This is a thoughtfully shared home for organized, respectful, and design-minded adults who value beauty, calm, and care in the place they live.

Your Room:
Your spacious, second-floor bedroom looks out onto a lush green canopy of mature oaks, walnuts, and even a coastal redwood—an unusually serene setting this close to Lake Merritt. The room is fully furnished and generously proportioned, with two oversized windows that flood the space with light. It includes a queen-size bed, large closet, dedicated desk and workstation, warm ambient lighting, and a 40” smart TV. The feel is quiet, comfortable, and intentional—well suited to focused work and restorative downtime. Each room locks and comes with its own unique key.

The Home:
The home itself is a light-filled Victorian of rare character and pedigree, with portions designed by Julia Morgan (Hearst Castle; Arts & Crafts pioneer). Originally built in 1890, it has modern updates to that make it efficient and comfortable. Architectural details include coved ceilings, original crown moldings, stained glass, hardwood floors throughout, and beautiful built-ins. Shared spaces are expansive and gracious: two shared bathrooms, a truly massive great room that can accommodate several co-workers, and a newly remodeled, chef-level kitchen that features two full sinks (one on each side to reduce congestion). It is exceptionally well equipped with a Vitamix, KitchenAid stand mixer, Cuisinart food processor, burr grinder, French press, V60 pour-over, Breville juicer, butane torch, immersion blender, box graters, mandolin, InstantPot, tons of sheet pans and cutting boards, air fryer, Japanese knives, slow cooker, and more.

Outdoor space is equally special. The backyard is gated and secluded, with a grotto-like feel with a brick fireplace, picnic tables, and propane grill. It's fantastic for entertaining. The large front yard has raised beds and fruit trees, and a side patio offers more opportunities for enjoying our warmer little microclimate.

Location & Access
We are set back on a large, tree-filled, quiet lot just above Lake Merritt in the Haddon Hill neighborhood—close enough to enjoy the energy, but far enough removed to avoid the noise. Lake Merritt is a culture unto itself: runners, picnics, BBQs, salsa dancing, skaters, and vendors. Both Lake Merritt and 12th Street BART stations are a short walk away, making this an excellent option for commuting to San Francisco (any East Bay train gets you home) and destinations in the East Bay (you can be to Cal in 15 minutes).

Food & Neighborhood
If food is your jam, this location is hard to beat. Walk to Grand and Lakeshore cafés, wine bars, bakeries, and co-ops; Southeast Asian standouts in Clinton; classic and new-school dining on Piedmont; the rapidly evolving Uptown/Downtown scene; outstanding Mexican and Guatemalan food in Fruitvale; and internationally recognized favorites in Rockridge and Temescal. Berkeley and San Francisco are 15 minutes away by BART.

Current residents are two women in the 30s and 40s who work in education and nonprofits (need not be a woman to apply!), and I am a female small business owner in my late 30s with a sweet dog. We aren't accepting other pets at this time.

Logistics & Costs
Rent: $1,875/month
Utilities: split (averaged ~$82/month last year)
Common area cleaning: $60/month
Security deposit: $1,000
Background & credit check: $55
Free street parking available
Gated off-street parking (when available): $250/month

About This Lister

I am a late 30s professional woman who runs a small business (a brewery) with multiple locations in the Bay Area. I am friendly but will follow your lead, and I'm an enthusiastic East Bay, Bay Area and California booster. I am happy to share my recs! I love backpacking, skiing, trail-running, kayaking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and generally being outside, particularly on the ocean or in the mountains.