Originally built in 1908, this historic home is the epitome of Berkeley charm. “It was originally designed by the renowned architect Julia Morgan as a rental property for herself and a business partner,” says interior designer Maria Wu. “The house right next door is its mirror image, which is such a cool, quirky detail, especially with those side entrances along the narrow lots.”

Homeowner Natalie Gordon purchased it off-market, meaning it came completely unstaged. “Every wall was painted beige, and there were beige drapes left by the previous owners,” she tells us. “The house is old with beautiful features and the design needed to respect this heritage.” She wanted to update every surface—from light fixtures to walls to window coverings. “I felt really out of my depth with those decisions,” she recalls. 

Luckily, an Instagram scroll led her directly to Maria’s design firm, Studio Wu. “I really liked how livable, textured and delightful Maria’s spaces were,” Natalie shares. “They had personality without being campy. I wanted the house to be livable with kids and really feel like a home. It also means that rugs and furniture need to weather wear and nothing is too precious.”

Maria focused on peeling back previous awkward remnants of earlier remodels to let Morgan’s original architecture shine, then layered in in fresh finishes, playful patterns, and an inviting sense of warmth.

She says the biggest challenge was making the entryway functional. “It was suffering from a classic old-home problem: having way too many doors,” she laughs. “We counted six doors—from the living room, dining room, powder room, and the exterior—all fighting for space in one small area! Since the doors to the main entertaining spaces were usually left open anyway, our solution was to make that open flow permanent by removing four of the interior doors. This simple structural decision was transformative, but we had to put in serious effort, meticulously patching and refinishing the area to make sure there was no evidence they were ever there. And don’t worry, we carefully stored the original doors away just in case!”

Each room in the house now exudes a sense of ease, along with layered beauty. The living room is designed around a plush leather sectional and features a dedicated game area, while the dining room boasts bold pattern thanks to a House of Harris wallpaper. They also added one full bathroom renovation and updated windows throughout. “Before we started when I was in any space in the house I couldn’t relax,” Natalie recalls. “I would think about things in my eyeline and how they had to change.”