Are you looking for a family home steps away from McCarren Park and all the shops and restaurants of Williamsburg? Are you willing to embrace whimsy and daydream away inside a home that has clearly been loved?

I'll be honest, this house is not cheap, and arguably is overpriced. But it has something that a lot of homes at this price point seem to lack. It has a soul, and maybe it will find a family that appreciates its sensibilities.

The facade (and the awning)

Let's start with the facade, which is a pretty typical north Brooklyn special. It's underwhelming. I don't know what possesses every homeowner to install cheap-looking awnings over their doors and windows, but there has to be a better way. While it's not great from the outside, it has potential. A few plants in window boxes, and kill awning. I wish bougainvillea grew as a perennial in the Northeast, but you can't always get what you want.

Strangely, I think the citron, lime-green thing it has going could work well, and at the very least it is cheerful.

Inside: the open floor plan works

Entering the house there is a small-ish vestibule and you enter an open floor plan of living room, dining room, and kitchen. It has a beachy, nautical vibe which works. The sofas look to be custom made and built in, with maybe storage underneath. The exposed beams and recycled or unfinished wood look ready for rough and tumble families to beat up.

The kitchen is highly functional and decently spacious. I imagine my kids devouring breakfast in the mornings at the counter and bothering me for snacks while I slowly panic cook my way towards dinner. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the backyard give the whole space more light and space.

Upstairs: three bedrooms and a fourth downstairs

Moving upstairs there are three bedrooms. I'll say that one of these is really flirting with closet territory, but the current owners have built lofted bunk beds and it kind of works. I imagine taking out the lower bunk bed and putting a dresser and a desk to make this a comfortable room for one kid.

The second bedroom is reasonably sized but lacks a closet, so you might be in Container Store or IKEA closet territory. The primary bedroom has a lot of space and a generous closet. No notes.

The final bedroom is in the basement. It's a decent size, but the ceilings are low and it's a little rough around the edges. Could a moody teen thrive here? Probably.

Bathrooms: serviceable

Bathrooms show serviceable spaces, nothing to pick on, but nothing to rave about either.

The backyard is the real win

The backyard is beautifully done and has lots of potential as a place to hang out and entertain. High-end pavers and wood fences with lots of greenery on one side keep maintenance low. The kind of backyard you hang out in three out of four seasons. Built-in benches offer lots of options for seating areas.

At the back of the garden is a makeshift hut (for lack of a better word). It has a twin bed and a skylight. It's a bit quirky much like the rest of this house. Is it a bedroom? Definitely not. A meditation space, office, or small workshop? Definitely.

What I'd want to check on before buying

• Roof condition
• Ceiling heights throughout (especially the basement bedroom)
• Tax status confirmation
• Any recent upgrades to electrical, plumbing, and HVAC