Bungalow Kitchens

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but sometimes impratical
Review: "Bungalow Kitchens" offers an outstanding historical perspective on the use and layout of the kitchen in bungalow homes. As someone who is in the process of restoration/rennovation of a 1920s bungalow I found the suggestions for restoration a bit unforgiving however. I felt the breakdown on restoration ideas into the two catagories of "obsessive" and "compromise" to be a good idea for presenting rennovation ideas. However, even the compromise ideas seem to be impratical for someone who will continue to use their bungalow kitchen frequently. I had hoped the author would have dedicated more time towards rennovating bungalow kitchens using materials of the present day. A more complete discussion of maintaining the character of the bungalow kitchen using modern materials and amenities would have been more useful to those of us embarking on a "semi-restoration" effort.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but sometimes impratical
Review: "Bungalow Kitchens" offers an outstanding historical perspective on the use and layout of the kitchen in bungalow homes. As someone who is in the process of restoration/rennovation of a 1920s bungalow I found the suggestions for restoration a bit unforgiving however. I felt the breakdown on restoration ideas into the two catagories of "obsessive" and "compromise" to be a good idea for presenting rennovation ideas. However, even the compromise ideas seem to be impratical for someone who will continue to use their bungalow kitchen frequently. I had hoped the author would have dedicated more time towards rennovating bungalow kitchens using materials of the present day. A more complete discussion of maintaining the character of the bungalow kitchen using modern materials and amenities would have been more useful to those of us embarking on a "semi-restoration" effort.

Rating:
Summary: Bungalow Kitchens
Review: As a bugalow owner and enthusiast, I found this book very enjoyable. The photographs are beautiful and the historical information on the evolution of the kitchen is very interesting. If a kitchen remodel is in your future, the author discusses treatment of all elements in a kitchen and utilizes a 2-category system to recommend restoration options: Obsessive Restoration and Compromise Solutions. In general, I found Compromise Solutions to be most practical, however, these suggestions were even a bit non-forgiving of modern conveniences. While the book espouses that it is "the ultimate guidebook to preserving the beauty and integrity of the past while adapting it to the utilitarian values of the present", few present-day values are acceptable to the author. Heaven forbid if you use solid surfacing on your counters. While perhaps not stylistically accurate, many new materials are utilized in a manner consistent with the spirit of original bungalow design and habitation: efficiency and practicality. Many can actually be made to resemble elements of a period kitchen. As a pseudo-preservationist, even I don't want to cook on a dirty cast-iron stove, and chop my vegetables on a beat-up 75-year old wooden counter!

Rating:
Summary: Bungalow Kitchens
Review: As a bugalow owner and enthusiast, I found this book very enjoyable. The photographs are beautiful and the historical information on the evolution of the kitchen is very interesting. If a kitchen remodel is in your future, the author discusses treatment of all elements in a kitchen and utilizes a 2-category system to recommend restoration options: Obsessive Restoration and Compromise Solutions. In general, I found Compromise Solutions to be most practical, however, these suggestions were even a bit non-forgiving of modern conveniences. While the book espouses that it is "the ultimate guidebook to preserving the beauty and integrity of the past while adapting it to the utilitarian values of the present", few present-day values are acceptable to the author. Heaven forbid if you use solid surfacing on your counters. While perhaps not stylistically accurate, many new materials are utilized in a manner consistent with the spirit of original bungalow design and habitation: efficiency and practicality. Many can actually be made to resemble elements of a period kitchen. As a pseudo-preservationist, even I don't want to cook on a dirty cast-iron stove, and chop my vegetables on a beat-up 75-year old wooden counter!

Rating:
Summary: An indispensable resource
Review: As an interior designer working in home restoration, I'm constantly searching through books and magazines to find answers to my clients' questions about period kitchens. This book has all the answers - not just about bungalow kitchens, but also those in other styles of period houses. I especially appreciate the fact that both the "Obsessive Restoration" and "Compromise Solution" sections focus on how it would have been done originally. There's enough information in other places to tell us how to build modern kitchens - in fact, we're overwhelmed by it! It's obvious the author has a love and respect for original styles and her take on kitchen restoration is something that's been sorely lacking until this book. In addition, "Bungalow Kitchens" is a lot of fun to read and the pictures illustrate beautifully the points that are being made. I don't know how I got along without this book!

Rating:
Summary: An indispensable resource
Review: As an interior designer working in home restoration, I'm constantly searching through books and magazines to find answers to my clients' questions about period kitchens. This book has all the answers - not just about bungalow kitchens, but also those in other styles of period houses. I especially appreciate the fact that both the "Obsessive Restoration" and "Compromise Solution" sections focus on how it would have been done originally. There's enough information in other places to tell us how to build modern kitchens - in fact, we're overwhelmed by it! It's obvious the author has a love and respect for original styles and her take on kitchen restoration is something that's been sorely lacking until this book. In addition, "Bungalow Kitchens" is a lot of fun to read and the pictures illustrate beautifully the points that are being made. I don't know how I got along without this book!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Source of Ideas for Remodeling a Bungalow Kitchen
Review: I bought this book to get ideas on renovating my 1930 bungalow kitchen. Although the book focuses more on restoration than renovation, I still found it a wonderful source of ideas. Filled with lots of full color pictures of restored and well-preserved kitchens, the book is worth its price for the pictures alone.

The text covers both historic and current issues and is a wealth of information. Each section of the book has a chapter called "Obsessive Restoration" for those serious about historic integrity, but also offers a "Compromise Solution" for those of us who need to balance 21st century demands.

We found the book extremely valuable in picking layout, hardware, appliances, cabinets, and flooring. It really helped us to design a kitchen that meets the needs of a modern family, yet which blends in with the historic values of our home.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best guidebook available on the subject to date.
Review: In Bungalow Kitchens, Jane Powell and Linda Svendsen have successfully collaborated to create, quite simply, the best guidebook available today for preserving the beauty and integrity of yesteryear's bungalow kitchen while adapting it to the utilitarian values and conveniences of today. Every aspect is covered from plumbing to windows to shelving to electrification. What the remodeling householder needs to know about contractors and subcontractors is also informatively dealt with. Highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating an upgrade or modernization of their bungalow kitchen facilities, Jane Powell's informative and detailed text is superbly enhanced by Linda Svendsen photography showcasing bungalow kitchen examples throughout.

Rating:
Summary: Compromise solutions too uncompromising?
Review: It was my feeling that there were so many voices already urging people toward modern materials (Pergo, Corian, recessed downlights, etc.)that it was not necessary for me to be one of them. Pick up any shelter magazine with an article titled "Arts and Crafts Kitchen" and you will see all the modern materials you can possibly imagine. I believe in materials which have stood the test of time- no one knows how well a laminate floor will hold up after 80 or 90 years, but we have a pretty good idea of how a well cared for wood floor will hold up, and ceramic tile has been in use for centuries. I don't believe in using materials which will have to be replaced every ten or twenty years.I realize other people may have different opinions, but they weren't writing the book. In large part I wanted the book to be a resource for people who were doing serious restoration, since there is very little information on this subject. There are many other kitchen books and publications addressing modern materials.

Rating:
Summary: A must read before you remodel your old kitchen
Review: My first impression was WOW! Here is a book for anyone who has an old house to remodel. These kitchens will fit into any house older than 1950. Bungalow doesn't begin to say it all. My son is remodeling a Californis Arts and Crafts house with obsessive zeal,whereas, my goal is just to get the feel of an old house in a new addition to a two hundred year old cape in Maine. Read the book from cover to cover.