PORTAGE PARK — The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association will host a series of seminars in February designed to help even the most hapless weekend warriors whip their vintage home into shape, officials said.
After the Great Recession left people struggling just to hang on to their homes, the improving economy has led to an increase in demand for seminars covering everything from attic conversions to kitchen renovations in vintage homes, said Historic Chicago Bungalow Association Executive Director Mary Ellen Guest.
The seminars are designed to help owners of any Chicago home — not just bungalows — improve their home's beauty, sustainability and safety through simple and affordable repair projects.
The schedule for the seminar series is:
• Bungalow Maintenance 101 — Sustainability and historic preservation consultant Carla Bruni will discuss how to improve the value of your bungalow and prolong its life by reducing energy usage, making simple repairs and how to talk to contractors. From 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at the Austin-Irving branch library, 6100 W. Irving Park Road, and 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 26 Woodson regional library, 9525 S. Halsted St.
• From Doors to Floors: Restoring Wood Interiors — Araceli Perez from Peter's Wood Refinishing will discuss how to prepare walls, floors and doorways before stripping woodwork, whether it is better to remove trim or strip it in place as well as tips on how to strip and refinish woodwork. From 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Roden branch library, 6083 N. Northwest Highway, and 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Avalon branch library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.
All seminars are free of charge and open to the public, but registration is required.
For more information, call Gillian Wiescher at 312-675-0300, ext. 17; email gwiescher@chicagobungalow.org or go to chicagobungalow.org.
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