El Cerrito is a quiet, inviting community with so much to offer. This new listing is a charming split-level cottage in the desirable St. Jerome's neighborhood right on the Albany border. It boasts a spacious layout, with good separation of space between the private and common areas. The two light-filled bedrooms are upstairs, one overlooking the garden and the other facing the peaceful tree-lined street. There is a newly updated bath with period touches that harmonize with the gentle architectural lines of this handsome home, built in 1942. Plus, there are almost-new dual-paned windows on the two main living levels.

A big, eat-in kitchen opens out to the huge lawn and garden, which is planted with fruit trees and surrounded by planting beds. It's a fabulous space for playing, entertaining and some really serious gardening, if that's your passion. It's like having a private park. The garden wraps around the house and there's an irrigation sprinkler system that's built into the front lawn as well as the back.

Down a short flight of stairs from the kitchen is the laundry room, with lots of storage. Next to it is a bonus room, which could be an office, workshop, exercise area or even more storage. This leads to the attached garage with an automatic opening door.

Nearby is BART, Kensington’s Colusa Circle, Fat Apples (a local restaurant favorite) and the exciting El Cerrito Plaza with dozens of shops, restaurants and the Farmers Market. You're also only blocks away from Berkeley's famous Solano Avenue, with almost a mile of different and unique businesses to frequent an enjoy.

This welcoming cottage is spacious, freshly painted and ready to move in!