This charming 1907 Craftsman bungalow in Berkeley, offers historic appeal with original hardwood floors and vintage tile accented fireplace. Featuring two bedrooms, one bath, and an attached office space, it reflects classic early 20th-century design. Recent upgrades include a newer foundation, heating system, and roof tune-up. The home needs kitchen and bathroom renovations and is priced at $825,000. It boasts a convenient location between Poets Corner and Downtown Berkeley, known for its 83 Walk Score and 95 Bike Score. The modern backyard studio, though not a legal ADU, adds versatile living options. This fixer-upper is ideal for those seeking a blend of history and potential.
Home Plan
The floor plan presents a well-organized layout with a focus on functional living spaces. The kitchen (10’11” x 13’6″) is adjacent to a small mud room, making it convenient for entry and storage. The dining area (12’3″ x 13’6″) and living room (13’0″ x 13’6″) are spacious and centrally located, promoting an open flow between social areas. The primary bedroom (11’2″ x 11’7″) and an additional bedroom (9’7″ x 11’7″) are separated by a hallway and share a bathroom (7’2″ x 7’7″). A walk-in closet (6’6″ x 3’5″) is situated near the entry, adding extra storage. Hallways connect these areas efficiently, emphasizing practicality and comfort in the design.
Front Exterior View
A quaint single-story home with a beige stucco exterior and white trim surrounding the windows highlights a classic early 20th-century architectural style. A small staircase with ornate wrought-iron railings leads to a bold red front door, adding a pop of color that contrasts with the muted exterior. Large, multi-paned windows on the front and side allow ample natural light inside. The roof features a dormer with additional small windows. A narrow concrete path and modest garden beds flank the house, while a driveway extends along the side, emphasizing practical suburban charm in a quiet neighborhood setting.
Backyard Entry Patio
Small, enclosed backyard space with an earthy, neutral color palette combining tan stucco walls and cream trim. A short set of concrete steps with a simple black metal handrail leads up to a white door with multiple glass panes that allow natural light inside. Across the yard, a detached structure with a window and overhang adds subtle architectural interest. The yard is unfinished with sparse grass and soil, surrounded by wooden and stucco walls. Lush greenery and tall trees peek over the fencing, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, giving a calm, private outdoor feel.
Backyard and Side Entrance
A modest backyard with patchy grass and bare soil surrounds a small mature tree casting shadows on the ground. A narrow concrete stairway with a simple black metal handrail leads up to a white wooden back door featuring a multi-pane upper window. The house exterior is painted muted beige with white trim around the door and windows, evoking a vintage charm. The roof has traditional gray shingles and a classic red brick chimney. A wooden fence borders one side, while lush green ivy plants climb a wire fence along the neighboring property. Bright, natural sunlight enhances the tranquil outdoor atmosphere.
Backyard and Detached Studio
A modest backyard area with bare soil and sparse grass hosts a small white detached building, likely a studio or guest house, featuring double glass doors and a side window with classic multi-pane design. A pergola detail above the entrance adds subtle architectural interest. The yard is enclosed on two sides by vertical wooden fencing, providing privacy, while mature trees and green shrubs frame the perimeter, casting natural shadows. Blue skies and scattered clouds create a bright and open atmosphere, emphasizing the rustic simplicity and potential for landscaped enhancements in this outdoor space.
Backyard Access Exterior
A small, detached exterior structure with a stucco finish in a muted beige tone. The focal point is a set of white-framed double French doors with glass panes, allowing natural light to filter through while providing visual access to the interior. Above the doors, a minimalist white pergola adds architectural interest and a slight shadow play on the facade. To the left, a narrow white door and small window add asymmetry and function. The ground is bare soil with patches of grass, bordered by a wooden fence on the right and rear, creating a modest, natural backyard setting.
Living Room with Entry
Open living room illuminated by natural light from a large multi-pane window framed with patterned olive green curtains. Warm-toned hardwood floors contrast against soft white walls and ceiling with subtle crown molding. An arched entryway leads to a pale blue front door with glass panels, enhancing the historic charm. Minimalist baseboards and electrical outlets blend into the clean line of the walls. The room’s simplicity and brightness highlight architectural details like the arch and classic window trim, suggesting a versatile central space ideal for furnishing and personalization in a historic home.
Living Room and Fireplace
Spacious living room with rich, polished hardwood floors and crisp white walls that provide a fresh, airy atmosphere. An arched opening connects this room to a smaller adjoining space featuring a classic fireplace with a wooden mantle and intricate tile surround. Large, framed windows flood the area with natural light, highlighting the room’s clean lines and simple elegance. The trim and baseboards are painted white, complementing the wall color and enhancing the room’s historic charm. The overall aesthetic balances traditional architectural detailing with a neutral, modern color palette.
Living Room and Dining Area
Open, airy space with warm, honey-toned hardwood floors running seamlessly throughout. Walls and ceiling are painted a soft white that enhances the natural light streaming in through multiple multi-pane windows, casting gentle patterns on the floor. A white-painted broad window trim adds classic charm. The room is divided by a wide, rounded archway that creates flow between two areas, likely living and dining. Minimalistic lighting includes a semi-flush ceiling fixture and a tall, slender floor lamp. The overall aesthetic balances simplicity and elegance, emphasizing the historic character with clean, bright finishes.
Fireplace Wall
Polished hardwood floors extend across the space, contrasting with the soft, off-white walls and ceiling. A small, vintage fireplace is centered on the right wall, framed in light-colored tiles with carved decorative details and topped by a thick wooden mantel. An arched doorway leads into an adjoining room, revealing more of the warm wood flooring beyond. The white trim around the baseboards, door frame, and doorway adds subtle molding interest. A classic semi-flush ceiling light fixture sits in the middle, while natural light streams in from the unseen window, casting bright reflections on the floor near the fireplace.
