Monday, April 19, 2010

Humble Bungalow dining room images as requested.

Humble Bungalow dining room east view.





Window dressing and bench seat cushions.
You can read about these in the previous post.


South wall and buffet.




West wall with bungalow built ins, a classic feature in the arts and crafts home.


Shelves, glass fronted cupboards, and an angled bevelled mirror 
are details of our 1913 heritage bungalow dining room.

The Bungalow has dark douglas fir panelling and is quite a small home, hence my decision to name it The Humble Bungalow. 
A working man and family would have been installed here eeking out a living and perhaps tending a vegetable garden in the yard.
It is 2010, and the Bungalow stands, a testament to a bygone era of simplicity and honest living and the garden is very fertile and plantings thrive.

We have attempted to improve and update the Bungalow maintaining the architectural integrity and restoring her to a functioning family home.
We are bucking the tide in many ways...
most people that we know have large homes with room to sprawl and great rooms for entertaining.
I suppose this might be our retirement home...downsized before need be!


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just spent the last two hours reading your blog from the beginning to the present... and I have to say....I am amazed and awed and so proud and honoured.....to call you my BFF. Hugs....S

mette said...

Interior design comes first in my interests. I have actually helped some along with their decorating. I appreciate the fact, that you have adjusted the furniture and other interior design elements to the style of the house. I believe that the house itself and the surroundings rule the decorating. Once that part is clear, one might add something unexpected or take away something obvious.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Anonymous-Greetings to my BFF I am glad that you stopped by. You are welcome anytime! I am happy that you are following!

Metscan-I am interested in your opinion here...Mr. HB is the architect, and I defer to his expertise...there are things I would like to change but I know that we are stewards of something bigger so I express myself in other areas like fashion and plantings! What would you remove?

Duchesse said...

I admire the principles at work here! Here, so many bungalows are torn down and people build to every inch of the lot, big monstrosities. The architecture thee 21st century is placing in my city's neighbourhoods is for the most part pathetic.

the gardener's cottage said...

Hi Leslie,

So glad you posted these pics. You've told me before that your house is dark and now I see why! That gorgeous panelling is to die for. I love that you are true to the house in your decoration of it. LOVE the drapes and window bench seat. I bet it's magical on a cold winter night with candlelight. Really beautiful. You must feel like you need sunglasses looking at my house!



~janet

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

duchesse-there are a lot of historic homes that suffer such neglect that they get torn down, it takes a huge amount of money and energy for restoration. I can see why developers start from scratch!

Janet-I do not need sunglasses to enjoy your space! I love your decor and someday I may have a brighter spot, a cottage has been on my mind...maybe even a garden shed to have as a playroom!!
Our home does have an ambiance at night and candles do get a lot of play here...lighting is dim and winter can feel long and dark. It is our home and we are happy living within these walls.

materfamilias said...

I admire your aesthetic, especially your respect for the integrity of the home. (and your cleverness in getting the look you want through perseverance, frugality, and carefully acquired skills)
We've similarly opted to stay small although we do have fairly large space for entertaining (open plan through living-eating-cooking areas). Like you, I'm pleased that we've done away with the need to down-size, having never upped!

mette said...

Hostess: I´d really have to see your home properly. But since you asked: Edit ! The one thing I see clearly, is the dining room table. Do you really need all the chairs ? I´d remove the tablecloth and arrange something different on the table. Maybe a simple largish glass vase with cut flowers. OK. I´ll stop, before you decide to part from my list of`followers´. Your house is fine and really so you, and don´t forget, that I and my ideas come from another culture :)

CashmereLibrarian said...

Hi! I just found your blog and am writing to say that I love your house! I also live in a cottage and am particularly struck by your garden. Please keep the photos coming!
I am loving spring and watching my garden come to life...

Frugal Scholar said...

I don't have to downsize either. I love my house, but I know that the next owner will gut it and add on. We have a largish lot, which will attract people who want a big house.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

metscan-I smile as I type this, the chairs are there because they have no where else to go! Honest and truly they would need to go outside on the deck in the weather, our home is so tiny...no storage.
I can take the lace cloth off and will find a vase and put something in it and take a photo. I just need to get some flowers...
I am happy to hear these ideas...MR.HB ALWAYS asks me to remove the cloth! (he has the architect's eye!)

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

materfamilias-it is a comfort to know that there is no pressure to move and downsize. I do envy your entertaining space...we had a party with 50 and it was standing room only!

cashmere librarian-I am so glad that you found me! I'll be visiting you now.

frugal scholar-that large lot is an investment in your future! You obviously know value when you see it!

Tanna said...

Greetings! I live in a 1913 Arts and Crafts Bungalow also. You blog is so fun for me to read! Ours had already had some of the wood painted over, and I have left it painted instead of stripping it to the original (because of the darkness). I do so love the old homes!!