Campbell, Calif., Rick and Jackie Costanzo
Our restored 1917 bungalow, which has historic designation, is near downtown. We bought it in 1983 from the son of the original owners, who started the first Campbell Water Co. The antique water gauge that showed the water pressure for the town is still in the kitchen. A sink in the guest bedroom is among the original special touches. There is a full basement—quite unusual by California standards here when Silicon Valley was known as “The Valley of Hearts Delight.”
San Diego, Calif., Tom and Carolyn Owen-Towle
We bought this 1908 home 30 years ago and have been restoring it, room by room, ever since—bringing all the painted-over brass and woodwork (Douglas fir throughout) back to its original luster. The fireplace had been tiled over, with wood panels on each end, and when we removed everything we found a beautiful riverbed-stone surround with abalone shells set into its face. The same stone was used for the chimneys and front porch. We also discovered and reinstalled four unblemished original leaded beveled-glass windows. This old house has wrapped around us.
South Portland, Maine, Steve and Virginia Link
Our 1921 Aladdin bungalow kit was hauled in from Portland by horse and jigger and assembled for Belle Bowen and her husband, Harold, a conductor for the B&M Railroad. We’ve lived here for 42 years, raising four grown sons. The interior is full of original details: kitchen cupboards, six-over-one wavy-glass sash windows and Douglas fir floors. Visiting friends and family always comment on the house’s warmth.
Springfield, Mo., Richard and Louise Crabtree
Carl A. Bissman, a jack-of-all-trades—architect, builder, realtor and furniture maker who owned a lumberyard and a home store—built this house in the prominent subdivision of University Heights in the summer of 1934 and put it up for sale for $5,250, more than two or three times the average price in Springfield during the Depression. Ben and Helen Lammers were the first owners. Ben died in 1948. Helen remained until her death in 1981. It has many of the original features, including 21⁄2-inch-thick doors, leaded glass, brass light fixtures, a dairy door and a built-in shoeshine stand.
Morro Bay, Calif., Robert Bacon
We finished our new house in June 2007 in “The Cloisters,” where design guidelines call for Craftsman, bungalow or Cape Cod styles. We were happy to comply. The interior is Craftsman as well, with beamed ceilings, built-in bookcases and window seats, a tile fireplace surround, 8-foot mahogany doors and red-oak floors. When open, the patio’s French doors frame Morro Rock for those enjoying a meal at the breakfast bar.
Asotin, Wash., Mary Anne Spradlin
I’ve owned this beautifully preserved 1913 bungalow on Asotin Creek since 2004. Just about everything is original—kitchen sink and cupboards, light fixtures on the main floor, china closets, glass-fronted bookshelves in the library, swinging door between the kitchen and dining room, and wavy glass in the windows. The dining-room light fixture has five signed Quezal art-glass shades—wonderful, wonderful! The backyard is park-like and goes down to the creek, which flows year-round. The Nez Perce had a winter camp there.
Ellington, Conn., Dwight and Patty Perkins
We purchased this 1921 Aladdin kit home,“The Pomona,” in 1985. It was built by Dwight’s great-grandfather. We have all of the original paperwork for the home. Though there had been renovations before we bought it, it still has a lot of the original Craftsman charm. In a town that is now full of big new homes, it’s a pleasure to drive down the road and see this charming home waiting for us.
