Heart of the Home: 819 Paramount Road

Heart of the Home: 819 Paramount Road

At NurtureSource, we know that a house is so much more than just a structure. It’s a home that holds meaning, memories, and emotions for all the families who have lived there. For our team, every project is about more than the redesign and renovations that prepare the home for its next chapter. It’s also about connecting with the client and helping them process the transition. 

For this series, we look back at some of our favorite projects from the homeowners’ perspectives, inviting them to share the story of their homes, their experience working with NurtureSource on the transformation, and how it felt once the project was complete. 

In this blog, we talk to Alison Macondray about selling her childhood home at 819 Paramount Road in the Oakland Hills. Here’s her story.

An Emotional Decision

“We decided to sell our home because it had become too much to keep up. After five decades in the family, all of us kids had moved away. My parents had long separated. My mom was off living her own life. And my father, who’s almost 90, was living in the house alone.” 

“It wasn’t an easy decision. My parents bought the house when I was 5 years old, and the home has really been sown into our family. I think NurtureSource knows better than anyone that a building is not just a building but a container for memories – memories of playing in the backyard, sliding down the laundry chute, hosting Christmases with family and friends.”  

“Even though we all realized it was time, I felt a lot of mixed emotions about selling the house – attachment, fear, but also curiosity about what this place could become. It’s too wonderful a property not to be lived in and cherished.”

Finding the Right People for the Job

“We decided to start with the realtor. We wanted someone who really knew the East Bay, who knew what could be done with the house, and who understood the buyer profile in the area. We found Andrea Gordon of Compass and she immediately recommended NurtureSource for the renovations. She had worked with them on a lot of homes, so there was a long legacy of trust that gave us confidence in their approach.”   

Andrea adds: “I knew NurtureSource would be the right fit for Paramount because it was a very large job. The house needed modernization pretty much everywhere. I knew I had to get somebody in there who would be able to handle the complexity of the project.”

Working with NurtureSource

“NurtureSource didn't just look at photos of the house. They showed up with a crew for a full tour and came back with a detailed proposal. They had a vision for the unknown and were directive but also collaborative. They’re all experts at what they do and they deeply trust each other. The process never felt transactional because everyone on the team was so enthusiastic about the project. And that meant a lot to our family.”

Reimagining the Stately English Tudor for Modern Living

“The house is a gorgeous, five-bedroom English Tudor that’s about 100 years old. It has amazing bones with a grand dining room and living room, a palatial primary bedroom, dark wood molding, and an elegant stairway. One thing that really impressed me about NurtureSource was the way they honored the home by preserving period details while modernizing rooms in key ways.” 

“I still marvel over the work they did for the new kitchen. What used to be a breakfast room and small kitchen is now a huge open kitchen with cross beams and a center island. It’s really the heart of the home now.” 

“The other major upgrade was the primary bathroom upstairs. NurtureSource opened it up, gave it a double vanity, and turned the tiny bathtub into a lovely spa shower. They even put in heated floors. It’s exactly the kind of dream bathroom modern couples want.

The Next Chapter

“When it came time to turn in the keys, there was definitely some sadness and grief. But along with those feelings, there was a lot of pride. The decision we made to renovate the house says that we care. Because of NurtureSource, we were able to restore the home to its glory and hand it off in the best way possible.”

“To anybody who’s thinking of fixing up their house, I recommend NurtureSource. Whether you’re looking for a strip-down-to-the-studs redo or a single bathroom refresh, they will exceed your expectations.” 

If NurtureSource feels like the right fit for your client or home, schedule a call and let’s talk.