Mid-Century Modern, Done Right
There is a version of mid-century modern that has been softened, updated, and genericized into a style category. And then there is a home like 1297 Sunnyhills Road — a property that earns the designation through material commitment and architectural intent, not surface aesthetics.
The great room announces itself immediately: a full-height stacked stone fireplace flanks one wall while the opposite side dissolves entirely into glass, framing the Ipe deck and the oak and palm canopy beyond. White-painted exposed beams run the full length of the ceiling, giving the room genuine architectural scale without formality. This is a home that was designed to be lived in — and that rewards living in it.
A level-in entry with no steps, a primary suite on the main level, a two-car garage with interior access — the practical intelligence of mid-century architecture, fully realized.
The Main Level: Light, Flow, and Practical Intelligence
The main floor is organized around the way people actually live. The level-in entry opens to the great room, and from there to a glass-walled sitting room that projects into the treetops — floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, beamed ceiling overhead, a door directly to the upper Ipe deck. It is the kind of room that photographers linger in and buyers remember.
The primary suite is on this level — a spacious room with warm wood closet doors, en suite bath, and the quiet that comes from being set back from the street. The updated kitchen, generous living and dining areas, and a two-car garage with interior access complete a main floor that anticipates every practical need. For buyers who prioritize accessibility, long-term livability, or simply a home that doesn't fight you, this floor plan matters enormously.
Two Levels of Outdoor Living
The Ipe decks are one of this home's defining features — and there are two of them. The upper deck extends directly from the glass-walled sitting room, perched among palms and mature oaks, furnished and fully usable as an outdoor room. The lower deck is accessible from the family room below, adding a second outdoor living zone that works independently of the main level.
Ipe is one of the most durable hardwoods available for exterior use — dense enough to resist weather and wear for decades, warm enough in tone to read as an extension of the home's interior palette. Both decks carry that quality throughout.
The lower level extends the home's utility with two large bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a second fireplace — a configuration that works equally well as a guest suite, family room arrangement, or flexible live-work setup.
The Backyard and Location
The fully fenced, level backyard with lawn is a rarity in the Oakland hills, where most parcels slope in at least one direction. Here, the rear yard is flat and usable — for children, for dogs, for the kind of outdoor living that hilly lots often preclude.
The location on Sunnyhills Road places the home within walking distance of Crocker Highlands Elementary, one of Oakland Unified's most sought-after schools. Lakeshore Avenue and the Grand Lake neighborhood — with their independent restaurants, bookshops, and Saturday farmers market — are a short drive. Lake Merritt itself is minutes away.
Property Features
- Level-in entry — no steps
- Primary suite on main level
- Walls of glass throughout
- Updated kitchen
- Ipe deck — upper level
- Ipe deck — lower level
- Two fireplaces
- Two-zone central heat
- Two large lower-level bedrooms
- Two-car garage, interior access
- Fully fenced level backyard with lawn
- Abundant storage throughout
Crocker Highlands · Oakland
One of Oakland's most architecturally distinguished neighborhoods, with homes dating to the 1920s — Tudor, Spanish, Arts and Crafts, Beaux Arts — many designed by Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck. Tree-lined streets with original 1920s lamp posts. A neighborhood that takes its character seriously.
Walkable to Crocker Highlands Elementary. Minutes to Lakeshore Avenue, Grand Lake, and Lake Merritt. Easy freeway access via I-580. The combination of architectural quality, school proximity, and East Bay convenience keeps Crocker Highlands among Oakland's most consistently competitive markets.