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Classic 1915 Grand Lake California Bungalow with Garden Retreat
By David Higgins, Founder & Realtor | September 28, 2026

The approach to 293 Santa Clara Avenue in Oakland sets an unhurried pace. Floating concrete steps wind up through mature gardens, past a fruiting olive tree, to a welcoming slate porch and entry. Built in 1915 and softly elevated from the street, this classic California bungalow gains abundant natural light and a welcome measure of privacy from its setting. It is a Grand Lake home that keeps its timeless character while offering thoughtful modern updates for the way people live now.

LIVING ROOM WITH PERIOD ARCHWAY AND BRICK FIREPLACE

A graceful period archway opens to the living room, and the effect is immediate. Light fills the space, and a striking brick fireplace gives the room its natural center. Vintage wood floors and artisan details carry warmth throughout, the kind of craftsmanship that homes of this era were built around. The result feels both lived-in and composed, with a century of character intact.

DINING ROOM WITH ORIGINAL BUILT-INS AND GARDEN BREAKFAST NOOK

The spacious dining room keeps its original built-ins, a detail many homes of this age have lost. From there, the home flows into a beautifully appointed kitchen with honed stone countertops and custom wood cabinetry. An inviting breakfast nook sits at the heart of it, with French doors opening directly to the private rear gardens. Picture the first coffee of the morning with the doors thrown open, or a relaxed dinner that drifts outside as the evening cools.

THIRD BEDROOM AS FLEX SPACE OR DEN

On the main level, the third bedroom works beautifully as a flex space or den. It can serve as a home office, a quiet reading room, or a comfortable guest retreat, and it can change roles as your needs change. That kind of adaptability is rare in a bungalow of this period, and it adds real value to everyday life.

UPSTAIRS PRIMARY SUITE WITH SOAKING TUB

Upstairs, the primary suite feels set apart from the rest of the house. An exposed center beam adds architectural interest overhead, and a walk-in closet brings modern storage to a century-old home. The Dwell-inspired bath is the quiet showpiece, with a deep soaking tub and a frameless glass shower. It is a retreat in the truest sense, calm and clean-lined, a place to close the day.

LANDSCAPED GARDENS AND CARPORT WITH EV CHARGER

Out back, professionally landscaped gardens extend the living space well beyond the walls. Decks and patios create distinct places to gather, custom lighting carries the garden into the evening, and a tranquil fountain adds a soft sound to the setting. A renovated carport with an EV charger and additional storage completes the home, a practical advantage on an Oakland lot of 5,180 square feet.

LIVING IN GRAND LAKE, OAKLAND

Grand Lake takes its name from the meeting of Grand Avenue and Lake Merritt, and it has long been one of Oakland’s most walkable and beloved neighborhoods. Lake Merritt, just moments away, was designated in 1870 as the first official wildlife refuge in the United States, and its shoreline path remains the city’s favorite place for a morning walk or run. The Grand Lake Theatre, which opened in 1926, still anchors the neighborhood with its rooftop sign and historic marquee. On Saturdays, the Grand Lake Farmers Market fills Splash Pad Park with local growers, bakers, and neighbors.

Owning a Grand Lake home makes daily life easy. Cafés, restaurants, and independent shops line Grand and Lakeshore Avenues, and the lake is a short walk away. Quick access to Interstate 580 and the Bay Bridge keeps commutes to San Francisco and across the East Bay manageable.

A NOTE FROM DAVID

With a bungalow from 1915, the first thing I look at is whether the original character survived the updates. Here it did. The archway, the brick fireplace, the built-ins, and the vintage floors are all intact, and the modern work, from the kitchen to the primary bath, was done to support them rather than compete with them. Add a main-level third bedroom that flexes as a den and a garden this well considered, and you have a home that lives far larger than its footprint. And if you’re wondering if it’s a good time to buy, read my recent market update post here.

HOME HIGHLIGHTS

— Classic 1915 California bungalow, softly elevated from the street for light and privacy
— Floating concrete steps through mature gardens with a fruiting olive tree
— Welcoming slate porch and entry
— Living room with period archway and striking brick fireplace
— Vintage wood floors and artisan details throughout
— Dining room with original built-ins
— Kitchen with honed stone countertops and custom wood cabinetry
— Breakfast nook with French doors to the rear gardens
— Main-level third bedroom that works beautifully as a flex space or den
— Upstairs primary suite with exposed center beam and walk-in closet
— Dwell-inspired primary bath with soaking tub and frameless glass shower
— Professionally landscaped gardens with decks, patios, custom lighting, and fountain
— Renovated carport with EV charger and additional storage
— Approximately 1,688 square feet on a 5,180-square-foot lot
— Near Grand and Lakeshore Avenues, the Grand Lake Farmers Market, Lake Merritt, and the Bay Bridge

Schedule a private showing. Contact us at (510) 698 2678 or [email protected].

293 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610

Offered at $889,000 | 3 bedrooms, 2 baths | 1,688 sq ft | 5,180 sq ft lot | Built 1915

Listed by David Higgins, Founder & Realtor | DRE #01281543

Schedule a private showing. Contact David Higgins at (510) 698 2678 or [email protected]. DRE #01281543
293 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 | 889,000| 3+ BEDS / 3 BATHS