During our 6 year journey trying to figure out what in the world to do with our kitchen, we stumbled across Hansen Living’s freestanding kitchen cabinets and storage solutions. It was something we both (gasp) liked. The cabinets were designed by Danish architect Knud Knapper after studying the way professional chefs use a kitchen.

The clean lines, solid wood construction, craftsmanship and attention to detail are right at home with Arts & Crafts philosophy. My taste in kitchens leans a little more modern than what is typically found in a bungalow. These cabinets are a good compromise.

I met with Susan Serra, kitchen designer and the US rep for Hansen Living, last summer in New York City. We hit it off immediately. She offered suggestions and I loved all of them.

The cabinets are even more beautiful in person and so finely crafted that they resemble a piece of furniture. I left the meeting with Susan Serra super excited and ready to start planning our new kitchen in the fall.

Then the economy turned and we decided to wait. David was laid off from his job. Our kitchen fund is now our pay the mortgage and buy groceries fund.

But, I am still so in love with Hansen Living. This white kitchen in a historic Copenhagen apartment is what started it all. As soon as I saw these pictures I was smitten.

The pieces are freestanding, so theoretically, you can pack your kitchen up and take it with you when you move.

I hope we will be able to remodel our kitchen sooner rather than later. In the mean time, I will continue to dream…

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I woke up happy today. Things might not always go my way but I am always grateful for my husband, family, friends and our little Los Angeles bungalow.

I wish you a heartfelt Happy Valentine’s Day.

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I have spent an enjoyable morning drooling over the work of New York City architectural firm Peter Pennoyer Architects. I love his kitchens and found so many inspiring ideas.

I have always dreamed of a rolling library ladder in my kitchen. Although, considering our kitchen’s small size, that might not be practical.

I like the tile floor in the kitchen below. It has a fun 1920’s feel.

Hopefully, I’ll soon have the kitchen of my dreams. In the mean time, I’ll enjoy the kitchens of someone else’s dreams.

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I have joined a group of bloggers who will be detailing our efforts to finally get organized over the coming year. Our group began in January, but being a little disorganized (ok, a LOT disorganized) I wrote my first post today.

Hopefully, my mother is still speaking to me.

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Adam Janeiro is a Los Angeles real estate agent who specializes in older homes. He was kind enough to indulge my curiosity about buying and selling older homes, and the impact of the economy on the real estate market in Los Angeles’ historic neighborhoods.

1. 1912 Bungalow: You seem to have a passion for older homes. Where did that start?
Adam Janeiro: I grew up in Oakland California. My parents were teachers and we would often summer elsewhere. I was energized by Manhattan and bored by Montana. I was powerfully drawn to cities. On weekends, I would take BART to San Francisco, exit a station and begin walking, without plan or destination. Later, I realized I was most often drawn to those sections of the city wherein the buildings were oldest.

2. 1912 Bungalow: You work in a niche market, representing buyers and sellers of older homes. Are there any differences within this market compared to the traditional real estate market?
Adam Janeiro: The neighborhoods (wherein older homes are found) often feature a more complex web of uses, which create greater differences over smaller areas. This requires navigation and an understanding that often transcends the immediate visual experience. Also, value is often vested—or realized differently.

A thorough knowledge of the styles are essential too, because the thing that is the most unusual frequently holds the most value. An agent has to be able to identify and quantify those elements to which the most value is attached. Certain alterations, celebrated elsewhere, might have grave re-sale implications in historic districts.

3. 1912 Bungalow: You run a wonderful blog, Recentering El Pueblo. First of all, what does Recentering El Plueblo mean? What prompted you to start your blog?
Adam Janeiro: Los Angeles, and certainly the Los Angeles real estate industry, tends to be very West-centric; yet, the historic center of the city (of the Pueblo) lies elsewhere. It began not as a marketing tool—nicely it’s become a bit of one—but as an intellectual regimen, a discipline.

4. 1912 Bungalow: What is the biggest misconception about the real estate market right now?

Adam Janeiro: The biggest misconception concerns inventory. Inventory while abundant in some markets is sorely lacking in quality. Real estate reporting is frequently focused on quantity, rather than quality.

5. 1912 Bungalow: Are people putting off buying a home because they are waiting for home prices to drop further? Are people afraid to buy?
Adam Janeiro: Some are delaying, some are afraid, others are licking their chops. Some homeowners are also putting off selling too.

6. 1912 Bungalow: What advice do you have for home owners looking to sell in today’s market?
Adam Janeiro: I give different advice to each and every client, based on their singular life situation, including not to sell or not to buy—or to buy at once and sell now.

However, if one is truly interested in buying pre war housing stock (particularly pre WWI), one needs to look in all market climates and let opportunity be the driver. Because the number of available fully realized houses, with a high degree of original fabric, and sensitive, system updates, is often quite limited. I’ve represented many a buyer and seller on properties with three or four title changes in 100 years. I’ve a listing upcoming for a property owned continuously by one family since it was constructed in 1912. The inventory doesn’t always cooperate with whim, demand or macro economics.

7. 1912 Bungalow: In your experience, what are the things that most buyers desire or look for when shopping for an older home?
Adam Janeiro: Integrity, that is, a high degree of originality; and, a sympathetic context. Some degree of conformity, some basis for district status.

8. 1912 Bungalow: What are the biggest mistakes homeowners make when upgrading older homes? (Changes that decrease the resale value of their home)
Adam Janeiro: One—stucco over wood siding. Two—window replacement.

9. 1912 Bungalow: Lets say you just bought an older home and it needs some work, or maybe a lot of work. Where should you spend the money?
Adam Janeiro: Water is the destroyer of homes, and its occurrence must be managed; be it, a good roof, grading or gutters or French drains, supply lines and drains.

