This historic 1908 farmhouse located in Berkeley’s charming Westbrae neighborhood is a rare fixer-upper legal duplex offering vast renovation potential. Showcasing original wood floors, tall ceilings, and abundant natural light, the upper flat features 2+ bedrooms and a large attic, while the updated street-level flat has 3 bedrooms. Sitting on a 5,000 sq ft lot, the property includes a sizeable outbuilding and a fenced south-facing yard with room for off-street parking. Priced at $849,000, this home combines century-old character with modern convenience, boasting a 95 Walkscore® near North Berkeley BART, shops, cafes, and more, perfect for development or restoration enthusiasts.
Home Plan
The layout consists of two units, 1406 on the main level and 1408 on the lower level, totaling 2,266 square feet excluding workshop and mechanical spaces. Unit 1406 includes a spacious living room (15’0″ x 13’0″), dining area with a fireplace, three bedrooms including a primary suite, a kitchen with adjacent laundry, bathroom, and a balcony. Unit 1408 has a compact living and dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry, and mechanical room. Exterior spaces include parking areas, a large sanctuary seating area, workshop, garden paths, and greenery along the sidewalk. The plan reflects a historic American home with practical divisions and ample outdoor utility areas.
Exterior Staircase and Porch
White wooden siding covers the house exterior, showing signs of classic American architecture with a pitched roof and dormer window. A staircase leads from ground level to an elevated porch supported by square columns with decorative trim. The porch has a railing with simple horizontal panels painted white, complementing the house’s traditional aesthetic. Surrounding the house, lush greenery includes mature fruit trees with yellow-orange fruit and various shrubs and plants, providing a vibrant, natural border. The door and window frames are painted dark brown, offering contrast against the white walls, enhancing the timeless charm of the home’s facade.
Outdoor Balcony View
A small outdoor balcony constructed with vertically aligned wooden planks, exhibiting natural wood grain and some weathering. The balcony railing is solidly framed with a simple, rustic design. Beyond the balcony, lush green bamboo plants create a dense natural privacy screen, with a glimpse of distant hills under a bright blue sky accented by a few scattered white clouds. On the left side, two basketball hoops with transparent backboards and blue outlined rims add a playful element to the otherwise serene and nature-focused environment. The right side includes part of the house’s exterior with white siding and windows featuring beige trim. This outdoor space combines a cozy, private atmosphere with a touch of recreational use amid natural surroundings.
Living Room and Hearth Area
The space includes a large room with natural wood flooring that extends into an adjacent area featuring a white wood stove with a black chimney pipe set against a blue tiled backdrop. The open passage between rooms is defined by three slender square columns resting on half walls, creating a partial visual separation while maintaining openness. Walls and trim are painted in a muted off-white shade, and a simple doorway leads into a room with subtly warmer-toned walls. Classic baseboards and trim details hint at the home’s historic character, with a clean, understated aesthetic throughout.
Living Room Fireplace
A bright and airy living room boasts wide windows with black trim that allow abundant natural light and views of lush greenery outside. The focal point is a vintage wood stove set on a tiled hearth with a tall black chimney pipe reaching to the ceiling. Adjacent to the stove is a built-in cabinet and shelving unit painted white, offering both storage and display opportunities with classic hardware. The walls are adorned with white beadboard wainscoting, complementing the historic charm. Hardwood flooring with a natural finish completes the understated yet timeless aesthetic of this room.
Living Room
Spacious open-concept living and dining areas are united by light wood flooring that adds warmth to the neutral palette. Soft cream walls enhance natural light streaming through multiple large windows, framed with white trim for a clean, classic look. Distinctive built-in columns and half-walls with recessed paneling support a partially open divide between rooms, echoing Craftsman-era architectural influences. An abundance of greenery is visible outside, blending indoor and outdoor environments. The simple, airy aesthetic emphasizes historic charm fused with modern openness, creating an inviting, versatile environment ready for personalization.
