Bungalows give families an affordable place to live.
The word "bungalow" evokes images of a cozy, smaller home. The bungalow gained popularity in the early 1900s, when bungalows appeared throughout many cities and suburbs. This modest style of home gave people a functional, affordable and attractive place to live, which also could be near their work. Does this Spark an idea?
Compact Design
The bungalow has a compact form rather than horizontally sprawling out. The home may include one story, or one-and-a-half stories. The latter means the house has a small second story, usually with one or two bedrooms and a bathroom. The open floor plan of a typical bungalow makes the best use of its space. A broad, open doorway may lead from one room to another on the bottom story, or the floor plan may contain no doorways on the bottom floor. Either way, one room flows into another without hallways to maximize usable space.
Common Features
Bungalow homes usually have pitched roofs and high ceilings, which create a more spacious feeling inside the smaller floor plan. The front door normally opens into the living room. The bungalow with a front dormer window on the second story became popular in the early 1900s. Typically bungalows also feature a porch large enough to function as an outdoor room.
Materials
Bungalows aren't made of any particular type of material. However, solid, traditional materials such as stone, brick and shingles have been common for bungalows. These materials reinforce the sturdy image of the bungalow home. Bungalows with a more modern style frequently use stucco.
Popular Styles
East Coast-style bungalows have a geometric, square design. They usually feature partially enclosed porches and fewer windows than West Coast-style bungalows, for the sake of warmth. California-style bungalows frequently incorporate different styles, such as Tudor-style siding with Colonial Revival columns. Some California-style bungalows feature Spanish Mission Revival style. The Craftsman bungalow often features broad eaves and numerous gables that create a somewhat elaborate look. This style may include built-in cabinets, shelves and light fixtures.
Tags: floor plan, California-style bungalows, Coast-style bungalows, early 1900s, place live