American Bungalow Magazine - The Magazine published in the interest of preserving and restoring the modest American 20th Century Home, the Bungalow, and the rich lifestyle that it affords.

Hudson, Ohio, Bill Evans
Though I was looking for Greek Revival architecture, this 1921 bungalow caught my eye. Purchased in the summer of 2008 and after almost three years of renovations, the home boasts color, character, and a true sense of history. During the Hudson Home and Garden Tour, I shared many stories, like discovering 3 inches of cement under the 1960s turquoise bathroom tile! I love listening to my 150-year-old mantle clock ticking in the background, looking around a room filled with antiquity, knowing the home has been restored with respect for those before me.

Wellesley, Mass., Roseann and Erik Fleischauer
We searched two and a half years for the perfect house: one with
a responsible footprint in a stable Boston community within walking distance of the train station and downtown. We happened upon our dream house while driving to dinner on our wedding anniversary. It was perfect; a manicured corner lot with a big porch, several original windows, original fireplace and enough room to entertain. We are researching our home’s history, looking for plans through former residents. We suspect it could be a Bennett Bison kit home.

Portland, Ore., Jeff and Sharon Kidder
A year and a half ago, we became the third family to own this 1912 Craftsman, the first house built on the street. We liked the distinctive architecture and the fact that the original woodwork was still present, though it had all been painted. Thankfully, the structure was still in good shape. Months of stripping and staining the woodwork on the main floor revealed the beautiful Douglas fir beneath. This inspired the new kitchen’s flat-sawn Doug fir cabinetry. We’re enjoying helping this once-grand old house become grand again.

Victoria, B.C., David Cubberley
I bought this 1913 architect’s bungalow the week it came on the market in 1988. Projecting gables and battered-stone piers gave it incredible curb appeal, and the wooden interior was equally compelling. Set on the brow of a hill glued to the ground, it’s oriented to catch the light through ample windows. An innovative floor plan makes it seem much bigger than its roughly 1,250 square feet. House, landscape and garden feel like a unified composition, a rarity in suburbia today. I blog about my bungalow and others at californiabungalow.blogspot.com.

Victoria, B.C., Jean Roberts
My maternal grandparents had this house built in Oak Bay, Victoria, in 1912. It was done by Elmer Ellsworth Green, a well-known architect of the day in both Victoria and Seattle. My mother was ten when they moved into the new house from Brandon, Manitoba. It always was my mother’s favorite home; she had wonderful memories of it. Ten years ago, I visited the house. It had all the original Craftsman details and original plumbing, and the woodwork and floors had been lovingly refinished. It was like walking back in time.

Portland, Ore., Brian and Susan Waddell
We bought our 1924 bungalow in the historic St. John’s neighborhood of Portland in 2007. We are only the third owners of this cozy little house. It has original crown molding, hardwood floors, and chandeliers. The only modification I made was the addition of a soapstone wood stove, which looks great and keeps the whole house warm on those cold and rainy winter nights. We did add an addition in 2009: a seven-week-old beagle puppy named Monty.

Chicago, Ill., Beth and Ken Martin
We moved into our jumbo 1927 bungalow in 1997. The original homeowners appeared to have run a speakeasy out of the basement. The mahogany bar and empty wine bottles dating back to 1890 are all still part of our home, as are various treasures from previous residents: machine parts, wedding dresses, a little cedar box with love letters circa WW II. There’s a large limestone fireplace in the basement with a drinking ledge, and leaded glass windows. It’s a great house.

Upper Arlington, Ohio, Andrew and Antonietta Melaragno
In 2004, to meet the needs of a growing family and business, I designed and built our Craftsman style home on an infill lot in a 1950s neighborhood. I wanted the home to look as though it was one of the original houses on the street. We have carried out the Craftsman details throughout the interior. I love the fact that people always ask if it is a renovation, and take great pride in explaining that it’s actually a new build.