{"id":483975,"date":"2026-10-03T14:46:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/483975\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T14:46:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:46:14","slug":"modern-riverfront-retreat-in-west-sacramento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/483975\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern riverfront retreat in West Sacramento"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new custom home in West Sacramento is designed to make the Sacramento River part of everyday life \u2014 from the moment visitors enter through its oversized pivot door to the backyard patio and primary suite balcony where weekends can be spent watching boats pass.<\/p>\n

A new build, the 4,832-square-foot home at 868 Rivercrest Drive<\/a> is listed for $2.35 million. It has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two two-car garages and sits on about a quarter-acre lot in The Rivers, a gated waterfront community.<\/p>\n

Builder Raman Singh of Oonkar Properties said the project took about four years to complete because its location near the levee required approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state water board and local flood-protection agencies, followed by permitting through West Sacramento. Construction took about a year.<\/p>\n

The result is a contemporary home whose design is built around straight lines, carefully controlled views and an abundance of custom finish work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my homes, you won\u2019t see arches,\u201d Singh said. \u201cI do everything in straight lines. The only round things you\u2019ll see here are the light fixtures. Modern works best when everything is straight line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A A new 4,832-square-foot home at 868 Rivercrest Drive in West Sacramento along the Sacramento River is listed for $2.35 million. David Goodwin MYO Creative <\/p>\n

The front exterior is partially wrapped in dark cladding to give the home a more distinctive appearance. The cladding covers the garages, frames the entry and appears around the exterior doors, creating a visual thread across the facade. The glass-paneled pivot door offers a glimpse out while preserving privacy from the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has great curb appeal,\u201d listing agent Jenny Sapien of Guide Real Estate said<\/a>. \u201cThe colors and the cladding really make it feel clean and fresh. At night this house totally glows. The lighting is everywhere \u2014 on the cladding, around the driveway \u2014 so when it\u2019s all on, the house just lights up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exterior cladding was a deliberate design choice, intended to set the home apart from more conventional stucco finishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially I was going to do stucco in the front,\u201d Singh said. \u201cThen I thought, everybody\u2019s doing stucco\u2014how do I make it a little different? I wanted something unique, so I ordered this cladding. We wrapped the whole garage, and then the entry looked empty, so I added some at the entry as well. Now, all the exterior doors have the same cladding, so there\u2019s a continuity to the design.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside, the entry rises 23 feet. The foyer was planned as a transition point rather than simply a passageway. A wet bar, powder room, coat area and concealed shoe storage sit near the front door, while the main axis of the house leads directly toward the backyard and river.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is, as soon as you open the door, you need to say \u2018Wow,\u2019\u201d Singh said. \u201cThe entry needs to be striking. The big six-foot pivot door, once it\u2019s open you can see all the way from the entry to the river.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The The riverside backyard is designed for evening entertaining, with LED lighting integrated into the steps and pavers, a gas fire pit and wall sconces. A private putting green is in place, too. David Goodwin MYO Creative <\/p>\n

Singh said the home\u2019s modern look was built through a combination of cabinet colors, wood tones and distinctive lighting, including LED channel lighting and two-inch recessed fixtures. He said he spent considerable time searching for unusual fixtures rather than using standard lighting found in other homes.<\/p>\n

Two large statement fixtures, each measuring roughly 6 feet across and weighing about 100 pounds, hang above the entry foyer. The home\u2019s integrated accent lighting can change colors, including red for a 49ers-themed party, Sapien said.<\/p>\n

During a walk-through, Singh talked about how much attention he pays to selecting light fixtures for each home.<\/p>\n

\u201cPicking out a fixture is the hardest thing for me because I don\u2019t use the same fixture in every house,\u201d he said. \u201c I always want something different and unique. I believe nice light fixtures can make so much difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

The home\u2019s entertaining spaces are arranged around a designer kitchen with a large quartz island, high-end appliances and a built-in refrigerator.<\/p>\n

Behind it is a full prep kitchen, allowing residents to do much of the cooking away from the main living areas. Singh said he has included secondary kitchens in his homes for about a decade. This one does extra lifting. The so-called dirty kitchen, with a 700-cubic-foot-per-minute hood and separate exhaust fan, is intended to contain cooking odors and clutter.<\/p>\n

