Unbuilding

Salvaging architectural materials from old houses and commercial buildings has been a thriving business for years, but Falk and Guy are among the first to explain the process for the average homeowner and catalog the various tools of the trade. Numerous color photographs detail how houses are salvaged, painstakingly, to preserve all reusable materials, including hardware, woodwork, flooring, tiles, bathtubs, doors and windows.This is a book designed for people who want to tackle such a project themselves or supervise someone they have hired for the job. There are schematics, numerous safety tips, including warnings about now-banned toxins that may linger in very old housing materials, and suggestions for storage and rehabilitating treasures that have been damaged. --Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Berwyn Bungalow Tour on June 3, 2007

The Berwyn Historical Society invites you to participate in “Historic Berwyn’s Bungalow Tour” to be held on Sunday June 3, 2007 — from noon to 5 pm.

http://www.berwynbungalow.com/

May 12th & 13th Arts and Crafts Show

Arts and Crafts Chicago Show and Sale will feature furniture and accessories from the American and English Arts and Crafts Movement (1890-1920). Homeowners interested in acquiring pieces and/or educating themselves as to the appropriate furnishings for their turn of the century bungalows and craftsman style homes should come to the Geiseman Gym on the campus of Concordia University in River Forest Illinois Saturday, May 12th from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday, May 13th from 11:00 AM –4:00 PM. Admission is only $7.

Wright Plus house tour...

...in beautiful and historic Oak Park, Illinois, on Saturday, May 19, 2007. The 33rd annual Wright Plus benefit housewalk features rare interior tours of architecturally significant homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries.

http://www.wrightplus.org/wrightplus/wrightplus.html

Great Chicago Places & Spaces, May 18 - 20

Sign up now! http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Great+Chicago+Places+%26+Spaces&entityNameEnumValue=170

Greening, part 2

From: A Fresh Squeeze http://www.afreshsqueeze.com/index.php

The clocks have been reset, the Easter eggs have been found, and whether the weather agrees with us or not, Spring has arrived. Time to get your house—and garden—in order. But while you’re busy with home improvements, why not improve your health and the planet’s as well? Green building has been proven to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, while improving occupants’ health and performance. Whether your project is large or small, Greenmaker Supply can help you find the eco-friendly products for the job. As co-founder Joe Silver puts it, “it’s a one stop shop for all your energy-efficient, water-efficient and healthy interior, non-toxic products.” At the 2500 North Pulaski Rd store, you'll find low VOC paints, recycled countertop tiles, bamboo flooring, natural fertilizers, and energy saving appliances—even installation made from old blue jeans. Greenmaker Supply’s “Seven Seeds of Sustainability” code makes it easy to decipher the eco-benefits of products. And the knowledgeable staff can help homeowner and developer alike. Silver says that 70% of the store’s inventory is competitively priced with conventional products, and “as our volume goes up, expect the price to continually drop.” Currently there’s only one location, but Silver and his partner Ori Sivan are looking to expand. “We want to bring these new alternatives to the mainstream, to bring them to your doorstep.” Perhaps with time, it’ll be a fly-ash concrete doorstep, surrounded by a naturally pest-free garden. To learn more about green building and its benefits, visit the US Green Building Council. For more information on Greenmaker Supply, check out their website, where you can browse their products and learn more about their Seven Seeds of Sustainability.

Greening your Bungalow

Green Bungalow Model Block: http://www.chicagobungalow.org/greenbungalow/index.shtml

The Green Festival comes to Chicago for Earth Day!
Saturday, April 21 & Sunday April 22
McCormick Place/ Lakeside 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Show HoursSaturday 10AM- 8PM & Sunday 11AM- 6PM
Experience Green Festival in one of the greenest cities in the nation! The Great Lakes are home to some of the most innovative and cutting-edge green technologies, products and services— the perfect place to find great ways to green your life.Take in more than 300 exhibits in the nation’s largest eco-mall:* Shop for everything from eco-fashion and natural home and health products to solar panels and fair trade gifts and crafts.* Discover new techniques and strategies at great how-to workshops.* Network at green career and green investing sessions.* Green your home and save energy at the City of Chicago Pavilion.* Find local organic farmers at the FamilyFarmed Pavilion.* Let your kids play at the Organic Valley of Family Farms' Kids’ Zone.* Enjoy organic dining and sample local beers & wines.* Hear great, live local music.See more than 150 dynamic speakers on 5 stages:• Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!• Greg Palast, Armed Madhouse• Paul Stamets, Fungi Perfecti• Frances Moore Lappé, Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet• Richard M. Daley, Chicago Mayor (Invited)• Judy Wicks, White Dog Enterprises, Inc.• David Korten, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
• Omar Freilla, Director of Green Worker Cooperatives• And many more (check our site for updates)Admission$19 Membership Fast Pass$10 Day Pass$14 Membership Fastpass for Public Transit/Seniors/Students with ID/bike riders (at door)$5 Public Transit/Seniors/Students with ID/Bike Riders (day pass at door)FREE -- Children under 12

The Green Festival and Conscious Alliance are proud to announce that we will be hosting a Food Drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository on April 21st and 22nd, 2007 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. All patrons attending the festival that donate 10 non-perishable food items will receive a limited-edition poster by artist, Scott Saw. All posters are printed on an environmentally friendly, post-consumer waste paper.The Conscious Alliance strongly encourages that all food donations be low-sodium health food oriented products. Ramen noodles will not be accepted in exchange for this year’s Green Festival Poster.Thank you for your continued support in feeding the hungry! http://www.consciousalliance.org/

Source: http://www.greenfestivals.org/

Colorado bungalows...who knew?

I just returned from a trip to Colorado and while there stumbled upon some great bungalows in the towns of Boulder and Loveland. One of the homeowners I talked to thought that many of the frame versions were Sears kit homes. After a visit to The Tattered Cover (a fine bookstore in Denver, check it out if you're there) I now own a copy of Small Houses of the Twenties, The Sears and Roebuck 1926 House Catalog. Watch for an upcoming WRBN meeting featuring photos of these bungalows with (hopefully) side-by-side comparisons of their catalog listings.

WRBN enters the blogosphere

Greetings Bungalow Neighbors! After a very inspirational meeting with our friends from House in Progress, we've decided to join them and share the various bits and pieces of bungalow trivia that we gather via this blog. We'll also use this space to announce meetings, provide updates on projects, and generally keep you abreast of all things bungalow.