This home has heart!

$995,000
524 Kenilworth Avenue, San Leandro
Presented by
Julia Temple

Quite Beauty

This home has heart. The kind of place that surprises you with its quiet beauty and then stays with you—long after you’ve left.

Originally built in 1925, 524 Kenilworth has been lovingly updated for modern living while honoring the spirit of the era. With level-in living and a thoughtful floor plan, it offers ease and accessibility without sacrificing charm. The kitchen—designed by an architect—is both grounding and elevated, with custom cabinetry, clean lines, and a center island that draws everyone in. It’s the kind of space where meals are made slowly and conversations linger. The adjacent dining and living rooms flow easily, framed by large windows, hardwood floors, a fireplace, and a cozy reading nook with built-ins.

There are three comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms, each with its own personality. One is a fully reimagined modern retreat with a skylit walk-in shower, bold handmade tile, and a crisp sense of style. The other has been updated with equal care, maintaining some of its original charm while still feeling fresh.
Behind the scenes, major systems have been thoughtfully upgraded—including plumbing, electrical, solar and more—bringing ease and efficiency into everyday life.

Outside, everything opens up. A sustainably sourced Pakari wood deck spans the back of the home and looks out over a truly magical yard—just shy of a quarter-acre and planted with intention. Paths wind through drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly landscaping filled with French lavender, rosemary, ceanothus, lomandra, agapanthus, protea, and groupings of agaves, aloes, and aeoniums. A fig tree greets you at the front, while the back is its own edible paradise with Fuji apple, Santa Rosa plum, Satsuma mandarin, Meyer lemon, and avocado trees.

And then there’s the artist studio. At 500 square feet with soaring ceilings, walls of windows, and a private entrance, it offers grand potential for an ADU—perfect for work, play, guests, extended family, or creative use. Whether you're dreaming of a studio, home office, rental opportunity, or just room to stretch—this space delivers.

Additional highlights include an EV charger, modern pavers, multiple sitting areas, a vegetable garden, and mature trees like ginkgo, ornamental olive, smoke tree, Japanese maples, and silver dollar eucalyptus. Every inch of this property has been cared for, cultivated, and loved. It is located in the charming Broadmoor neighborhood, just blocks from Roosevelt Elementary School.

This isn’t just another updated house. It’s a special one—and you feel it the moment you walk up the brick path.

Property Details

Bedrooms

4

Bathrooms

3

Main house size

1,808 sq ft

Love Letter

Moving from bustling San Francisco to quiet San Leandro in
2001 with my partner and our 2 year-old daughter was quite a
transition. The sweet house on Kenilworth in the welcoming
Broadmoor neighborhood was the perfect spot for all of us.
Trained in the arts and design with forays into sustainable
design and construction, and with one renovation under my
belt, I set out to transform my new home into an oasis of
beauty creating an environment for all of us to thrive.

The 1924 home had good bones and was my primary creative
project over the years. As my vision became clearer, the house
and gardens went through numerous transformations as the
years progressed. Updating every inch of the property, I
replaced all the systems over time and worked with an
architect friend to design and complete an addition at the
height of Covid, creating my dream kitchen and adding a
second bath. The art studio (aka garage) was added in 2003,
replacing a leaning redwood garage and two rusting metal
sheds.

The heart of this home has been the many gatherings of family,
friends and neighbors. And I will always treasure the birthday
parties with kids squealing in delight as they slid on a slip and
slide and broke many pinatas. Make sure to look out for
Grandpa’s tree located at the rear left-hand corner of the lot
among the mini orchard of plum, apple, satsuma, lemon and
avocado trees. My father gave a maple sapling to my daughter
when she was 3 or 4 years old and she carried it home on the
plane. She nurtured it and planted it in successively bigger pots
until it was big enough to plant in the garden, now towering
over all the fruit trees. I hope that the next owner appreciates
what I have created and makes their own mark on this magical
property.

Thoughtful Upgrades & Modern Touches

Architect-designed, permitted renovation with enduring quality and style

Major Renovation & Systems (2021-2022)

- Architect-designed, fully permitted addition & renovation
- 50% new foundation with seismic bolting & bracing
- New roof (under warranty) & solar panels
- Upgraded PG&E service with new indoor sub-panel
- All new plumbing and electrical
- New attic and wall insulation (wool batt & modern wall insulation)
- New Marvin double-pane windows and doors throughout
- New HardiePlank siding (south & east sides)
- All new interior & exterior paint

Interior Enhancements

- Custom kitchen with quartz counters, high-end appliances, maple island
- New designer bathroom with rain-sensor skylight
- Updated second bath with bamboo double vanity & tile finishes
- New wood flooring (tile in baths)
- New casework, doors, and Emtek hardware
- Roman shades (Living & Dining), sun-shielding shades (Kitchen & Bedrooms)
- Built-in ceiling speakers for surround sound
- EV charger in driveway

Outdoor Living & Landscaping
- New deck, paver patio & retractable Sunbrella awning (remote-controlled)
- Landscaped backyard with irrigation (front & back, on timers)
- Landscape lighting in front yard
- Fruit trees & raised vegetable bed
- Two sheds: storage + garden

Artist Studio
- Artist Studio (499 SF): 1 bedroom, 1 bath, permitted as an artist studio (2003)

Property Tour

Floor Plans

Floor plan

Neighborhood

San Leandro is a small city just south of Oakland. Its east side stretches up into the hills of the East Bay Regional Park District. The west side is flatter and has the advantage of the San Francisco Bay shoreline, public golf course, and marina.
Homes for sale in San Leandro can be traced through the decades -- from the 1910s to the present day. A wide variety of architectural styles is found in north San Leandro. Dramatic, hillside contemporary homes, many of which feature expansive bay and canyon views, are the hallmark of the Bayo Vista neighborhood. Charming, older homes sit along the winding streets of the Estudillo Estates and Broadmoor Districts. Most of the city's ranch-style homes lie towards the Marina, along with some newer, custom-home developments.
San Leandro is proud of its small-town feel and boasts a Wednesday farmers' markets, several annual festivals, and an increasing number of locally owned restaurants and coffee houses. San Leandro’s commute options are excellent: it has its own Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station, transbay buses, and easy access to Interstate 880 and Interstate 580 for trips to the Silicon Valley or San Francisco.
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Julia Temple

Compass

Realtor® Associate

DRE:
#01429857
Mobile:
510.759.3677

thejuliatempleteam.com

It's a lifestyle!

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May 18

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