Vintage 1913 Bungalow-Style Home In Berkeley Is Out of a Fairytale

Though enormous, extravagant mansions and ultra-modern homes can make for great real estate ogling, there's something about the simple, nostalgic coziness of a bungalow home that can't be beat. Bungalows have this organic, unpretentious feel to them that's instantly welcoming and homey, even before their owners inject their own personalities into them.

This particular Berkeley home, originally built in 1913, is the cream of the crop when it comes to bungalow-style homes. With its colorful, floral exteriors and exciting interior features, it looks and feels like a modern fairytale cottage - and just wait until you see what's in the backyard!

From the moment that realtor @mattpetullo introduced this adorable home at 1381 Francisco Street, I knew we were in for a treat. The landscaping was stunning, but that beautiful bougainvillea archway against the home's sky-blue stucco exterior instantly sent the vibes into Disney movie territory for me. If Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was set in modern-day Berkeley, this is where they'd live. I mean, come on - it even has an apple for a door knocker !

Related: Vintage 1936 French Country Estate Home in Berkeley Has People Freaking Out

But of course, the home's charming facade was just the beginning, and things only picked up from there. Though the home had plenty of renovations done since 1913, its original character was beautifully preserved, with charming vintage features like the kitchen pass-through window, wooden shutters , and stunning cedar-lined closets (though I'll admit, I thought for a brief moment that I was looking at some kind of en-suite sauna at first). Best of all, most of the original hardwood flooring was preserved, giving the home so much charm and character.

The home's entire interior was beautiful, fresh, and full of natural light, but the bathrooms were the highlights for me. The gorgeous tilework in the first bathroom already drew me in, but the first time I glimpsed that exposed hardwood ceiling and skylight, I genuinely gasped. The en-suite bathroom was even better than the last, with its marble wall tiles, dramatic exposed beams, and Parisian sink. It's just gorgeous!

Bungalows and bungalow-style homes just aren't complete without cozy outdoor living spaces, and this property delivered. I loved the backyard's barn-red wooden deck, flanked by a row of raised garden beds growing herbs, flowers, and lettuce. As Matt suggested, the vibes are perfect for al fresco dining. But the real "crown jewel" of the backyard was...

The Casita

While I initially balked at the property's $1,195,000 price tag, that number made a bit more sense when Matt reached the casita. This adorable detached mother-in-law suite wasn't quite big enough to make for a standalone accessory dwelling unit, but Matt suggested that it would be perfect for a teenaged kid or younger relative. The cozy casita includes a sizable loft bed, a small cedar-lined bathroom with a shower, a downstairs kitchenette, and a living room overlooking the backyard, flooded with natural overhead lighting from the skylight. Teenaged me would flip if I had this casita all to myself!

Contemporary Cottage Chic

What I love about this home is how thoughtfully it has been renovated. Too many modern renovations wipe out the character of vintage homes, but most of the updates made in this home complement or even preserve its original 1913 characteristics. Between its modern amenities and classic character, you really get the best of both worlds with this bungalow. All it needs is a family to fill it with life again - and considering that its Zillow listing shows a pending sale as of today, it won't be long before that happens!

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