Pam Panchak, Post-Gazette English ivy and lilac bushes grace the front of this home on Edgecliff Road in Rosslyn Farms. Click photo for larger image. More information Open houses will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today and next Sunday at 24 Edgecliff Road, Rosslyn Farms. Information: Janine Guthrie of Keller Williams, 412-571-3800 or www.janineguthrie.com.

In this era of the sprawling McMansion, the design philosophy behind architect Sarah Susanka's best-selling series of "Not So Big" books -- that bigger and grander is not necessarily better -- might strike some as revolutionary.

But in the early 1900s, when Pittsburgh's first suburbs were being settled, smaller homes with living spaces meant to be used every day were actually the norm. Instead of multiple rooms, details such as intricate woodwork and beautiful fireplaces created a feeling of comfort and coziness.

The American bungalow, which originated in Southern California in about 1905 but quickly spread throughout the rest of the country, was especially popular with middle-class homeowners through the early 1920s. Typically featuring a low-pitched, gabled roof with a wide overhang and decorative braces, these humble little houses were both economical and practical; meant to counter the excesses of the Victorian period, they featured dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms clustered around central living rooms.

A classic example of the Craftsman-style bungalow can be found at 24 Edgecliff Road in Rosslyn Farms, a tiny western suburb founded in 1902 by Chartiers Land Co. Built sometime around 1910 atop a small hill, it is one of the oldest homes in the neighborhood. It served as the home of the son of developer/builder William Hayes Parrish.

The 1¹/₂-story house is priced at $229,500 through Keller Williams Realty. Considering that some of the larger surrounding homes command $400,000 or more, it's a bargain, especially considering that is on a double lot.

It's a "nice, secluded little spot that's away from the rest of the world," says Sally Ford, Mr. Parrish's granddaughter who grew up in the house on Edgecliff.

Just seven miles from Downtown but still largely wooded, "it's an awfully nice place for children to grow up," she says.

In typical Craftsman fashion, the three-bedroom house features a pair of street-facing gables with exposed roof rafters and an exterior that is a combination of stucco and wood shingles. A sturdy, square porch has enough room for both a swing and a small potting table, and there's a large two-level deck at the rear of the house. The front yard is landscaped with English ivy and several mature lilac bushes.

When the current owners purchased the property in 1999, one of the selling points was the house's architectural integrity. The formal dining room still contained a built-in china closet and the bay had its original multi-paned window. The old plaster walls had also been left untouched.

Yet other parts had been modernized. Some changes, such as central air and recessed lighting in the kitchen, were unobtrusive. But others took away from the home's Old World allure. For instance, wall-to-wall carpeting obscured the narrow-width oak floors and the kitchen, renovated to gourmet level, sported a hip orange-and-teal color scheme. Previous owners had also removed the original mantel and replaced it with a more contemporary marble version.

Desiring something a little more appropriate to the period, the current owners spent the next few years returning the house to its Arts & Crafts flavor.

"We put some of the character back in," says the seller.

Carpeting was pulled up and the oak floors refinished, and they replaced the marble mantel with an antique one they found at Serendipity, an artists' cooperative and specialty store in Castle Shannon. They also painted the kitchen a soft cornbread yellow and replaced the hardware with reproduction handles from Restoration Hardware.

	Pam Panchak, Post-Gazette Above: The fireplace in the 18-by-16-foot living room of the Rosslyn Farms bungalow burns both logs and gas. Below: The back deck of 24 Edgecliff Road, Rosslyn Farms. Click photos for larger image.

Although they replaced the second-floor windows with new Tracos, they kept all the old double-hung windows on the first floor because they were, well, prettier.

One of the house's most inviting spaces is the 18-by-16-foot living room, which lies directly off the front door. It's painted a sage green and brightened by four lace-covered windows, including a multipaned one on the staircase landing that offers a view of the side yard. The reclaimed fireplace in the center of the room burns both logs and gas.

The adjoining dining room, decorated with hand-painted antiques and graced with a large built-in china closet with glass doors, is just as appealing and, thanks to a large bay window, is even sunnier. At 16 by 12 feet, it's roomy enough for even the largest family dinner or party buffet.

Although the gourmet kitchen is on the narrow side (it measures 10 feet across), it has a large center island with a granite top and seating for three. There's a separate family room area at the rear with enough space for a love seat, desk and several tables. But chances are, you'll be just as happy hanging out in the cooking area. The upscale accouterments include Shaker-style cherry cabinets and stainless-steel appliances, including a dual-fuel Frigidaire range. There's also a cut-out for a television along one wall and a small side porch.

A full bath off the kitchen has white beadboard walls and a shower; a back bedroom, now used as an office/playroom, has doors leading to the two-tiered deck with a view of the woods.

The second floor holds two bedrooms with wall-to-wall closets and slanted ceilings, and another full bath. The 20-by-12-foot master bedroom, painted a soothing dark sage, overlooks the street.

The lower portion of the deck opens onto the side yard, which is completely level and mostly open. New owners could easily install a playhouse, swing set, gardening shed or possibly even a swimming pool.

Other attractions within walking distance include a community swimming pool and three tennis courts with all-weather surfaces, as well as soccer fields. There's also a community center with a meeting room and and each September, a fall fair in the park.

"It's a wonderful place," says Mrs. Ford, who lives nearby. "It's very easy to get to know people, even if you make the least amount of effort."