Mary Moiso has spent the last four years pouring her heart and time into a charming Victorian in Salinas. One of three Queen Anne homes near historic Oldtown, this cottage shares a similar design to John Steinbeck’s home a block away.

Built in 1898 as a response to Claus Spreckles’ sugar refinery, the care of this little time-capsule did not do its history justice—until recently.

“I’ve re-done everything: the floors, the roof, extending the chimney and cleaning up the yard,” Moiso says. “I’ve even made the house wheelchair accessible. It was a huge job and I’ve just put so much into it.”

Moiso’s hard work has paid off. The front landscaping is well-manicured with splashes of deep green, and orange, and pink and yellow roses.

“These original rose bushes have a beautiful fragrance that new ones don’t seem to have,” Moiso says.

The first impression is helped by a charming new oval etched glass front door, an angled bay window and an original leaded glass window above it. Combined with the wide redwood drop siding and occasional sconce accent, the exterior has just enough flare to make this a stylish but humble Victorian.

As guests step through the entryway and into the living room there is truly a sense of old rural Salinas. A matching bay window on the side of the living room adds more light and a view of the roses outside. Wide baseboards and wainscoting with vertical paneling running in between accent the high ceilings. And a classic brick fireplace with slender columns brings the room together.

Moiso has chosen to furnish the house, which has been used as a beauty parlor for the last few years, in an art deco style.

This unique combination of classic style and modern rejuvenation is common throughout the house.

The old-style spacious country kitchen has antique hanging glass lanterns from an old Chicago hotel. And the built-in original cabinets are accompanied by brand new Absocold refrigerator and Frigidaire stove.

The master bathroom retains its original medicine cabinet and shelves, but has new marble flooring and tile around the bathtub.

The two bedrooms are well placed off the living room and in the back of the house is plenty of storage space. The simple floor plan and open rooms of this 1,480-square-foot cottage make clever use of space.

The back yard is bordered by kumquat trees that create privacy and a pleasant view amid the cityscape. Zoned for both commercial and residential use, this almost quarter-acre lot is a versatile and “amazingly quiet” pocket, says Realtor Patricia Bini. “It’s close to downtown, but has a small town feeling. It’s quiet and friendly.”

Price: $630,000. 30 Central Ave., Salinas. Contact Patricia Bini of ReMax of Monterey Peninsula at 521-1032.