Spring again brings the Children’s Support League’s Heart of the Home Tour on April 26 & 27 as they kick off its 4th decade. A Tour ticket includes a tour of five homes in Oakland and Piedmont, a delicious food truck lunch, dessert from Fenton’s, and an irresistible Pop-Up boutique at the Piedmont Community Center. Even if you’re not able to tour, the lunch and boutique are open to everyone!
Nestled into a lush, quiet yard in Crocker Highlands, this classic 1929 family home with a traditional layout has been reborn to accommodate its current owners’ dreams and busy family life. The owners lived in the home many years before remodeling, considering what changes they would like, and have achieved a wonderful blend of the home’s original style and modern convenience. Creative redesign removed walls and repurposed space to create a kitchen that is truly the heart of the home.
A feeling of time past pervades the entry through original mahogany doors, but only a few steps down and the spacious living room gives a first hint of changes to come. The lovely French doors leading to a sunny terrace originally were windows: there was no terrace or access from inside the house to the back yard.
The rest of the main level of this house is where many changes have been made. The lovely office is in the space that used to be the breakfast nook. Whyhave a nook there – far from the kitchen? The owners and their design team flipped room locations and combined the kitchen, den, laundry and sunroom to create and open, flowing family space. The efficient and beautiful kitchen, with its marble baking center, an eight-burner stove, corner storage and well organized cutlery drawers, is now designed for a chef. The family has space to visit and share while preparing meals that are enjoyed at a dining table of reclaimed cottonwood. Again, we see how the family now can access to the lovely new terrace.
The family’s private rooms are on the second level. A warm sun room used for reading and family gatherings greets you at the top of the stairs. One of the bedrooms offers what every Tudor home should: a full suit of armor! Farther down the hall, the master also reflects updating. While the bath is remodeled, we see the nod to the original in an antique marble vanity and polished nickel details.
To purchase tickets to CSL’s tour, visit the website. Tickets also are available at several East Bay stores (a list is on the website). The Tour homes are available Fri/Sat from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The boutique will remain open until 5:00 on Friday and 4:00 on Saturday.