Respect home’s architectural integrity during renovation

The bungalow-style home has always fascinated me, not least because of its origins. Bungalows may seem typically, even uniquely, American in their styling, but their name actually derives from the Hindi word for a small, one-story home.

As real estate values soared, many vintage bungalows built between 1900 and 1940 were converted into more comfortable homes outfitted with contemporary conveniences. But some of these renovations were taken to the point where they disrespected the bungalow's architectural integrity, which often shows influences of the American Arts and Crafts movement. These types of homes were never meant to be luxuriously appointed minimansions.

Examples of tasteful makeovers are included in "The New Bungalow Kitchen," a Taunton Press book by architect Peter LeBau. It offers smart suggestions for remodeling, often by enlarging rooms while at the same time retaining the precepts of the bungalow style.

Q: We're planning to tear down the walls separating the kitchen, dining room and living room in our small home. The functions of the original areas will remain unchanged, but they'll now be part of a single multipurpose space. In a larger and newer home, the open interior would be referred to as a great room.

Can you suggest some ways to integrate the three sections visually?

A: Tearing down the walls offers many advantages -- aesthetic as well as practical -- but now I'm going to suggest you rebuild one or two, though only in part.

Separations between the various segments of a multipurpose space are important not only functionally but also in order to provide some privacy.

A kitchen area, for example, can be partially shielded from the rest of the space by installing a work island with a backsplash taller than counter height. Pendant lighting can be suspended over the island for work purposes and also to create visual demarcation.

A different but still similar approach is shown in the accompanying photo from LeBau's book. It's a design that can be adapted to your own space, regardless of whether it includes well-situated windows.

This portion of a multipurpose space has itself been made to accommodate more than one function. A seating/dining area was constructed here with the addition of a banquette and bookcase, although the shelving need not reach all the way to the ceiling and the table can be whatever shape and size you prefer.

Please note that this renovation preserves distinctive features of the bungalow interior -- wood trim around the windows, for instance, as well as hardwood flooring. Many bungalows also included built-in furniture and an earth-tone palette. So you can see that this remodeling does remain true to the original style in many ways.

Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at rsca@ritastclair.com.