Bungalow Kitchens

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.

Rating:
Summary: Historic kitchens in a modern world.
Review: The kitchen was, and is, the most complex room in the house. The demands placed on it in the early 20th century are nothing compared to the demands placed on it today. Then, it was a workroom, a utilitarian space. Now, we not only expect it to be functional, but to serve as a gathering place for family and guests, a status symbol, a place for projects, and a vehicle for self-expression. The kitchen has supplanted the living room as the central place in our homes. Is it possible to have a period kitchen that still meets modern expectations? An exacting restoration of a 1915 kitchen may or may not meet your expectations, depending on how you feel about doing the dishes by hand. Many people desire to have a kitchen that looks like it belongs in their historic house, but would still like to have a dishwasher. There are a lot of complex decisions to be made, and although information about period kitchens was available, it wasn't all in one place, some of it was inaccurate, and everyone working on their kitchen was having to reinvent the wheel. That's why I decided to write this book. After thirteen years of fixing up bungalows, I have amassed a large amount of arcane knowledge about old kitchens ( And by the way, these kitchens were found in all early 20th century houses, not just bungalows). The book is not so much a "how-to" book as a "what-to" book- it doesn't explain how to build cabinets or lay tile, rather it explains what sort of cabinets to build and what kind of tile to lay. And it explains it in copious detail, with lots of photos and drawings, because I am a big believer in too much information. I paid particular attention to issues such as fitting in modern technology like dishwashers and refrigerators because this is the most difficult thing, particularly in existing kitchens. Every chapter has sidebars addressing both obsessive restoration and compromise solutions using more modern materials or methods. I hope the book will become the standard reference on early 20th century kitchen restoration. (She says modestly) A few final comments: I am rather opinionated, so here's a disclaimer: It's your kitchen; you can do whatever you want. However, it's MY book, so I get to say what I think should be done. Also, the book contains puns. If you don't like puns, get over it. Lastly, even if you're not doing the kitchen, the photographs are lovely and so it makes a very fine coffee-table book as well. Regards, Jane Powell (no relation to the actress...)

Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: This book is great encouragement for those homeowners who know they want authentic vintage, but have to deal with current day construction fellas who just don't get it. The authors give many tips on how and where to get what you are looking for. The only drawback is that I was looking for a 1950's looking style, and this book very much focuses on an era before that. Their focus on a style largely from the 1920's has styles and functions somewhat limited to that era. Still it did help me make some remodeling choices, and the photographs are wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: This book is great encouragement for those homeowners who know they want authentic vintage, but have to deal with current day construction fellas who just don't get it. The authors give many tips on how and where to get what you are looking for. The only drawback is that I was looking for a 1950's looking style, and this book very much focuses on an era before that. Their focus on a style largely from the 1920's has styles and functions somewhat limited to that era. Still it did help me make some remodeling choices, and the photographs are wonderful.