Presented by Alex Michas & Rick Richetta
4 BEDS | 3 BATHS
3,090 SQ.FT. LIVING AREA | 7,570 SQ.FT. LOT
A surprise awaits beyond the Ascot Drive facade, you enter a grand courtyard and peaceful environment of trees, views and quiet.
Built in 1997, 6227 Ascot carries the warmth and character of Montclair’s traditional hillside architecture, but with the proportions and ease of something more modern. Wood floors and exposed beams run through the main level, where the rooms are open without feeling cavernous. From the kitchen, life spills out in both directions—to the canyon-side deck on one end and, across a comfortable sitting room, to the broad front courtyard on the other.
There is an ease to the way the house is lived in. Doors lead outside in several directions. Coffee can happen on one deck, dinner on another. The courtyard is generous enough to become a real part of daily life—a place for meals, gardening, children, friends, or simply being outside.
Three bedrooms are upstairs, with the primary suite tucked into the western corner. It is particularly well placed, catching some of the house’s best Bay views through the trees.
Downstairs, a full lower level with its own entrance creates another kind of flexibility: guests who stay longer than expected, teenagers who want some distance, a serious place to work, or simply rooms whose purpose can change over the years.
This is Montclair at its best: wooded and quiet, shaped by the hills and canyon, yet still connected to the life of Oakland below. The Village is close, schools are nearby, and the routes down the hill make the rest of the city surprisingly accessible. At home, though, trees fill the foreground, with Bay views extending beyond the wooded canyon. It is a setting that makes coming home feel like leaving somewhere else behind.
From the moment we moved in, we fell in love with the amazing views of San Francisco,
Oakland, and the Bay. Sitting on the top deck, enjoying coffee and a good book, or watching the
beautiful sunsets has been a daily joy for our family. The home’s open, airy design and high
ceilings create a wonderful sense of space, letting us easily stay present and connected with
our young boys in the living room while we cook dinner. But more than anything, it’s the
incredible natural light that pours in, making the entire house feel bright, warm, and truly alive.
Finding a home in the hills with flat front and back yards was an incredible stroke of luck. Our
boys have loved having so much space to run around and play safely. We've spent countless
afternoons enjoying the yard, which feels remarkably private, quiet, and cozy thanks to the
established hedges and perfectly positioned trees. We will greatly miss our summer dinners on
the lower deck. The property also features a wonderful variety of mature fruit trees—we’ve loved
harvesting our own lemons year round and always look forward to plum season. We added the
apple and peach trees ourselves and this spring there is avocado fruit appearing for the first
time. We know we’re paying it forward and future residents will get to enjoy a cornucopia of
fruits. We have also enjoyed playing farmer and growing tomatoes, peppers and peas in the
raised flowerbeds. All the edibles in the yard are joined by a truly impressive variety of flowers.
We will miss the magnolias, lilies, poppies, birds of paradise, roses and many more.
The layout of the property was just what we were looking for. The light-filled, detached studio
became an essential space for us, serving beautifully as a home office, an art studio, and a
gym. Inside, the downstairs area provided a wonderful retreat for extended grandparent visits. It
offered them plenty of personal space, but was conveniently close enough for us to send the
grandkids down when they woke up a little too early in the morning!
Beyond the house itself, you will be joining an incredibly friendly and welcoming neighborhood
with an active group chat and an annual block party. The trick-or-treating on Halloween just over
on Oakwood Drive is not to be missed! We’ve loved being just up the hill from Montclair’s quaint
downtown, making the Sunday farmer’s market a cherished weekend tradition. The nearby
hiking trails are another wonder of the neighborhood. Some of our favorite memories are of
walking out the front door, our youngest in a hiking backpack, and hitting the Huckleberry or
Sibley trails.
We have poured so much love and energy into this house and have made wonderful memories
within these walls. Now, as we prepare for our next chapter, we are thrilled to pass this very
special home on to its next stewards. We hope 7008 Thornhill brings you much happiness,
warmth, and inspiration.
Warmly,
Karl, Brynn, and the boys
To an outsider, Piedmont Pines can feel like an extension of Montclair—or simply “the Oakland Hills.” But locals will tell you quickly: this is a distinct, well-defined neighbourhood with its own identity, boundaries, and long-standing community pride. It’s hilly, heavily wooded, and quietly residential, offering a true hillside setting that feels almost rural while still being Oakland.
The neighbourhood’s cohesion is anchored by the Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association, active since 1941. While membership is voluntary, the association has played an outsized role in shaping the quality of life here. Piedmont Pines is generally separated from Montclair to the north by Shepherd Canyon and Girvin Drive, with clear edges to the west and south defined by Highway 13 and the expansive Joaquin Miller Park.