A formal living area and family room flank the kitchen. Natural colors, wood tones, decorative paneling and custom lighting give the modern interior a warmer feel. Singh said the feature wall in the main living area took about two days to complete, with the final design worked out directly on the wall with his finish carpenter.<\/p>\n

Nearly every room has its own paneling or wall treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do a lot of wall paneling,\u201d Singh said. \u201c(On) every single wall there\u2019s some kind of paneling. It\u2019s all custom, all done on the site. We\u2019ll buy the big sheets, cut it, and there\u2019s a lot of planning to do (for) every single wall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Two Two large statement fixtures, each measuring roughly 5 to 6 feet across and weighing about 100 pounds, hang above the entry foyer. David Goodwin MYO Creative <\/p>\n

Some are wood, others use textured finishes such as artisan plaster. Double baseboards appear throughout, too, a detail Singh considers small but important.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody does a single baseboard,\u201d he said. \u201cI do double baseboards. It\u2019s a small detail, but it makes a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

The home also reflects the builder\u2019s focus on practical details. The four-car garage is divided into two separate bays and includes power for electric-vehicle charging in one garage. The driveway can accommodate additional vehicles, making the property suited to large gatherings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this house would be perfect for … a lobbyist or a politician who\u2019s doing fundraisers all the time and entertaining and big parties and all that good stuff,\u201d Sapien said.<\/p>\n

A main-floor bedroom suite adds flexibility for guests, multigenerational living, a home office or a gym. Each bedroom in the residence has its own bathroom, and the bathrooms include smart toilets.<\/p>\n

The home\u2019s technology is integrated rather than displayed. Cameras around the property feed to built-in monitors downstairs and upstairs. Sonos speakers extend throughout the interior and exterior. A smart-home system is controlled through wall-mounted screens, while wiring and equipment are concealed in dedicated mechanical and media spaces.<\/p>\n

Other features include a central vacuum with a hide-a-hose system, four HVAC zones, owned solar panels and electric heat pumps. Upstairs, a layer of Gyp-Crete \u2014 lightweight concrete placed over the subfloor \u2014 adds weight, sound insulation and a more solid feel underfoot, Singh said.<\/p>\n

The primary suite occupies much of the upper level. Its bathroom includes a 14-foot walk-in shower, a freestanding tub, body sprays, dual shower heads, integrated speakers and a towel warmer. The closet connects directly to the laundry room.<\/p>\n

\"The The home in gated The Rivers neighborhood has four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and sits on about a quarter-acre lot. David Goodwin MYO Creative <\/p>\n

A small refrigerator has been built into the primary suite, with plumbing left in place for a possible sink. A private balcony overlooks the river.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe balcony off the primary is one of my favorite parts,\u201d Singh said. \u201cIn the evenings it\u2019s so peaceful, and on weekends it\u2019s very happening with boats on the river.\u201d<\/p>\n

The backyard is designed for evening entertaining, with LED lighting integrated into the steps and pavers, a gas fire pit and wall sconces. A private putting green is already in place, and utility rough-ins were installed for a future outdoor kitchen or barbecue island. There is space for a pool.<\/p>\n

Even the dog shower is part of Singh\u2019s standard approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut here you can wash the dog, or if somebody adds a pool later they can rinse off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"The The glass-paneled pivot door opens into an entry foyer with ceilings rising 23 feet. David Goodwin MYO Creative <\/p>\n

The spec house is within The Rivers, a community built around what was once a golf course, with walking and biking paths, ponds, sand volleyball courts, playgrounds, pools, a spa and a clubhouse, Sapien said. Only 12 residential lots sit along the river.<\/p>\n

Its location offers a different kind of luxury \u2014 proximity to the heart of the capital city. The home is a short drive from downtown Sacramento, the state Capitol, Golden 1 Center and Sutter Health Park. It is near restaurants and riverfront attractions, including Virgin Sturgeon, Crawdads and Chevy\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Sapien said the large sliding glass doors help connect the entertaining spaces with the river setting, while The Rivers offers gated entry, 24-hour patrol and acres of greenbelt recreation.<\/p>\n

But the river remains the main attraction. From the upper patio and primary balcony, the view shifts with the time of day \u2014 water, sky and the glow of the home\u2019s exterior lighting after sunset.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very smart house,\u201d Sapien said. \u201cEverything is designed so you don\u2019t see messy cords or equipment, but it\u2019s all there and easy to use.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

David Caraccio<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and a longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.\n <\/p>\n