A 100-Year-Old Oakland Craftsman Is “Bold and Cozy” (with Gorgeous Original Details!)
A 100-Year-Old Oakland Craftsman Is “Bold and Cozy” (with Gorgeous Original Details!)
“I left a career as a sales executive in tech to start my interior design firm, Yen Collective, when I realized I was no longer passionate about what I was doing and I wanted to get back to something creative,” begins Sandy Yen, who shares her home with her wife, Kristin, and their pup, Lucky.

Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox
Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter
“When we first started looking to buy a home in the Bay Area, we had our hearts set on San Francisco. We quickly realized we could not find a home with the outdoor yard we craved for a garden and our dogs so we opened our search to Oakland,” Sandy continues. “We knew we wanted to live in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, so when this little two-bedroom Craftsman bungalow hit the market, we put in our offer along with a dozen other buyers, and after some stressful negotiating, the house was ours.”
“When we bought the house, everything was beige, and there was a lot of bad DIY work done by prior owners. However, the bones were good. I was drawn to the heavy molding and trim, the original wood floors, and the large windows. I could see us transforming this house into a really special space that blended the traditional detail of this 100-year-old Craftsman with our more modern tastes,” Sandy admits.
“As my style and taste has evolved, so has our home.,” Sandy explains. “The design goal of our home is intentional and functional. We don’t have a lot of square footage so we try to be thoughtful about every piece that we own. I want things to be beautiful, but also meaningful and/or functional. My wife is also very pragmatic, so she keeps my design whims in check.”
Shop This Home
LIVING ROOM
- Wall Color — “Cyberspace,” Sherwin-Williams
- Sectional — West Elm
- Chair — Vintage/Thrifted
- Ottoman — Target
- Drum Light — World Market
- Rug — Safavieh
DINING ROOM
- Dining Room Wall Color — “Cyberspace,” Sherwin-Williams
- Pendant — Crate Barrel
- Dining table — World Market
- Dining Chairs — World Market
- Art — Vintage
KITCHEN
- Kitchen Bistro Table — World Market
- Bench — Salvaged Media Stand Turned into a Bench
- Chair — Vintage/Thrifted
BEDROOM
- Bedroom Wall Color — “Cyberspace,” Sherwin-Williams
- Bed — West Elm
- Chandelier — World Market
- Nightstand — Vintage
- Lamp — Target
BATHROOM
- Bathroom Wallpaper — Spoonflower
Thanks, Sandy and Kristin!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
Share your style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form