Charming North Berkeley Oasis Near Shopping/Dining House

Availability: The house is available 4/7/25-6/20/25. Also Aug 1-22, and for stays of 1-4 months starting Sept 1 (the rent will be higher at that time).

Welcome to the quintessential Berkeley home! Step into the front door of this authentic 1915... Craftsman & you’ll find a warm & inviting home base for your Bay Area adventures. All the rooms have a recent coat of paint & the hardwood floors refinished to give the house a fresh feel. Much of the furniture & décor remain, from the Mid-Century nesting tables to the 70’s macrame lamp shade. So if you’re looking for a matchy-matchy hotel-like environment, this may not be for you. Yet if you’re desiring a space that’s charmingly bohemian & colorful & eclectic, with that cozy lived-in feel, my home is just your spot. Think Vintage rather than Modern.
And as an added bonus, throughout the house there are all sorts of quirky touches.

*Master Bedroom: occupies the entire second floor, sunny, with queen bed and office nook. Please note, there’s no bathroom in this room, but there is a sink.
*Front Bedroom: main floor, sunny, two twin beds, adjacent to the full bathroom, and on the same level as the living room, TV room, & kitchen.

The kitchen is fully stocked with all the appliances you’ll need to cook your meals for dining either at the Mid-Century dining nook table or al fresco in the backyard.

There is one TV in the cozy space next to the living room, which is aptly called “The TV Room”. With the use of the Roku, relax on the futon couch as you enjoy any of 100 broadcast channels via the Xfinity Streaming app or your favorite streaming service such as Netflix or Hulu via your personal sign-in. There’s even a small collection of DVDs (remember those?!) for your viewing pleasure.

The spacious backyard has a table & chairs for outdoor dining, & the sunny front porch is the perfect spot for afternoon tea. There are two meyer lemon trees with fruit available to pick.

The garage & one bedroom are unavailable to tenants.

Situated in Thousand Oaks, one of the most desirable in Berkeley, the house is in the best of both worlds. Stroll around the walkable residential streets, or venture up into the nearby hills where you may just come across a magical hidden path. On bustling Solano Avenue just 2 blocks away you'll find everything you'd ever need or want. And there's a potential historical landmark nearby! The elementary school just 1 block away -- aptly called Thousand Oaks Elementary -- may just be renamed "Kamala Harris Elementary" someday because that's where she attended, at the same time as me & my siblings.

A 5-10 minute car ride away is the Gourmet Ghetto, featuring the world-famous restaurant Chez Panisse along with the very first Peet's Coffee on the planet & a variety of other delights. Another five minutes drive from there is Downtown Berkeley & the famous Telegraph Avenue as well as UC Berkeley campus.

Our block has a friendly & quiet vibe. Neighbors know each other & there’s an annual block party. Most folks are couples in their 60s & older, & there are a few young families as well. Because of this, please no parties of any kind, & please no one in the house other than the reserved guests.

A little bit about me: I’m a native of Berkeley, grew up in this house after my parents bought it in 1965, & now its proud owner. This is my family home where I live part-time with my teenager & our sweet rescue dog. I’m a healthcare professional & performing artist, have lived abroad & speak several languages to show for it, & all roads have led back to Berkeley for me. I'm delighted to share my home with guests.

I drop by every 1-2 weeks to pick up mail from the outside mailbox and your total privacy is assured. I may periodically pop in very briefly to take care of household business, at a time convenient for you. For 99.99% of the time, you'll have the house to yourself.

Utilities: I cover internet, garbage, alarm system, & monthly gardening fees. Tenants are responsible for bringing all three bins out to the front curb every Tuesday and returning them to the side drive every Wednesday.
Tenants are responsible at least 75% of costs for gas/electric/water -- I can explain

House Rules: nonsmokers/nonvapers only, no animals/pets of any kind (our family has allergies), no street shoes in the house. The only folks who should be staying overnight are the official tenants. Again, no parties. Babes in arms and children 4 and older recommended. As much as I love little ones, the house isn't baby/toddler-proofed. I request a $200 cleaning fee. Thank you for understanding. Read More