From the Oakland Hills to Marin County, some of the Bay Area's best houses don't look like much from the front.

This 1989 wood-shingled home sits behind an iron gate and is shrouded in Japanese maples that turn lovely colors in the fall; its facade dominated by a concrete car park and a low-slung three-car garage. But enter through the midcentury-inspired front door, and the place opens up with bright spaces and picture windows depicting the wooded setting throughout.

An open floor plan with high vaulted ceilings set the tone on the main level where the interiors play second fiddle to vistas through wide glass doors and windows on nearly every side.

The living area has a fireplace and direct access to a sunny deck surrounded by trees as well as an easy flow into the dining room, family room with another fireplace, and the contemporary kitchen with sleek custom cabinets, a large central island, and yet more windows with an expansive view.

In the primary suite, one can have total privacy while still taking advantage of outdoor access with its own patio and hot tub overlooking the park-like yard. This room has a custom walk-in closet and a spacious bathroom with a dual sink vanity, roomy shower, and a standalone tub beneath a wooded perspective that appears perfectly framed. There is also a second en-suite bedroom and laundry room on this floor.

Downstairs there are two additional bedrooms with a shared bathroom, a game room, and office space. The newly built ADU has exterior access and a private deck, as well as a secret "library wall" that allows tenants to remain separate or included in the main home.

Don't miss the fancy wine cellar!

  

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4.5

Size: 4,707

Asking price: $6,650,000

// 50 Altamont Ave. (Mill Valley); for more information visit compass.com.