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602 Forest Avenue
Corner of Forest Avenue and Junipero Avenue
5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,900 SF on a 6,500 SF lot
Built, 1908
Last sold, 2012
You pass it on a school run, on the way to the market, heading downtown or coming home. Being “The Purple House” gives it clear presence along one the street—visible in fog, bright sun, and the brief glance between blocks when driving down Forest.
The historic Craftsman sits at the corner, where passing traffic and foot travel put it in view again and again. Its porch, white trim, and picket fence come later, after the purple has caught your eye.
Up close, the facade is organized around that entry. A narrow covered porch frames the yellow glazed door at the top of a short stair. One column on each side supports the porch roof, and exposed rafter tails show along its outer edges.
Above, the larger roof repeats the same exposed wood detail at the eaves, with simple framing beneath the gable.
Divided upper window panes and white trim carry the pattern across the windows, porch, and roofline.
The property extends behind the main house toward a separate detached guesthouse.
Facing Junipero Avenue and marked “601 Junipero,” it gives the property a second street presence with the independence of a smaller standalone house.
The courtyard between the two buildings serves as the property’s shared yard. Enclosed by fencing and set back from both avenues, it creates the feeling of a small private compound built around the two residences.
Three Things I Love About the Home
1. The Yellow Door: A color pairing that makes the whole house sing.
2. The Stone Courtyard Wall: Privacy in the middle of a very visible lot.
3. The Guest House Balcony: A little lookout over the private shared yard.