Dining Area
Open space with gentle natural light from a small rectangular window and three larger sash windows adorned with black trim bring abundance of daylight. The floors are classic hardwood with a warm honey tone that contrasts the crisp white walls. Decorative square columns with simple molding divide the living area from the adjacent dining room, creating an elegant transitional effect while maintaining openness. Within the dining area, built-in cabinetry with glass-paned doors, drawers, and cubbyholes add vintage charm and functional storage. The clean, minimalist palette enhances the historic character with a fresh, airy atmosphere.
Kitchen with Stainless Appliances
Bright and airy kitchen space characterized by light neutral walls and expansive windows allowing natural light to pour in, highlighting the natural wood cabinetry. The layout includes a stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator and a dishwasher integrated within lower cabinets. A white hood vent is positioned above the stove area, complementing the clean, minimalist color palette. The flooring features subtle patterned tiling that adds texture without overwhelming the simplicity of the design. The kitchen opens to an adjacent room through a door on the right, with a simple ceiling light fixture enhancing practicality over decorative elements.
Kitchen Appliances and Cabinets
This kitchen corner includes honey-colored wooden cabinets with silver round knobs and pulls, framing a stainless steel gas range and an over-the-range microwave. The countertop is a granite-style design with gray and white tones, continuing as a backsplash around the cooking area to protect the walls. The room is painted white, including the multiple paneled doors visible to the left, which feature vintage-style black hardware. A large window with black trim brings in natural light and offers a view of lush green trees outside, creating a bright and welcoming ambiance. The floor is tiled with a subtle geometric pattern in neutral tones that complements the overall clean and simple design.
Kitchen View with Refrigerator
Wooden cabinets in a natural medium finish line the walls along with white laminate countertops. The cabinetry appears traditional with simple panel doors and a built-in vent hood above the stove. A stainless steel double-door refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser stands prominently to the right. Flooring consists of a pale, patterned vinyl that adds subtle texture. A small window above the sink allows natural light from outside, complementing the larger window on the left which overlooks greenery. The ceiling is plain white with a flush-mounted light fixture, and a wooden coat rack with metal hooks is mounted above the cabinetry area.
Bathroom and Hallway
The bathroom is distinguished by vibrant green square tiles covering the walls and floor surrounding a vintage-style white bathtub with curved edges. Fixtures include a silver showerhead and multiple knobs aligned along the tub side. Adjacent to the tub is a classic white toilet. The hallway walls and ceiling are painted a clean white, contrasting with the bathroom’s bold green accent. Flooring transitions from green tiles to a light-colored vinyl or linoleum with a subtle pattern. Two doorways lead from the hallway: one reveals warm wooden floors and white trim, enhancing the timeless, classic aesthetic of this historic home.
Bathroom with Vintage Tiles
A compact bathroom corner displaying a white bathtub with classic silver fixtures, surrounded by a grid of vibrant green square tiles that cover the wall up to mid-height. The tile pattern is bordered on top by a darker green trim tile, adding a striking contrast. Above the tub, a silver showerhead and a curved metal rod for a shower curtain are mounted against crisp white upper walls. A white porcelain toilet sits adjacent to the bathtub, with a matching white sink featuring a polished chrome faucet. A modest, irregularly shaped mirror with a slightly worn edge hangs above the sink, accompanied by a simple wall-mounted light fixture. The overall aesthetic melds mid-century charm with practical simplicity, evoking a retro yet clean and functional bathroom feel.
Laundry Porch
A compact enclosed porch dedicated to laundry tasks with a washer and dryer positioned side by side. The space is painted white, including the paneled walls, ceiling, and window frames, giving it a clean, utilitarian feel. Large windows along the length allow abundant natural light and offer a view of rooftops, trees, and blue sky outside. The flooring shows some wear, indicating age and frequent use. Plumbing fixtures and hoses are visible near the machines, and a shallow built-in utility sink is integrated into the far wall, enhancing functionality in this practical, airy space.
