A Bungalow by the Bay
Where “Buy Local” Meets Arts & Crafts in Bellingham, Washington
By Patricia Herlevi
Anyone seeking a visual for sustainable living plus Arts & Crafts homes finds that image on the 2300 block of “A” Street in Bellingham, Washington. A row of restored bungalows built between 1916 and 1918 captivate. Raised vegetable beds and open porches suggest friendly neighbors and a sustainable community. In fact, these bungalows’ angular rooflines, along with kale and chard peeking over the edges of overflowing gardens, once caught the attention of a Bellingham Herald photographer and another photograph of the bungalows won a local photography contest under the heading, “Best Essence of Place”.
Last spring, neighbors and their dogs gathered in front of middle school teacher Linda Rabner, and mental health professional Tim Justice’s A-Street bungalow. A tour of the bungalow revealed original woodwork (fireplace and built-in cabinets) and the original layout. While a former owner painted over the woodwork, the book-lined shelves and vintage furniture of the current owners suggested coziness and a love of architectural heritage, two features appreciated by the couple who share the bungalow with their daughter.
However, for Linda Rabner, the main selling point was the price of the bungalow. “I was the one physically attracted to the house. We were having a hard time finding a house that stayed within our range.”
As far as, practicing a sustainable lifestyle to match the vernacular home, Rabner mentioned, “We have continued to re-use, recycle and use sustainable items for maintaining the structural integrity of the home and even for furniture.”
When asked about the downside of living in the 1918 bungalow, she cited, “With only one bath, we have been unable to figure out where to install a powder room without losing the integrity of the house.”
She also listed a semi-private alley, the small yard, and the missing garage as well as, having a home in a transitional neighborhood as weaknesses. On the other hand, she complimented the easy floor plan and continued maintenance of the home, as well as, its walking distance to downtown and bus lines, ideal for a sustainable family home.
Further north in the Birchwood neighborhood, homeowners enjoy larger lots, often transformed into permaculture landscaping or urban farms. Realtor Michelle Clark resides in a 1917 Foursquare originally built on an 18+ acre plot overlooking Bellingham Bay and the port.
Two doors north of a Tudor castle, the kit home recalls Bellingham’s early days of gentlemen farmers and industrialist barons. Although the home retains much of its former elegance, Clark restored woodwork, replaced the kitchen, and with the help of relatives transformed the basement into a guest suite for her grandchildren who visit often.
“My brother, Mike Malone (owner of Enterprise Trim), has done much of the work on my home, including gutting the kitchen and downstairs bathroom to studs. The wood was nearly 87 years old at the time and he was forced to replace a lot of the trim by taking the old stuff home and milling new trim using the old as a pattern.”
However, the essence of the Arts & Crafts home shows up in the built-in benches, breakfast nooks, glass cabinets, and a stately fireplace as well as, in the sunroom that faces Bellingham Bay and the Arts & Crafts garden shed surrounded by an old-style victory garden. Clark furbished her home with antiques and natural wood furnishing. She remodeled the bathrooms to match the original era of the home. And just like the first inhabitants of Birchwood homes, Clark turned to urban farming. “I grow almost all my own veggies in the summer and end up feeding a lot of the excess to my nine brothers and sisters when they pop over to visit!”
Also in Birchwood, Contractor and Co-Founder of Chuckanut Builders Forest Chiavario's 1930s bungalow hugs a corner lot. The old farmhouse starkly contrasts the high-density apartment complexes that mushroomed near Northwest Avenue in recent years. Acting as an oasis on the edge of Birchwood, the bungalow speaks volumes about the vernacular architecture of the 1930s along with a recent urban farming trend.
Chiavario tore out the grass and replaced it with permaculture landscaping where chickens roam among gooseberries, thimbleberries, salmon berries, and common vegetables.
Chiavario described the impressive landscaping, “The berm base was built with scrap concrete, tile and paver material from construction projects. The soil was moved from a 17-yard dry well that I installed under the driveway. The topsoil was imported from Growsource. All plantings on the berms are native and/or edible. The idea was a screen from the traffic noise and privacy.
Now that it’s established I use it as a chicken enclosure.”
As anyone expects from a vintage farmhouse, Chiavario, an expert in restoring older homes, faced challenges including fixing a leaky basement and adding sustainable insulation to a drafty house. “It now has insulation that will satisfy the next energy code implemented in 2015, Energy Star appliances, tank-less hot water, water sense faucets, timed irrigation, and a 90% efficient direct vent furnace.”
While bungalows appear either singular or on a block with other Arts & Crafts homes throughout Bellingham’s distinct neighborhoods, most often, bungalows show up next to grand Victorians, Early Colonial, Tudor Revival or simple Ranch houses reflecting on the city’s architectural history.
According to Realtor Michelle Clark, “I have probably sold at least 40 bungalows in my 28 years as an agent. Buyers came in every age and economic circumstance so it’s difficult to label demographics.”
However, the word on the street speaks of a trend of young couples buying and restoring bungalows as part of a green lifestyle. And more bungalows with permaculture lots appear in the Columbia and Birchwood neighborhoods, but who lives in those bungalows?
Clark mentioned, “Younger buyers (say under 40), are more likely to buy for historical sake, while older buyers are at the point where they are simply looking for a home that tugs at their heartstrings.”
According to Kathryn Franks, a South Hill bungalow dweller and a Development Specialist with city government, Bellingham promotes advocacy, education, and incentives in regard to historic homes. When city planners conducted a survey of Bellingham residents, Bellinghamsters chose to preserve historic buildings as a top priority along with keeping the city green.
“I would agree that historic buildings give Bellingham its character along with ‘buy local’ campaigns,” said Franks. And as far as the green building movement, “More people are getting on board with the idea that ‘the greenest building is one already built’. The historic preservation and ‘green building’ movements have many overlapping and complementary goals and practices.”
With organizations such as Sustainable Connections which promotes ‘buy local’ and green building through its various programs, including an energy challenge, the community’s enthusiasm for green and vernacular homes expands. In addition, Sustainable Connections members include green building contractors and architects on its roster.
Arts & Crafts style bungalows still offer an affordable home for young couples, nuclear families, singles, and retirees. With more millennials getting on board urban homesteading and older folks downsizing to a simple lifestyle, bungalows provide the ideal poster child.
Christina Olson, Program Director with Kulshan Community Land Trust mentioned that only 22 of the land trust 112 affordable homes are new construction. “The rest are a variety of styles, most of which have been updated with non-toxic and other green materials. Our homes are a sampling of those found in Bellingham--Craftsman, Victorian, Ranch, etc...”
Green builder, Chiavario shared his preferences, “I’m drawn to older classic homes. However, I appreciate the ultra-modern homes that are efficient and sustainable too. I mostly like the use of wood and the architecture of Arts & Crafts homes.
They seem like welcoming havens for a family. The rooflines seem like welcoming shelter and the siding and windows add great looking details. I love wood floors and built-in wood cabinets.”
When it comes to many Bellingham residents, there’s no place like the bungalow home.