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Northwest Living By Lawrence Kreisman
From Rustic To RefinedCompanion volumes take us to beloved bungalows and beyond
JUD YOHO, the enterprising businessman who, in 1912, put Seattle on the national map when he launched Bungalow Magazine, encouraged his reader to "become the Bungalow Man of your Town." Thousands did just that. Nearly a century later, Paul Duchscherer, author of "The Bungalow," "Inside the Bungalow" and "Outside the Bungalow," has earned his place as "Bungalow Man" to a generation of homeowners and those who wish they could afford one of those quaint, cozy cottages. Just when you think there can't possibly be another book on the topic, Duchscherer and photographer Linda Svendsen have teamed up, once again, to provide insight into this common and much-loved American building type. The early-20th-century bungalow and its larger companion, the Craftsman home, continue to inspire residential architects and new-home-site developers nationally, while fostering a major industry in interior design and home furnishings along the way. The latest books are "Beyond the Bungalow: Grand Homes in the Arts & Crafts Tradition" and "Along Bungalow Lines: Creating an Arts & Crafts Home," both published by Gibbs Smith and both priced at $39.95 in hardcover. In these companion volumes, the author explores larger Craftsman homes, celebrating their artistic beauty, craftsmanship and diversity. Learn and be inspired at the fair The fair is at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave. Admission is $10; lectures are $10 each. For hours and other information check www.historicseattle.org or 206-622-6952. "Beyond the Bungalow" introduces us to some outstanding homes that represent a variety of styles fitting the umbrella of "Craftsman" — Swiss Chalet, Mission, Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor and Prairie — and range from purposely rustic to highly refined. At times, these buildings were designed by important architects who had the good fortune to be able to complete interiors that harmonize with the exteriors. Luckily, some of them are also open to the public, and Duchscherer provides a handy list with contact information, along with a list of periodicals and resources for further study. "Along Bungalow Lines" offers practical guidance and inspiration to owners of early-20th-century Arts & Crafts-influenced houses who wish to sensitively incorporate modern amenities without sacrificing the homes' charm or historic character. Topics covered are enlarging an older home, new construction in the Arts & Crafts style and working with an architect. Duchscherer draws on many years as a design historian and interior designer specializing in historic preservation work to offer a wide variety of successful solutions from around the country inspired by Greene & Greene, Prairie School, British Arts and Crafts and other interpretations of the venerable Craftsman home. Thankfully, he includes a number of Pacific Northwest homes in both books. As we've come to expect, the author provides ample historic background, some wonderfully evocative period-piece renderings, floor plans, color post cards and other ephemera. Photographer Linda Svendsen does an excellent job capturing the charm of these buildings and their significant interior spaces. If there can be criticism of such lovely volumes, it is that in trying to squeeze too much in (captions are dense with information), the type size will strain the eyes of the aging baby boomers who find this building type irresistible. Lawrence Kreisman is program director of Historic Seattle and author of "Made To Last: Historic Preservation in Seattle and King County."
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