10. 1912 Bungalow: You have been restoring your own bungalow. What are some of the projects that you have tackled? Do you have any house projects going on right now?
Adam Janeiro: The list is too numerous. In December I’ll install a copper drip edge and continue some weather proofing projects using rigid insulation. I often experiment with products, if only to discuss applications with clients. In fact, I’m hoping to acquire a preservation worthy property—a project house in 2009, to continue my mission and my education.

Thanks Adam!

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   Our Favorite DIY Resources Salvage Yards & Architectural Salvage in Los Angeles
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We put together a DIY City Guide: Los Angeles of our favorite resources for our friends at Charles & Hudson.

Here is a little preview:

Favorite Salvage Yards & Architectural Salvage
Santa Fe Wrecking Company
1600 S. Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021, on the corner of Santa Fe Ave and Olympic Blvd in downtown Los Angeles, ph: 213.623.3119.
They have a large supply of doors, cast iron tubs, toilets and sinks.

Silverlake Architectural Salvage
1085 Manzanita St, Los Angeles, CA 90029, between Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd, ph: 323.667.2875.
A real gem. Their inventory is constantly changing. They have furniture, built-ins, light fixtures, a large supply of doors and over sized windows, hardware, and bath fixtures. They will negotiate on price.

Pasadena Architectural Salvage
30 S. San Gabriel Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, ph: 626.535.9655
Inventory includes mantels, lighting, stained glass, iron work, plumbing fixtures, door & window hardware and furniture representing the Arts & Crafts, Spanish Revival, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods.

Freeway Building Materials
1124 S. Boyle Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90023, at Opal St. between 7th and 8th Streets, ph: 323.261.8904.
This place was featured on season 2 of “Top Design” and is a favorite of Hollywood prop masters and set designers. Large supply of doors, stained glass windows, door knobs, old brick, flagstones, lumber and unusual objects. The prices are negotiable.

Olde Good Things
1800 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015, ph: 213.746.8600.
Architectural antiques, artifacts and oddities. It is worth a trip. I go here if I am looking for something out of the ordinary to decorate a room. I find their prices on the higher side.

Visit Charles & Hudson to see more recommendations!

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I recently ran across several original images of bungalows that I had saved. Enjoy!

Postcard of a California bungalow

Photograph of a California bungalow featured in the Wilson plan book that was published in 1908.

The Wilson plan book states: “This six-room bungalow has cobblestone chimney and porch balustrade, cement porch steps, shingled roof and gables and re-sawed siding walls. A disappearing bed receptacle is thus provided, which can be utilized from either the bedroom or the den, as owner may prefer. The house can be built for $2000, including the bed.”

I am intrigued by the disappearing bed. I wish our house had one.

Bungalow with upstairs rooms

Photograph of an early Los Angeles, CA bungalow

Photograph of a New Jersey bungalow taken in 1914

Tiny California bungalow with a cat sitting on the front porch

Postcard of Whittier, CA bungalow that is almost completely covered with vines

If you look closely at the above photo, you will see a man wearing a top hat standing in front of the house.

Los Angeles Bungalow from the Wilson plan book

Wilson plan book states: “This is a typical Bungalow, with a low roof, broken by long shed dormer, wide overhanging eaves and gables, battened side walls to the belt course, exposed chimney and fine large front porch. It is 30 feet by 52 feet over all, and can be built for about $1900.”

Another Los Angeles bungalow from the Wilson plan book

“For a six-room house, perhaps this is the plan which I most frequently suggest, and it has never failed to bear out my recommendation. Its exterior is massive, solid and artistic. The broad span of the front, the heavy cobblestone pillars, foundation walls and exposed chimney, in connection with overhanging eaves and shed-roof, all add artistic beauty.”

I couldn’t agree more. This house could be built for around $2350 in 1906.

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I have pulled these photos from multiple sources over the past 6 years while dreaming of remodeling our bungalow kitchen. If these photos have a theme, I would say it is the natural wood tones of the cabinets.

A small kitchen in a Gothic church that has been converted into a home. Look at those windows!

Above is the kitchen of a famous restauranteur (his name escapes me). I adore the black and white tile floor and the cast iron, peg leg sink.

Different view of the restauranteur’s kitchen. The wood farmhouse table is used as a workspace as well as a seating area. A plate rack covers the walls on each side of the cast iron sink.

I like the tile floor and all the counter space in this kitchen. It has a vintage feel yet appears very functional with adequate storage and work space.

The above kitchen features subway tile walls, open shelving, wall mounted plate rack and a center work island.

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I photographed the kitchen cupboards of a 1911 bungalow a few years back and saved them for the day when we remodel our kitchen.

What I like is the vast expanse of storage. It was difficult to photograph because the cupboards filled the whole wall.

This cupboard was built into the corner.

Bottom cupboards. The middle cupboard had a hinged bottom and was a flour bin.

See more bungalow kitchens!

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Martha, Martha, Martha. I LOVE this kitchen! The grayish taupe walls, the expanses of white marble and the beautiful cabinetry…I am drooling. Ms. Stewart recently posted new pictures of this kitchen on her blog.

Look at this display case. Glass on 3 sides gives it an open, airy feeling. I also like all the little touches of metal throughout the room; from the clock, to the warming drawers and the little metal knobs on the cupboards.

One benefit of owning several homes is being able to design completely different kitchens.

This kitchen features natural wood tones, open shelving and white subway tiles.

I really like the look of dishes stacked on open shelving. Although, I wonder how practical that is day to day with dust and animal fur? It might not be the best choice for earthquake prone Los Angeles.

I love all the storage and drawers in this kitchen.

I like the sinks with gooseneck faucets.

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