268 Columbia Ave, Kensington, CA

$1,245,000

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4

Beds

2

Baths

2,449

Square feet

0.15

Acres

About 268 Columbia Ave

There's a version of you that already lives here — the one sipping sangria in the courtyard at golden hour, rosemary, lavender, and basil drifting up from the garden beds, blackberries ripening on the vine, and the three-bridges view catching the last of the light. This 4-bedroom, 2-bath Kensington Hills gem was built for a life lived between indoor and outdoor — the way it's done in the south of France or along the Amalfi Coast. Designed in an L-shape, the home wraps around the courtyard with French doors along both wings, opening each side to the garden in turn. It's a layout with real history behind it — the kind of architecture built entirely around seamless indoor-outdoor living, dining, and entertaining. The first floor of the 1,931 square foot* home holds two bedrooms and a full bath, along with a living room that wears its original character proudly — reeded moldings, built-ins, and a brick fireplace, all beneath an extra-large window framing Mt. Tam, the Bay, and three bridges like a painting that changes with the sky. The dining room, also capturing the Bay view, carries the details forward with picture-hanging moldings and chair railing, while the eat-in kitchen — outfitted with a Viking stove — keeps that view going the entire time you cook. Because why would you ever want to look away? Downstairs, two more bedrooms and a full bath open onto the garden — private, peaceful, and yours — alongside a large laundry room and storage to keep everyday life easy. And then there's the magic tucked just beyond: follow the gravel path to an approximately 535 sq. foot detached 1-bedroom, 1-bath bonus space**, known as ‘The Cottage’, with its own full kitchen and a private front gardenette — guest suite, studio, rental income, or simply your favorite corner of the property, depending on the day. A two-car garage with an EV charger and solar panels rounds things out, while the location does the rest: minutes to Arlington Village, award-winning Kensington Hilltop Elementary School, Tilden's trails, and public transit. Some properties you tour. This one, you imagine yourself into — and once you do, it's hard to imagine anywhere else.

Open House

Sat, Sep 12th, 2026 @ 2pm - 4pm
Sun, Sep 13th, 2026 @ 2pm - 4pm
Sat, Sep 19th, 2026 @ 2pm - 4pm
Sun, Sep 20th, 2026 @ 2pm - 4pm

Features of 268 Columbia Ave

MLS® # 41147612
Price $1,245,000
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2.00
Full Baths 2
Square Footage 2,449
Acres 0.15
Year Built 1936
Type Residential
Sub-Type Single Family Residence
Style Traditional
Status Active

Community Information

Address 268 Columbia Ave
Subdivision UPPER KENSINGTON
City Kensington
County Contra Costa
State CA
Zip Code 94708

Amenities

Parking Spaces 3
Parking Detached, Off Street, Enclosed, Electric Vehicle Charging Station(s), Garage Door Opener
# of Garages 2
Is Waterfront No
Has Pool No
Pool None

Interior

Interior Features Formal Dining Room
Appliances Dishwasher, Gas Range, Refrigerator, Dryer, Washer, Gas Water Heater
Heating Zoned, Solar
Cooling None
Fireplace No
# of Fireplaces 2
Fireplaces Brick, Living Room, Wood Burning
# of Stories 2
Stories Two Story

Exterior

Exterior Features Garden, Back Yard, Front Yard, Garden/Play, Landscape Back, Landscape Front
Lot Description Sloped Down, Front Yard, Landscaped, Private
Roof Shingle
Construction Stucco

Additional Information

Date Listed September 9th, 2026
Foreclosure No
Short Sale No
RE / Bank Owned No

Listing Details

AgentLeigh Schneider
OfficeRed Oak Realty

Listing Map

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