The California Bungalow is an offshoot of the Arts and Crafts architectural style. They were most commonly one story or one and a half stories, with a low pitched roof, an accentuated overhang, and exposed rafter tails. They generally have a modest porch and frequently have a bay window. The exterior designs were not symmetrical but well proportioned.. Sears Robuck & Co. carried mail-order kits that were pre-cut in factories and shipped out to be constructed at the site. This system made the houses affordable. They became popular first in California - thus the name.

The floor plan of the California Bungalow does not have much variation. One hallmark of this architectural style is that the front door enters directly into the living room. The living room and dining room which are usually divided only by a half-wall or open archway achieving the desired open feeling in the living space. There are frequently two bedrooms with a bath in between, off of a short hallway.

It is one of the more common architectural styles found in the East Bay. North Berkeley, Albany, Maxwell Park, Glenview and the Laurel District are all neighborhoods were California Bungalows can be found in abundance.