A Midcentury Charmer in the Bay Area Is Listed at $749K
Located in up-and-coming Laurel District of Oakland, California, this two-bedroom, one-bath home was originally built in 1952. The midcentury home maintains character-defining details—including door hardware, millwork, tile, and even some appliances—but has been updated and carefully renovated to bring it up to speed with modern-day needs.
The front porch has just enough space for a seating area.
The large, open living room has oversized windows looking out onto the front porch.
A cheery yellow door and wood paneling on the front porch give way to a large, open living room with a brick fireplace. Directly off the living room is the kitchen, which still features the original tile, '50s cabinets, and a Wedgewood oven, but has otherwise been completely updated. The mix of original and new gives the home a tangible personality.
The living room also features a brick fireplace.
The kitchen retains its original 1950s cabinetry, oven, and tiles, but has been supplemented with modern appliances, an island, and Eames molded plastic chairs.
With generous windows throughout the home, there’s a strong connection between indoors and outdoors, especially in the kitchen, which opens out directly into the garden.
Shop the Look
Period-appropriate lighting and bright colors keep the kitchen feeling vintage and yet contemporary.
The kitchen opens out onto the backyard, complete with a pergola.
The backyard is full of drought-tolerant plants like palm trees, and there’s also a range of mature fruits—think blueberries, Meyer lemons, feijoa, fig, apricot, and avocados. In fact, an internationally renown landscape designer helped develop and implement the landscape and hardscape plan to let you take advantage of the local climate and growing season.
Edible plantings include Fuji apple trees, three varieties of blueberries, a Meyer lemon tree, and other trees including loquat, pineapple guava, fig, apricot, avocado, and grapes.
An internationally renowned landscape designer helped develop and implement a site-level landscape and hardscape plan that epitomizes modern California living.
The open floor plan makes for a spacious, open feel and the two bedrooms are generously sized, with built-in storage and hardwood floors. The master bedroom in particular retains its vintage flavor, with a vanity featuring original midcentury hardware and detailing.
The large master bedroom features hardwood floors and multiple windows.
A built-in, sit down vanity that could also be used as a desk is located in a corner of the bedroom.
Two large, flexible bonus spaces can be used as offices, workshops, yoga studios, or just about any other need you might have—and the two car garage is currently used by the homeowner as a cabana.
The detached extra space can be used as an office, workshop, man cave or she shed, or just about anything else you could need.
The two-car garage can also be used as extra space.
3263 Kansas Avenue is listed for $749,000 by Dana Brook of Red Oak Realty.
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