Shepherdstown, W. Va., Glenn and Lillian Kinser
Our 3,000-square-foot brick bungalow was one of the newer homes in our three-block area when it was built in 1928. It has 34 windows with sash weights, oak and pine flooring, and originally all of the woodwork was painted. Some of its unique features are a four-car garage in the basement, a room for smoking meats under the back porch, and a package receiver on the exterior that locked automatically when a package was put inside.
Glen Ellyn, Ill., James and Debra O’Connor
Our simple country bungalow was built in 1917, but seven years later, the owners converted the attic space into bedrooms and added a sleeping porch and tiny bath. Also in 1924, half of the front porch was enclosed, which is accessed now through French doors. In the ’70s the kitchen and adjoining maid’s room were combined — and ruined, we think — into a kitchen/family room. We want to take it back and are currently restoring the downstairs bath with antique fixtures.
Ann Arbor, Mich., Patrick M. McCauley
My bungalow is by no means high style, but when I first saw its simple Craftsman details, I fell in love with it. It was built in 1929 on the Old West Side of Ann Arbor. Over the years, very few of the original details have been changed, which makes this house a restorer’s dream! I took the most pride in restoring the original “Signal” doorbell and the Tudor-style front light that I found in the garage. The best word I can use to describe the feeling of living in this house would be warm. The restoration continues …
Torrance, Calif., Linda Alley
This charming little — 827-square-foot — bungalow is a source of pure joy. I just bought it a year ago and have been working hard at restoring it, including redoing the floors and adding a beautiful new scalloped roof. I’ve furnished it with American oak antiques, and spend countless hours scouring flea markets for unique treasures and furniture. The 1923 house still retains the original china cabinets and picture rails throughout, and has French doors between the living and dining rooms.
Florence, Ala., Barbara and Barry Broach
This house is located very near the downtown area of Florence, close to the University of North Alabama campus. It is in the Wood Avenue Historic District, named on the National Register of Historic Places. Our home was built in 1923 and is a typical Foursquare with bedrooms up and living space down. Guests and strangers alike come into our home from time to time and say, “Oh! I would love to live here.”
Cedar City, Utah, Bonnie Wehle
My architect calls my new house a “Craftsman Ranch,” and as you can see from the photos, the massing and interior spaces are not bungalowesque, but the details are. The house fills my needs for open space and light, while having a strong Craftsman feeling, gained from both design and materials. We used lots of oak and handmade tile; in fact, I made the fireplace tile myself.
Fairmont, W.Va., Cynthia Staley
We moved into this house in 1995, unaware of Gustav Stickley and the Arts and Crafts style of architecture. Our 1912 home is brick on the first story and wood shingles on the second, seemingly a combination of two of Stickley’s designs. The living room fireplace features Rookwood tiles and the dining room fireplace has a beautiful elongated hood with brass accents. Built-ins include a sideboard, bookcase and window seats. It has been exciting to research the history of my house and try to return it to the period look.
Pasadena, Calif., Christopher Trott
Located in the Bungalow Heaven Historic District, my 1910 California Craftsman has a fireplace inglenook with a window seat, the latter of which was probably an early addition. The dining room has a built-in sideboard and chest-high wainscoting of fir. Decorative box beams in the living and dining rooms were probably added in the ’30s. The bath was renovated in the ’80s with a clawfoot tub, and the kitchen was remodeled then as well, but has a ’40s-era stove. There are casement windows with transoms throughout.
