Call it "Bungalogic:" the way classic American bungalows from the early 1900s offered practical solutions for everyday living, from built-in china cabinets to window seats and spacious porches, all within a compact
footprint. There was even a magazine all about the bungalow, as shown here. The house type became identified with California, as garden-oriented versions burgeoned in the expansion of Los Angeles and its
suburbs. Here's a typical example, from a so-called "bungalow book" of stock house plans. Consequently there are Craftsman bungalows in almost every older town across the country. In Pasadena, there is even a landmarked neighborhood called "Bungalow Heaven." As I have mentioned elsewhere, the bungalow really became the "Model T" of home design.
Today's designers have rediscovered this sturdy house type and updated it for contemporary open plan living. Take 3 bedroom 3 bath, 2,175 sq. ft. Plan 928-9, by Visbeen Architects, shown here and at the top of this post. The entry is between a flex bedroom/office on the left and a mud room on the right. Straight ahead is the combined kitchen/dining/living area,
which opens to both a covered patio and a screen porch. Though compact, the ground floor feels spacious thanks to the overlapping functions, the ample windows, and easy access to the outdoors. A novel twist is the large oval kitchen island, which deftly separates the kitchen from the rest of the room without blocking sight lines.
The living area focuses on the corner fireplace, and there is another matching corner
fireplace outside in the screen porch. The efficiency continues upstairs, with a convenient laundry, and a separate sitting room near the master bedroom, which could function as a nursery or even as a "snoratorium."
To browse a collection of other practical bungalows designed for contemporary living click here.
footprint. There was even a magazine all about the bungalow, as shown here. The house type became identified with California, as garden-oriented versions burgeoned in the expansion of Los Angeles and its
suburbs. Here's a typical example, from a so-called "bungalow book" of stock house plans. Consequently there are Craftsman bungalows in almost every older town across the country. In Pasadena, there is even a landmarked neighborhood called "Bungalow Heaven." As I have mentioned elsewhere, the bungalow really became the "Model T" of home design.
Today's designers have rediscovered this sturdy house type and updated it for contemporary open plan living. Take 3 bedroom 3 bath, 2,175 sq. ft. Plan 928-9, by Visbeen Architects, shown here and at the top of this post. The entry is between a flex bedroom/office on the left and a mud room on the right. Straight ahead is the combined kitchen/dining/living area,
which opens to both a covered patio and a screen porch. Though compact, the ground floor feels spacious thanks to the overlapping functions, the ample windows, and easy access to the outdoors. A novel twist is the large oval kitchen island, which deftly separates the kitchen from the rest of the room without blocking sight lines.
The living area focuses on the corner fireplace, and there is another matching corner
fireplace outside in the screen porch. The efficiency continues upstairs, with a convenient laundry, and a separate sitting room near the master bedroom, which could function as a nursery or even as a "snoratorium."
To browse a collection of other practical bungalows designed for contemporary living click here.
