Bungalow Heaven

By Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
Jul 7th 2009 8:03AM

Categories: Wish We Could..., House Tours, Architecture

When I lived in Washington, DC, my husband and I renovated a Craftsman bungalow from top to bottom. I'd fallen for the classic style in my visits to Takoma Park, a charming neighborhood just over the border from Washington, DC, where there are dozens of bungalows in every color. Alas, we moved north, but I still think bungalows are among the prettiest houses.

Many bungalows sport a front porch, a low-profile, twin windows on either side of the living room fireplace, and lots of charm. They were popular in the early part of last century for their simplicity, and many were sold in kits for as little as $900. There are communities of bungalows in various cities across the country, but Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven may be worth a day trip if you're ever in Los Angeles. There are dozens there.

To read more about bungalows, visit American Bungalow.

Classic American Bungalows

Cheery Old Girl Located in steamy central Florida, this 1922 yellow Craftsman is nicknamed Daisy Cottage by its owner, who calls the house "a dream come true." She has a blog devoted to her love of bungalows and all things charming.

deardaisycottage/Flickr

Tropical Classic Built in the 1920s in the Castle Terrace subdivision of Honolulu, this one has an enclosed porch and sits on a foundation of lava rock. Maybe that's why the gardens are so lush!

Joel Abroad/Flickr

Homey and Historic Called the Keyes Bungalow, this 1911 Los Angeles "airplane bungalow" (named for its sloping roof) is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kansas Sebastian/Flickr

Bungalow Heaven I'm starting to think that I'm made for Los Angeles, considering this charming Arts & Crafts home is also in the area. Bungalows are typically painted in three colors. The homeowners painted the window sashes red, the trim a darker green and the house a pale sage.

Kansas Sebastian/Flickr

Inviting Front Porch This 5-bedroom 3200 square foot Craftsman Bungalow was built in 1913 in Newnan, Georgia. Note the striped awnings. What a nice touch!

Oldhouses.com

Perfect Beach House I've always wanted a purple house. On a sunny summer day, the color is particularly welcoming. I kind of want to jump right into this photo.

fourlittlebirds/Flickr

A Mini Painted Lady This Riverside, California Craftsman has a particularly fun color scheme. But like the photographer who snapped the photo, I'm in love with the landscaping.

saltycotton/Flickr

Rustic I could see this house in Seattle or Bellingham. Nope, this is San Jose, California. I'm not a huge fan of the wood shingles, but I like the lattice work in the windows. Either way, it's an interesting take on these classic homes.

roarofthefour/Flickr

Americana I'll take it! This is a side view of a bungalow in Madison, Wisconsin. Architect Cora Cadwallader Tuttle built five Craftsman houses in Madison's Vilas Park neighborhood in the early part of last century and this was one of them; she was the only female architect to design and build in this area before World War I.

Seeded Earth Photography

Hedge Your Bets This San Jose cutie may be the quintessential bungalow cottage. But don't be fooled. Many bungalows are much larger inside than they look on the outside.

roarofthefour/Flickr

Comments (2)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Bo Mackison 7-07-2009 @ 10:38PM

This is actually the front view of the bungalow. It has a "typical" Frank Lloyd Wright entrance--hidden slightly, off to the side.

Bo Mackison
Seeded Earth Photography