Kitchen Corner
White cabinetry with simple classic paneling lines the kitchen, complemented by a vivid red countertop and backsplash that add a vibrant contrast. A double-basin stainless steel sink sits beneath a window framed by traditional white trim, providing natural light. The white refrigerator and black dishwasher create a balanced monochrome appliance palette. Cream-colored walls and ceiling with a modest light fixture maintain a clean, bright appearance. The door and built-in cabinet to the left exhibit period-style molding and hardware, adding to the historic charm. The beige flooring completes the understated and airy ambiance.
Kitchen Interior
A compact kitchen with a bright and clean atmosphere highlighted by white cabinetry and walls. The red backsplash adds a bold splash of color above a stainless steel sink, creating a focal point. Appliances include a black dishwasher and a white refrigerator, contrasting with the cabinetry. A single hanging light fixture above the sink offers subtle overhead lighting. Adjacent to the kitchen is a wide doorway leading to a living or dining space featuring natural hardwood floors and large windows with soft white trim, letting in natural light and views of exterior greenery.
Utility Room Entrance
Compact utility area painted entirely in white, with clean horizontal wood paneling covering walls and ceiling. A water heater with visible pipes and a pressure tank occupies the left corner. A narrow horizontal window with multiple small panes runs along the upper wall allowing soft light to filter in. The white door features multiple glass panes that offer a view of a leafy outdoor space beyond, contributing to natural daylight and a sense of openness. Minimal built-in shelving in the corner provides practical storage. The overall aesthetic is bright, functional, and slightly rustic with vintage touches.
Empty Room Corner
White walls with crown molding and wide baseboards frame the room, creating a clean and simple aesthetic. The wooden floor features a warm, medium-brown tone with natural grain patterns that add subtle texture and warmth. A single window with divided panes sits beside a classic, five-panel white door, both exhibiting historic trim details consistent with early American architecture. The window reveals a view of a wooden exterior wall painted gray. The ceiling light is minimalistic and modern, contrasting with the classic elements throughout the room. The space feels bright and fresh yet rooted in tradition.
Bathroom Vanity Area
The space highlights a clean, simple bathroom with a white and light gray color scheme. A small window with frosted glass allows natural light in while maintaining privacy. The vanity has a modern, minimalist design with a gray cabinet and a white countertop. Above the sink is a plain rectangular mirror without a frame. The wall trim, including the window casing and door, features classic molding details suggestive of historic architecture. The floor tiles are patterned in a subtle geometric design, adding a touch of vintage charm to the otherwise neutral and functional setting.
Bathroom Bathtub Area
A beige bathtub with integrated wall panels occupies the corner, featuring a built-in soap holder. The wall paneling is simple and smooth, extending about halfway up the wall, while the upper walls and ceiling are painted white. A handheld showerhead attached to the faucet has a flexible silver hose and three metallic control knobs beneath. To the right, a frosted glass window trimmed in white allows natural light while maintaining privacy. The overall look is minimal and utilitarian, with neutral tones and clean lines providing a modest vintage bathroom aesthetic.
Empty Room
Two large, white-trimmed windows meet in the corner of a simple, bright room filled with natural light. Cream-colored walls contrast softly with wide white baseboards and window casings, creating a clean and inviting atmosphere. The smooth hardwood floors add warmth and dimension with a medium oak tone that complements the otherwise neutral palette. An open doorway reveals a glimpse into an adjacent space, which holds similar windows and flooring, enhancing the sense of flow and openness. The high ceiling and subtle crown molding offer a hint of classic architectural detail, maintaining a timeless yet understated elegance.
Cozy Corner Window
Three white-framed, multi-pane windows allow natural light to flood this small corner space, revealing the rich wood flooring that adds warmth. The off-white walls and simple crown molding create a clean, classic aesthetic. A single brass and frosted-glass wall sconce provides subtle, elegant lighting. The corner is minimal and uncluttered, emphasizing the natural view outside with a mature tree and a glimpse of a beige stucco exterior wall, suggesting a quaint and intimate interior nook with historic charm in a traditional home setting.
Sunlit Breakfast Nook
Bright hardwood floors extend across a small dining area framed by clean white walls and trim. Two generous skylights flood the space with natural light, complementing the large triple window and white-framed French doors that open to a leafy backyard. A simple white pendant light hangs centrally, providing subtle overhead illumination. The room’s crisp, minimalistic aesthetic creates an airy and inviting atmosphere perfect for casual meals or morning coffee. The exterior glimpses through the windows blend greenery with historic architectural elements from neighboring structures, enhancing the serene ambiance.
Empty Room with Skylights
Space characterized by simple, clean lines with light neutral walls and natural oak hardwood flooring. Two rectangular skylights in the ceiling flood the room with natural light, enhancing the bright and airy ambiance. A single white pendant light fixture hangs centrally, adding a subtle focal point. A white closet door and an open doorway suggest connectivity to adjacent rooms, while a grey electrical panel and a heater grille are mounted on one wall, indicating functional elements integrated into the design. Overall, the room blends minimalist modernity with warm wood textures.
Bathroom Vanity Area
Bright natural light streams through a white-framed window with divided panes, illuminating a sleek white countertop with an integrated round sink. Below, a wooden vanity with smooth, dark finish drawers contrasts with the light walls. A modern, minimalist chrome faucet and a simple wall sconce with a white glass shade add to the clean, contemporary vibe. Adjacent to the vanity is a doorway leading to another sunlit room with warm wood flooring, which complements the vanity’s finish. Crisp white walls and trim maintain a fresh, airy ambiance, highlighting simplicity and subtle warmth.
Listing Agent: Liz Rush of KW Advisors East Bay via Zillow