Are you looking for a unique bungalow design? Working with a small to medium-size budget and a large amount of space? The Guggenheim Museum and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (where I work) may offer you what you need.
The Guggenheim Museum features a large number of Spanish Colonial bungalows and craftsman homes, as well as many others. Working with such a limited amount of space and making sure your home fits in with the museum’s focus? You may want to look into the Spanish Colonial bungalow. It is simply 696 square feet long, and yet manages to fit in with both a large museum and a large number of homes, featuring vaulted ceilings, beautiful details, and private porches off of Bedroom 1 (the bungalow on Cape Cod that you are closest to).
I love the way architects create bungalows in the American South. They often begin with a simple square or rectangle-shaped lot, and add on to the design through windows, doors, and other architectural details. The rooms themselves tend to be simple, with the exception of a larger bedroom or living area, but they can include such features as a large kitchen or dining area. The beauty of this type of design is the detail added, not so much in the rooms themselves, but rather, in how they relate to the museum itself. As you may have guessed, the buildings in the vicinity of the museum are usually very early American, and reflect the life of the early settlers of the region.
Other bungalow styles are more transitional, existing within a variety of architectural styles from earlier American south central California cities like San Diego and Sacramento. This style is sometimes referred to as “Celtic” architecture. In these buildings, the floors are typically painted a lighter color, with wood trim being a more earth toned shade of brown. Often times, there are exposed wooden rafters or portions of stone on the lower floor. The upper floors are often light in color, with the walls, floors, and even roofs being constructed out of redwood, or other similarly colored materials.
One other distinctive style of bungalow is the “pueblo” design. This architectural style is characterized by wide open porches, open balconies (often decorated with flags, figurines, or other southwest decor), large porches (usually decorated with Mexican pottery and ornaments), and often, large trellises or ladders that provide a unique look. These structures were commonly built by the Spanish in southern California, as well as in the southwestern part of the United States. They have a very rustic charm about them, especially the open balconies, but can also be very elegant when completed in the correct style.
All of the above mentioned styles have a different look when compared to the traditional bungalow, as they are a bit more transitional in structure. They all have a common element, however – the large porches, which add an artistic flair to any home. When constructed correctly, they can create a distinctive look, especially when compared to the traditional California bungalows. Now, you just need to learn about the different styles of construction available in the state of California!
