Example of a cozy 1928 Bungalow interior

[vitanola]

Here are some interior photos taken of an Iowa City, IA bungalow shortly after its completion in 1928. Note the bare plaster walls. IN the days of three-coat wet plaster it was recommended that plaster walls be allowed to "season" for a year or two before being covered with paper or enamel paints. Distemper or Kalsomine was sometimes used, as it was vapor permeable, but many homeowners were suspicious of even these coatings.



Looks like a lovely place to curl up with a good book!







It appears that there was some intention of finishing the attic at a future date.

The kitchen certainly appeared to be up-to-date. This room would be quite functional even today, and rather easier to keep clean than most modern kitchens:






Cozy breakfast nook:

 

[David Conwill]

I'll take it!

Seriously, I have a dream of someday building a new bungalow on a lake somewhere in northern Michigan.

 

[vitanola]

Comfortable bedchambers:





Here is the exterior of the house, a fairly ordinary bungalow (or semi-bungalow, what with that bonus half-story upstairs) of the period:



The living room a few years later:


Note the simple tone-on-tone wallpaper with a very subtle pattern, and the new Electrola, a Victor RE-45, which appears to have replaced the 1926 model Atwater Kent battery radio shown in the earlier photos.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Many houses of this style still around in Louisville. I rented one just exactly like this back in my early days.

 

[Foxer55]

David Conwill.

Seriously, I have a dream of someday building a new bungalow on a lake somewhere in northern Michigan.

Don't we all?

 

[Stearmen]

Bungalows were very popular here. Most have had their attics made into living space. That was the great thing about them, allowing for future expansion, without the high cost of a new roof to pop up! Here is a phot of one of ours for sale right now. Unfortunately, expensive, and on one of the busiest intersections, I had to yell at my realtor on the front porch, not because I was mad at him, it was just that loud! A real shame.

 

[MPicciotto]

Quite a few in my home neighborhood remain. Some have had the front porches creatively enclosed with paneling and windows to match the curves and elephant foot posts. Also interestingly "bungalow" brings to mind small but I've been in some that had to exceed 2000 sq ft.

Did not know that about letting the plaster cure for a year.

Matt

 

[HudsonHawk]

There is a neighborhood here in Houston called the "Heights", in which 1920's-30's bungalows are very popular. Even the homes built in the last 10 years are all in that style. They are also VERY expensive, going for up to 10 times the price of "regular" houses. Most, unfortunately, have been updated inside, and few look like the above pictures, perhaps save the front door or floors.

 

[BigFitz]

There are many of these style homes where I live and several for sale at cheap prices. Unfortunately, most are in areas that I would worry about being broken into while at work, or worse while at home.

 

[St. Louis]

Every house on my street was built in 1929. In my neighborhood, in fact, there are rows & rows of late 20s and early 30s bungalows, though I think they're all much smaller than this one ( I live in south St. Louis.)

These photos are wonderful & very inspiring -- thanks so much for posting them! They make me think that my own attempt at decorating my house back to about 1939 may be too cluttered. I just wish I could see these images at a greater magnification so I could really study the details.

 

[Sylvesterd]

Great Photos- thanks for posting

 

[Shangas]

Where I live was largely developed in the 1920s. We have a number of these style of bungalows, and larger two-storey homes in the area, all dating from the 1920s and 30s.

At the ends of my street, there's one old bungalow of the 20s period, and at the other, a house (since renovated) of the Edwardian period. I went into that house when it was put up for sale. Let's just say that renovating it was probably the best thing that ever happened to it. It'd probably been sitting there for the better part of 100 years, and it looked like it. The interior was a mess.

Whoever bought the house had it repainted, and repaired a lot of the issues, like the windows, the cracks...they tore down the old picket fence (which was on its last legs, anyway), and replaced it with a period-style wrought-iron fenc and gate.

 

[Rookie1]

Nice looking house. Looks similar to our house Sears house that was built by my wifes Grandfather in 1921. Here is a link to what looks like yours. Thanks for sharing.http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/images/1927-1932/1927_p13049a-p13049b.jpg

 

[AtomicEraTom]

The interior looks a lot like a house we lived in in Milwaukee.

 

[CataWhatas]

Looks a lot like ours! But, house was built in 1870 something, and it was converted to a triplex before we got it, so I can't say for sure what style we have. Lovely built ins - now with Plexiglas as the glass was very fragile and we have 5 young boys and 4 big dogs. Most of the moulding was intact, total pain to strip 9 layers of paint, but oh so worth the lovely oak that doesn't show every last smudge. Wood and slate floors, again a mess to fix (erm, might have been worse as I was 8 months pregnant and chasing after a wound up 4 year old who loved the room to run). No plaster left, but oh well. I prefer the fuses to go out if I turned on one lamp when the washer was running. And I have issues with leaky plumbing. I'm fussy like that.

Can't say we have the nice furniture yet, but I do like the fact I don't have to worry what the kids and dogs are destroying this time.