Slobe. An art collector, he was excited to gain more wall space.
Restorations were based around the 1920s construction. “We tore it back to the studs. The only major thing we added was a deck on an original flat roof off the living room. It now opens the master bedroom to the outdoors,” Slobe says.
New interior finishes are warm, rich and masculine. Cabinetry is dark walnut, harvested from a tree Popp sourced in Woodland. High-end appliances are paired with dark marble counters and backsplashes.
In some rooms, cabinets are painted gray, with walnut counter tops. Floors are restored original oak. Floor tiles complement the dark marble counters.
New furnishings pick up the tile color scheme and add a creamy white to lighten things up.
The central staircase is integrated with a wood-framed tubular elevator, a concession to an aging owner. “This is my last home for sure,” Slobe says.
The dining room holds a beautiful custom round table of African walnut deigned by Julian Snyder. The circular design has a round opening. Around the opening are bronze birds representing species who visit the property. Spacious upstairs rooms have sloped ceilings from the Tudor roofline.
The house sits on 3 acres next to 6 acres owned by the land company. “I still need to determine what to do with the 6 acres surrounding the property,” Slobe says. “Development will be a touchy issue for both me and the city.”
A multi-purpose outdoor kitchen and entertainment area highlight the backyard. A reflecting pool and fountain overlook the property to the west.
“It’s the perfect way to enjoy the end of the day,” says Slobe, having proudly preserved a family legacy.
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