Decorating & Design
September 10, 2024
5 Standout Bungalows That Really Wow
We’re experiencing the rise of the humble bungalow. Once looked down on for their cookie-cutter, mass design, homeowners are rediscovering their unique charm. The house style originated in India (the word comes from Bengala), and exploded in popularity in North America in the 19th century. Boomers who may have grown up in a bungalow are now downsizing as owners for practical considerations and accessibility.
The challenge for many designers is often figuring out how to honor a bungalow’s innate character. Scroll down to see how these homeowners put a modern spin on the classic bungalow.
Designer Jaclyn Peters’ Mid-Century Bungalow in Steinbach, Manitoba
Jaclyn Peters and her husband, Mark, bought their fixer-upper in Steinbach, Man., in 2006. Jaclyn had always known about the angular 2,050-square-foot bungalow designed in the shape of a ship. It had been built in 1971 by a naval officer named Tom Ladobruk who, coincidentally, is Jaclyn’s grandfather’s cousin. “It was like a time capsule that hadn’t been touched since 1971,” she says. “My husband convinced me that this house was the one.”
Mark thought the house had good bones and great natural light, and with windows on almost all of the exterior walls, they’d have the feeling of being in nature. They added new floors, ripping out a pony wall between the kitchen and dining area, replacing all the windows, creating a new kitchen and renovating one bathroom.
Throughout the house, the soothing neutral palette is inspired by a wedge-shaped, 50-year-old Manitoba stone fireplace Jaclyn describes as “the heart and soul of this house.” The challenge, was to modernize a ’70s bungalow without erasing its heritage, so Jaclyn quietly referenced mid-century design — consistent threads that make it feel cohesive. Lauryn (left) and Avery love to hang out in front of the fire.
The principal bedroom features custom bedside tables and a wraparound velvet and linen headboard. Click to see more of this bungalow.
Whimsical wallpaper and framed art transform the multipurpose laundry room-office into a fun and functional space.
Brian McCourt’s Bungalow Transformation in Clarkson, Ontario
Rarely has a bungalow looked so cool. In this a three-bedroom bungalow in Clarkson, Ontario west of Toronto, designers Brian McCourt, host of HGTV’s Backyard Builds and Michayla Caughlin opened the attic up and exposed the wood rafters, removed walls and enlarged windows to turn a boxy ’60s bungalow into a bright, sun-filled open concept space perfect for a young family.
Vaulting the ceiling and taking out walls made a massive difference,” Brian says. “I’m so happy we didn’t do an extension.” Blowing out the walls and opening up the ceilings to create a light-filled, airy family home with plenty of space and visual drama and a custom mantel and electric fireplace give the living room a focal point.
The kitchen was the biggest splurge and fixes a common bungalow shortcoming: eight-foot ceilings. The attic was opened up to vault the ceilings over the kitchen, and two new skylights were installed to amplify natural light. “Unused attic space is a huge missed opportunity,” he says. “The cool part is that we changed the architecture without changing the exterior.” For a contemporary spin, budget-friendly vinyl windows are designed to mimic ironwork.
A neutral palette creates a calm and serene vibe in the principal bedroom. Click to see more of this home.
A Ranch Bungalow’s Moody Lower Level In Barrie, Ontario
“Let’s be honest: a basement is not the most glamorous area to renovate,” says designer Ashley Montgomery (pictured). She revamped the lower-level of a 1970s ranch bungalow for restaurateurs Caitlin and Drew Alford. The ask was to update the inviting lower level with guest rooms for visiting family, a bar for entertaining and a lounge-worthy living area.
Walnut paneling in the living area makes a huge impact that’s integral to the overall feel — and the rich wood tone is a perfect companion for the stone fireplace. Though the fireplace now has a gas insert, logs in the nook on the right add rustic charm.
The bar area is kitchenesque and especially moody. “I find darkness adds soul and character to a space,” says Ashley. “And we didn’t just want a throwaway bar in a basement, so we brought in brass bar detailing, a white vintage-inspired fridge and slate counters.”
“We did an integrated nightstand because we were tight on space,” says Ashley of this guest bedroom. “It achieves a complete bedroom look.”
“I love doing laundry now,” says Caitlin of the vintage-inspired laundry room. Botanical prints from Germany are lovely along the shelf. Subway tile, a peg rail and the brass faucet reinforce the retro vibe. Clicke here for more of this ranch bungalow.
An Opera Singer’s Brand New Bungalow in Lindsay, Ontario
Opera singer Sarah MacDonald and her husband, Jason MacDonald, with Lily, built a new 1,950-square-foot bungalow with four-bedrooms in Lindsay, Ont., the quaint town where the high school sweethearts grew up. Sarah and Jason are the founders and co-owners of Lighthouse Cabinetry, which Jason runs, and furniture and lighting store Light House Co.
“They wanted an eclectic, vintage-inspired home with modern and English-style elements,” says Oshawa, Ont., designer Nicole Thomas of Thomas Interiors + Design of the design brief. Creamy whites and woods are classic, while brass and black accents provide contrast and feel very today.
The trio created the incredible English-style modern farmhouse kitchen with its face frame cabinets and substantial chopping block, the living room and its black built-ins, and the laundry room. The dynamic mix of lighting and furniture, though, are all Sarah and Jason, pictured next to Lily, their charming French bulldog. The fridge and wall ovens are surrounded by white oak cabinets.
While work life is busy, the couple still finds time to relax in the bungalow — indoors or out. “The double patio doors off the dining area create an indoor-outdoor effect,” says Jason. The deck is a fantastic spot for drinks.
“We were after an eclectic mix,” says Sarah of the living room. Modern leather chairs are paired with a sofa that has ’70s-era cane detailing, while a circular coffee table ties the conversation area together. “To give the ceiling more layers, we put in shiplap and faux oak beams,” says Jason. Click for more of this 1,950-square-foot bungalow.
Rosie Daykin’s Vancouver Ranch Bungalow
Designer Rosie Daykin turned to the whimsical British style of eclectic, highly personal decorating when updating her beloved where she and her husband Paul have lived for 14 years. The soft palette moves effortlessly throughout the open-concept home, and outside, you’ll find pretty herb gardens and Rosie’s chickens.
“I steer away from one look, or having everything from one store,” says Rosie, pictured here with Paul and their dog, Pickle. “I have to have that mixture — varying ages and histories of things.”
The pink tone of the mohair sofas in the living room acts as both a neutral and a driving force. “It was an interesting exercise that led to my color choices,” says Rosie. “I had no commitment to a sofa color, but I loved my overdyed patchwork rug, so the sofa upholstery was going to be whatever worked best with the rug. When I put down a rainbow of color swatches, the pink just made sense.”
In the dining area, a simple, rustic dining table and white oak cabinets stained light gray continue the soft palette. Sheepskins layered on the chairs were inspired by a trip to Sweden.
In the kitchen, the couple had tired of the house’s original detailing, so they refreshed it with more traditional elements. Because the layout already worked well, they focused on upgrading the finishes. “I could only live with the teak we had for so long,” says Rosie. “I added a Carrara marble backsplash, changed the cabinet doors and used brass accents.”
A spark that came from a London trip evolved into their storybook principal bedroom design, with its checkered bedspread (handmade in England) and pastoral wall mural from Anewall. Rosie took a chance and bought her rug online; the colors are a perfect counterpoint. “I love pattern on pattern on pattern,” she says. “It takes a confident hand but, to my eye, it looks the best.”
A full wall of mosaic tile emphasizes Rosie’s love of color and pattern in the principal bathroom. Click here for more of this 3,000-square-foot ranch house.