626 Caldwell Rd, Oakland, CA 94611

This is what happens when a renovation is done for living, not for selling. Reimagined from top to bottom as a passion project for its owners, 626 Caldwell Road is the kind of house you finish, settle into and enjoy for years. It was never renovated with resale in mind-which is precisely what makes the opportunity to own it now so unusual. The materials and finishes werent chosen to appeal to everyone; they were chosen because they were beautiful. The happy side effect? Your design game may improve simply by osmosis. Level entry opens to light-filled, open-concept living, dining and kitchen spaces with hardwood floors and level-out access to a flat backyard. The vaulted living room gets its point of view from an artisan plaster fireplace surround, while the kitchen pairs high-end appliances with under-cabinet lighting and a pot filler. The fireplace quietly waits its turn to make cool, dark winter days some of the best of the year. When the East Bay turns warm, A/C is ready too. Five bedrooms and four baths include two main-level ensuite bedrooms. The primary bath brings the style with terrazzo tile and a ceiling-mounted rain shower. Upstairs, a vaulted family room is big enough for movie nights, game days-or a second party happening while the adults downstairs pretend not to notice. An additional bedroom and full bath give guests, an older child or home office some welcome separation. Outside: sunny deck, flagstone dining patio, flat lawn, hot tub and terraced gardens. The t