712 Santa Ray Avenue , Oakland, CA 94610-1723

Set like a jewel above its handsome stone staircase and lush, rock-walled terraces anchored by towering palm trees, this artful 1924 Mediterranean invites easy living in its light-filled rooms and the delight-filled upslope behind them. The kitchen opens to both the living and dining rooms, providing fine flow through the common rooms; five stairs up, French doors from both bedrooms open to multiple rear garden patios and an upper deck. Accessed by gently sloped stone paths and steps, this deep and lovingly landscaped hillside becomes an extension of the home itself, where delicate grasses, flowering shrubs, and more magnificent palms grace the ascending terraces, each one a kind of outdoor room for dining, work, or play. At the top, a small custom shed offers space for tools or even a secluded office, along with a gate to a rear lane for temporary access. Enjoy your own private park in this friendly Crocker Highlands neighborhood close to all the pleasures of Lake Merritt, Lakeshore and Grand Avenues.