The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, always hyped on retaining the original beauty and character of the homes in the bungalow belt, is hosting “Practical Interior Design Solutions for the Chicago Bungalow” at two local libraries in October. Interior designer Maribeth Brewer will teach bungalow buyers how to undo heinous remodeling by previous owners and teach bungalow-appropriate design on a budget.
Gapers Block tells us that the seminar will teach design elements that are respectful of bungalow architecture as well as “convenient and asthetically pleasing to one’s day-to-day activities.” So if you feel like vomiting a little every time you see that wrought iron railing by your front stairs or those hideous plastic planters under the windows, head out to the 7 p.m. seminar on Oct. 3 at the Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S Halsted St, or the North Side version, on Oct. 5 at Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, also at 7 p.m. Seminars will run about an hour and a half. Register by e-mailing the HCBI. For a headstart, visit the group’s guidelines page for tips on acceptable design.
In more bungalow news (we’ve always wanted to say that)…the HCBA is also hosting “Bungalows by Bus,” a four-hour bus tour of bungalows in McKinley Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn and Chatham. The tour also will take in a historic district and a model block of “green” bungalows. The $30 tour runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will begin at the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s ArchiCenter shop, 224 S Michigan Ave.
The HCBA is hosting another library series in November titled “Researching the History of Your Bungalow,” which will teach bungalow owners how to find out all of the nasty or not-so-nasty secrets about their homes. HCBA Project Director Emily Ramsey will help homeowners discover how to use building permits, deeds, Census information, fire insurance maps and other documents to piece together a home’s history and its previous owners.
And don’t forget, the Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo
will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Merchandise Mart.