Berkeley Bungalow Grows Up

Berkeley, CA

Updated Craftsman kitchen with butcher block island, farmhouse sink, colorful tile backsplash, and vintage style range and hood, adding function with eclectic color.
Restored Craftsman dining room with coffered wood ceiling, built-in leaded glass hutch, and a long table, reflecting the home’s original character in the remodel.
Family room and new stair with oak treads, wood railing, and tall stairwell windows, bringing daylight into the addition and connecting the expanded home.
New master suite bedroom with skylights, large Craftsman window trim, and warm wood floors, creating a bright retreat within the two story rear addition.
New bathroom with deep blue walls, beadboard wainscoting, pedestal sink, hex tile floor, and a tub with exposed shower by a frosted window for soft light.
Rear exterior showing the two story Craftsman addition with cedar shingle siding, matching roof pitches, large windows, and an upper balcony over the backyard deck.
Front exterior of the Craftsman bungalow after Levitch updates, with a welcoming porch, cedar shingles, and improved windows that keep the original neighborhood character.

Berkeley Bungalow Grows Up

Berkeley, CA

  • Year Built: 2015

    Eclectic touches and color in the Kitchen, Bathroom and new Master Suite modernize while maintaining the character of this Craftsman home.

    Maintaining the Character:

    The owners wanted to improve the back of their home as it had too many small spaces for their needs. At the same time, they wanted to maintain their home’s character.

    • Levitch reworked ​the ​first story including opening up ​the ​enclosed front porch and remodeling the Kitchen, Nook, and Bathroom.

    • A Bedroom became a Family Room and new stairs.

    • Throughout the home, eclectic touches and colors fuse traditional and modern.

    Addition:

    The two-story addition expanded the back of the home and created a Master Suite with two balconies above.

    • Large windows in the stairwell and skylights bring in lots of natural light. To help the addition blend in, Levitch matched roof pitches, windows, and siding at the upper story to the existing home.

    • The partial second-story addition and the way it’s massed are also sensitive to a neighborhood of mostly single-story homes.

    Photography by Treve Johnson

  • See how things looked before we started, and while the project was underway, below.

  • “We hired Levitch Associates for a major remodel and are absolutely thrilled with the result. Working with Maurice and his team was a real pleasure; the process was challenging but rewarding, and every single person we interacted with was professional, thoughtful, dedicated, and kind.

    Our project manager, Vuk Pavicevich, worked closely with us on every detail. We learned quickly that we could trust Vuk implicitly.

    Our house is a 1908 Craftsman; [Levitch] worked carefully with us to retain the original character of the house while modernizing where it made sense. While our house is much bigger than it used to be…it really looks like it fits in the neighborhood, and we get compliments from passers-by all the time.

    I highly recommend [Levitch] to anyone in the Bay Area who wants to work with a design/build firm dedicated to quality, craftsmanship, and beauty. Not only will you have a truly gorgeous, highly functional completed project, but you will also enjoy the satisfaction of getting to know a wonderful family and support a multi-generational family firm.”

    N. J.

Process

evitch Architects and Builders sign in front of the home during construction, documenting the Craftsman renovation and second story addition underway in Berkeley.
Carpenters install cedar shingles and trim at the front porch during the Craftsman renewal, updating the exterior while matching historic details and proportions.
Home wrapped in weather barrier with scaffolding during the two story addition, showing roof and window openings prepared for new siding and Craftsman trim.
Street view of the bungalow before the remodel, showing the original single story form, small porch, and street tree canopy before Levitch expanded the back.
Historic black and white photo of the original Craftsman bungalow front, showing the early porch and entry before later updates and the modern addition.
Before photo of the old kitchen with a tight layout, vintage stove, and hanging cookware, prior to Levitch opening the space and remodeling the kitchen and nook.
Historic dining room photo showing a family seated at a table beside the built in cabinet, a Craftsman detail echoed in the restored dining room today.
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