Staying at Michele's place was awesome! It's been the best combination of price and quality in the Bay Area! For what I think was a modest rate, we stayed in a private small studio-house with our own bathroom, small kitchen and a TV.
It was cozy and it perfectly fits two people. Michele was sooo kind to allow us to have the third person, our colleague whose accommodation was cancelled.
Lakeshore area is probably the best residential part of Oakland, very beautiful and very safe.