Once upon a time, if you wanted to build a new house, you could pick one from the Sears, Roebuck House Catalog. The catalog encouraged home ownership as an "absolute necessity" to "promote happiness and contentment, for the most pleasant and natural way to live."

That is certainly true of the bungalow built in 1931 at 153 Curry Ave. in Wilkins (MLS No. 803452). In the 1926 catalog, this two-bedroom Betsy Ross bungalow designed by Honor Bilt Modern Homes cost just $1,654. Today, it's on the market for $99,900 through Realtor Thomas Fitzurka of Coldwell Banker Real Estate's Squirrel Hill office (412-521-2222, ext. 206, or www.pittsburghmoves.com). An open house will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today.

Mr. Fitzurka says the current homeowner has worked very hard to maintain the historical accuracy of the original plan, right down to the white exterior paint and green shutters suggested in the original advertisement.

Coming down the driveway, you can see the classic pillars set off by sidelights on either side of the entry.

The front door leads directly to the 18-by-12-foot living room, painted a contemporary neutral brown with bright white trim.

To the right is the larger of the two bedrooms; the original design included an 11-by-9-foot bedroom facing the front of the home. It is clean and efficient, painted in a sunny yellow. The second bedroom, painted a mossy green, was marked on the original plan as an optional dining room.

The kitchen measures 10 feet 8 inches by 8 feet 7 inches and has white streamlined cabinetry and a tile floor. The nice surprise is an eat-in alcove painted a cheery red with a Tiffany-style light fixture.

The bathroom is simple with a tub/shower combination and a white vanity with a solid surface top. Heading down to the basement, you find an alcove under the steps that has been turned into an office. The rest of the finished space is a family room with futon, television and play area.

Off the family room is a lovely natural stone patio that is partially covered. A rock wall is planted with evergreens and perennials and stone stairs lead back to the front of the house. The backyard is mostly level, with shrubs and a garden feel.

Other features include a detached one-car garage handsomely painted to match the house. The house has radiator heat and was designed with windows to take advantage of cross ventilation. The window air conditioners will stay with the home.

The house has a roughly 1,400 square feet of indoor living space with 833 of that on the first floor. Even though it is small, every room has a 9-foot ceilings, giving an open, airy feel. With two bedrooms, the house is perfect for a small family or anyone looking to live life on a smaller footprint.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.