Empty Bedroom Corner
Soft pink walls with a worn, matte finish surround a corner of the room, contrasted by white baseboards and window trim. The hardwood floor shows natural wood grain and signs of age, adding rustic character. A single sash window with white framing lets in diffused natural light, creating a serene atmosphere. Adjacent doorways with simple white moldings connect this space to another similarly colored room visible through the open door. The minimalist design and vintage flooring suggest a historic home in need of restoration or personalization. Electrical outlets are modestly placed low on the walls.
Front Entry Doorway
The front entrance presents a quaint, traditional American home aesthetic. The door is wooden with multiple recessed panels in a muted brown tone. Two symmetrical windows flank the doorway, framed in crisp white that contrasts with the earthy door color. The siding is painted in a soft, weathered white with visible horizontal planks, adding rustic charm. Simple concrete steps with a matching brown handrail lead up to the door. Above, a black rectangular porch light and the house number “1408” are centered, enhancing the classic and modest curb appeal. Greenery on the left adds a natural touch.
Entryway Hall
White vertical paneled walls and matching paneled ceiling create a clean, bright atmosphere in this small entryway hall. The flooring contrasts with rich, dark wood laminate, adding warmth and texture. Two doorways lead to adjoining rooms, one showing a beige carpet and the other continuing the hardwood floor. The trim around the doors is broad and simple, reflecting a traditional style. A small, modern ceiling light fixture with a metallic grid design adds a contemporary touch to the otherwise classic interior, balancing old and new aesthetics harmoniously.
Living Room Corner
White vertical paneling covers the walls and ceiling, creating a bright, clean aesthetic. The floor is finished with wood-look laminate in a grayish-brown tone that adds warmth and contrasts subtly with the crisp white walls. A large window with a simple white roller shade allows natural light and views of greenery outside, enhancing the airy feel. A classic wall-mounted heater with a vented front is located below the window, contributing to the room’s vintage charm. The open layout leads to a small kitchen space on the left and a hallway extending to the right, emphasizing functionality in a compact setting.
Small Living Area
Compact room with white-painted vertical wood paneling on walls and ceiling, creating a bright and clean atmosphere. The ceiling has exposed wooden beams painted white, adding rustic texture. Large window allows natural light to fill the space, complementing the warm-toned wood flooring with subtle grain patterns. An upright wall heater is tucked into a corner by the window, indicating the room’s function as a cozy indoor space possibly for relaxing or informal gatherings. The doorway leads to another room with similar flooring and white paneling, maintaining cohesion throughout the home.
Compact White Kitchen
White cabinetry with simple raised panel doors creates a clean and timeless look in this compact kitchen. The upper and lower cabinets provide ample storage, complemented by dark round knobs for a subtle contrast. A light greenish-tan tiled backsplash wraps around the counter space, adding a muted historic touch to the otherwise neutral palette. The ceiling is finished with beadboard paneling, enhancing the vintage charm. Light wood-toned flooring adds warmth to the space. The white refrigerator and matching white stove blend cohesively within the kitchen layout, which is designed for efficient use of space.
Compact Kitchen Corner
White cabinetry with simple raised panel doors and black knobs create a clean, classic look. The L-shaped countertop is tiled with muted gray square tiles that extend as a backsplash, balancing neutral tones. A stainless steel sink is centered beneath cabinetry, which includes upper storage with small black knobs. The ceiling is finished with white beadboard, complementing the overall bright, airy feel. Natural light floods in through a large window on the left, providing a view of lush greenery outside. A white gas stove with black grates sits on the right, completing this cozy, functional kitchen nook.
Empty Room with Wood Paneling
White vertical wood paneling lines the walls, complemented by a matching white paneled door slightly ajar to reveal an adjoining room. The ceiling consists of wide wooden planks painted white, with a small vintage-style light fixture featuring multiple bulbs and decorative shades. The floor contrasts warmly with a dark wood laminate, showcasing a natural grain pattern. A single black electrical outlet plates the lower portion of the wall, introducing a modern element. The room’s clean lines and simple color scheme evoke a timeless, classic aesthetic while maintaining a cozy and spacious feel.
Listing Agent: Tracy Davis of Red Oak Realty via Zillow