Having sold this craftsman bungalow at 18 Dyer Ave, Milton, in November of 2020, I thought it fits for the subject of my first blog. Throughout Milton, there are bungalows that dot the streets that were developed usually between 1900 and 1920, which was when they became popular to build in the Northeast and United States. The Bungalow was born borrowing from an architectural culture in India, which promoted a far more functional, livable housing concept than the more ornate style of the Victorian era of Europe, which was widely used prior to 1900.
The “Craftsman Bungalow” is really the merging of two architectural terms I will explain here.
The Bungalow:
Built low and wide with low slung rooves, often gabled, that hang out over the exterior sidewalls, many with exposed rafter tails. The design of these rooves, while adding the appearance of a larger footprint, allows for more protective coverage from the weather. Many of these homes, especially in warmer climates, were built with a broad front porch and were supported by “bungalow columns,” which were a square or rounded tapered design from bottom to top. This Bungalow on Dyer Ave was built with “shed” windows with the largest protruding from the second floor, three more in view here from the front and side of the house with a matching roofline over the enclosed front porch. Notice the decorative braces under the first-floor windows.
The Arts and Crafts movement (as it pertains to bungalow-style homes):
The Craftsman Style was developed as a response to the industrial revolution where many thought the process of using machinery was degrading to the skilled craftsman who had spent generations engrossing themselves into their craft where pride-in-work was of utmost importance and part of their very identity.
Many Arts and Crafts homes share these traits:
- Structural “authenticity”: exposed beams, strong posts, rafters that extend past the roofline
- Simplicity: open floor plans with built-ins, smooth surfaces, lack of intricate carving
- Native materials: wood (especially oak), locally sourced stone, stucco, brick
- Natural influences: earth tones, attention to wood grain, decorative items made of shell or bone
- The hand of the artist: hand hammered metals, handmade tile, embracing of imperfections
- Emphasis on home life: dim, homey, glowing interiors, prominent fireplaces, art glass to soften light
So, the next time you ride down your street, or your sitting at the next stoplight, take notice of the houses around you; sitting low between the Tudors, multi-families, and colonials, you may find that smart, stylish, understated Bungalow since they’re so low key they are often overlooked until you study them in earnest and see how charming they really are.
My name is Jeanine Meehan. I am a real estate agent for Neponset River Real Estate, a volunteer for the Neponset River Waterway Association, and a member of the Milton Chamber of Commerce and Milton Historical Society. Please peruse the real estate market offerings and use the Contact Me form to reach out for assistance with any real estate venture in or around Milton.