Bungalow Styles
Bungalows are one of the most
common houses found in older neighborhoods and are characterized by simplicity
and emphasis on horizontal rather than vertical lines.
The economical bungalow started on the East Coast, became
popular in California, and quickly spread across the nation. In fact, between
1890 and the mid-1900s, they became so popular that Montgomery Ward and Sears,
Roebuck & Company offered mail-order pre-cut kit houses that were assembled
at the building site. Before World War I, a small bungalow could be built for
$900, while a much larger one cost about $3,500. Because they were so
affordable, the bungalow symbolized homeownership to thousands of people.
These homes were ideal for the first-time homebuyer—small,
inexpensive to build, and often included built-in furniture. The living room
fireplace was usually large with a mantel and surrounds of brick, natural
stone, or tiles. These features created a warm, homey atmosphere.
Different Styles of Bungalows
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As the bungalow style spread across the United States,
regional designers—Charles and Henry Greene in California and Gustav Stickley
and Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago—created variations to the style. Gustav
Stickley is known for the Craftsman style and Frank Lloyd Wright is known for
the Prairie style. In Texas, it is typical to see bungalows with Craftsman
lines or with a Spanish Colonial motif. In Chicago, bungalows are mostly brick
and boxy with Prairie influences.
The bungalow style remains one of the most popular styles
even today and can be seen influencing new residential developments.
California Bungalow
The Greene brothers helped popularize the California Bungalow and inspired other
architects and designers to build simple one-and-one-half story bungalows. The California Bungalow has a low profile,
with one to one-and-one-half stories, a square shape, with a low-slung
gable or hip roof, an offset entry with a wide front porch, and exterior walls
finished with stucco and natural stone. These smaller, affordable bungalows
were very popular between 1900 and the mid-1920s. Currently, this look is
incorporated into modern houses.
Craftsman Bungalow
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The Craftsman
Bungalow, promoted by Gustav Stickley in his magazine, The Craftsman, has a tendency to be larger than the traditional
California Bungalow. Other differences include rows of high, small ribbon
windows, full-width porches framed by tapered columns, and overhanging eaves
with exposed rafters. Stickley was a furniture designer and most of his plans
for Craftsman Bungalows included built-in furniture throughout the house, such
as kitchen cabinets, window seats, and buffets in dining rooms. Partial walls
with bookshelves are frequently used as room dividers, as are chest-high
cabinets topped by square, tapered pillars that reach to the ceiling. Leaded
glass and stained glass in doors, cabinets, and windows are typically seen. The
overall feeling is one of casual comfort.
