61 Wildwood Ave, Piedmont

Saturday morning sunlight peeks in through the skylight in your top-floor aerie. The smell of fresh-roasted coffee beckons you to the kitchen for your morning cuppa, and you settle in the dining room or perhaps step right out to the sunny deck to soak in the morning calm. Just beyond the deck railing is the plum tree, home to a pair of doves who nest there in the springtime and are never far away, giving this home its name: Dove’s Nest.

From the façade, the home presents as a charming traditional Piedmont bungalow. Wisteria vines trail down the entry railing. The front gardens are abundant year-round with a bamboo hedge, salvia, lavender, a decorative dry streambed, and the springtime floral perfume of gardenias and roses welcoming all who enter. Atop the front stairs, a seating niche sits just outside the mullioned glass entry. 

You enter into a well-maintained home with hardwood floors, lath and plaster walls, and beautiful Craftsman touches throughout. The main floor is separated into public and private spaces. To your left is a living room wreathed in windows along two walls, and with a traditional Craftsman fireplace and built-in cabinetry forming a natural focal point. Just past the living room is an ample formal dining room, and beyond is the primary kitchen with updated appliances and features such as in-cabinet lighting and a pot-filler faucet over the range. The kitchen overlooks and opens onto a large wood deck, which captures sunlight throughout most of the day. A ramp leads from the deck to the nearly level yard. Prolific fruit trees, including an apricot and a plum, are set above the lawn – all fully enclosed, making the yard both pet and child-friendly. A full bathroom can be conveniently accessed from both the deck and the living/dining/kitchen areas and keeps guests separated from the private parts of the home.

The private space is set on the right side of the main floor and includes three spacious bedrooms and a full bathroom. One of these bedrooms has a door that opens directly onto the back deck, and two of the bedrooms have glass doors or windows on two sides, ensuring there is plenty of light. The fourth and primary bedroom is up a short flight of stairs off the hallway. This primary suite is set under the roofline and occupies the full floor. It offers views over the back garden, an en suite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a skylight.

On the lower floor of the home, you’ll find a second full kitchen and living room, as well as another two bedrooms. Based on personal preference, these bedrooms could function beautifully as quiet spaces for a home office or crafting uses, or as homework spaces. The living room will serve as a wonderful rumpus room or an entertainment area for games or movie nights. Laundry, garage access, and tons of storage are also set on this level.

Most of the lowest floor has been legally recognized by the City of Piedmont as a separate accessory dwelling unit. Since it can function as a stand-alone residence, but is still joined to the upper levels (with only a doorway separating it from the rest of the house), it offers the perfect set-up for in-laws, a nanny, or other family members, and also for entirely separate tenants*. Private entry is afforded by way of a glass door set on a garden pathway on the left side of the house. This door also offers a pathway to raised vegetable beds and a waterfall feature, as well as to the primary back garden. A locking gate separates the side garden from the front garden.

This classic bungalow home is complemented by modern updates, such as newer dual-pane windows and hot water heater, and by the meticulous repairs made to the structure and systems by the seller – all reflected in highly complementary inspection reviews. The placement of the home is unbeatable, within the City of Piedmont with its sought-after schools and public services, yet just a stone’s throw from the best Oakland has to offer in its Grand Lake and Piedmont Avenue neighborhoods.