Expert: Rikki Nyman - 10/24/2008

Question
Hi. I bought this house three years ago. It's from about 1925 in Westchester,
NY. Every piece of lumber inside the house (including casings, stair treads,
etc) have the name of a lumber yard in Chicago and a contact name for
someone in my town. Could this be a kit house? Would it be considered a
craftsman bungalow? There are no numbers on any of the beams -- just the
stenciled name and contact info.  Many thanks.

Michael

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27482397@N05/2969011021/  

Answer
Hi Michael -

Sweet house! It's representative of the incredible diversity of the 1920s, but I wouldn't call it a Craftsman bungalow.

I tend to be something of a purist with respect to the term bungalow. That is, it's a bungalow if it has an open floor plan, big porches, easy access to the outdoors, lots of light and cross ventilation.

That said, writers of the 1920s would have called it a bungalow. If you're curious, you can read Chapter One of The Bungalow House by Charles E. White, a prominent residential architect of the period. (http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/primary-sources/bungalow-white.htm)

Craftsman style generally refers to the Craftsman-style bungalows with the porches and knee brackets and exposed rafters. Antique Home & Style has a whole section on various styles, so that might help you define your home more easily.

During the 20s, styles became much more eclectic. There were so many influences converging at that time, it's probably accurate to say that the vast majority of homes were a combination of several styles.

You can easily see the Craftsman influence in your house in the battered columns at the corners of the small room at the front of your house. My guess is that would have originally been a sun room or porch. The story and a half, interior layout, and craftsmanship are very bungalowish.

The modern elements that move it out of the Craftsman-style bungalow category are the narrow eaves, the taller, narrower windows, and the clipped gabling on the roof.

I tend to call these types of houses eclectic cottages. It's definitely a transitional type. But your instincts about its parentage are right on the mark.

As for whether it's a kit, it's possible but not likely. What is the name of the lumber yard in Chicago? I would be happy to check my resources and see if anything pops up. Any names would be a big help.

Hope this helps!  By the way, your stove is gorgeous! Nice score!

Best regards,
Rikki Nyman
Editor, www.antiquehomestyle.com