The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association seminars are designed for vintage home owners. View Full Caption Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

PORTAGE PARK — The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association's fall seminar series, which kicks off Monday, promises 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.

Heather Cherone explains bungalows to those that may not know:

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:

• "Living in a Material World: The Importance of Building Deconstruction and Reuse" at 6 p.m. Monday, Austin-Irving Library, 6100 W. Irving Park Road and 6 p.m. Sept. 18, Brainerd Library, 1350 W. 89th St.

• "Expanding Spaces: Attics" at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave. and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.

• "Big Ideas for Small Kitchen Spaces" at 6 p.m. Oct. 6, Beverly Library, 1962 W. 95th St. and 6 p.m. Oct. 9, Jefferson Park Library, 5363 W. Lawrence Ave.

• "Nice Pipes! Solving Plumbing Problems" at 6 p.m. Oct. 20, Mayfair Library, 4400 W. Lawrence Ave. and 6 p.m. Oct. 28, Brainerd Library, 1350 W. 89th St.

• "The Unique History of Your Chicago Bungalow" at 6 p.m. Nov. 5, Avalon Library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave. and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11, Portage Park Senior Center, 4100 N. Long Ave.

• "Heating Systems 101" at 6 p.m. Nov. 12, Rogers Park Library, 6907 N. Clark St. and 6 p.m. Nov. 17, Avalon Library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.

All seminars are free of charge and open to the public, but reservations are required. For more information, go to chicagobungalow.org.

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