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 will host a series of seminars starting in March 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:

• Big Ideas for Small Kitchen Spaces — A panel of association members will share their experience renovating their Chicago bungalow kitchens within the existing footprint of the home at 6 p.m. March 11 at the Beverly branch Library, 1962 W. 95th St. and 6:30 p.m. March 31 at the Welles Park fieldhouse, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.

• Simple Estate Planning — Attorney Kimberly Jean Brown of Legacy Complete will discuss the basics of estate planning at 6 p.m. March 16 at the Budlong Woods branch library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave. and 6 p.m. March 25 at the Avalon branch library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.

• Basement Flooding Part I — Attendees can wade through the basics of their sewer with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Executive Director David St. Pierre and learn how to help prevent sewer backups at 6 p.m. March 3 at the Northtown branch library, 6435 N. California Ave.; 6 p.m. March 23 at the Vodak-East Side branch library, 3710 E. 106th St.; 6 p.m. April 13 at the Austin-Irving branch library, 6100 W. Irving Park Road; and 6 p.m. April 22 at the Avalon branch Library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.

• Basement Flooding Part II —Ryan Wilson of Elevate Energy/CNT's Rain Ready will discuss the causes of flooding and what can be done to help reduce basement flooding issues at 6 p.m. March 9 at the Austin-Irving branch library, 6100 W. Irving Park Road; 6 p.m. March 30 at the Vodak-East Side Library, 3710 E. 106th St.; 6 p.m. April 14 at the Jefferson Park branch library, 5363 W. Lawrence Ave.; and 6:30 p.m. April 29, Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.

• Don’t Trash That Sash: Window Repair — Julie Liska of Liska Architects will teach attendees about materials, history and restoration techniques for double-sashed windows at 6 p.m. May 4 at the Avalon branch library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave. and 6:30 p.m. May 12 at the Indian Boundary Park fieldhouse, 2500 W. Lunt Ave.

• Bungalow Curb Appeal: Landscaping — The Prairie Godmothers will show attendees how to improve their garden spaces by reframing the space, adding show-stopping plants and shrubs and improving their soil at 6 p.m., May 20, Beverly branch library, 1962 W. 95th St. and 6:30 p.m. May 26 at the Portage Park Senior Center, 4100 N. Long Ave.

• Working With An Architect — Residential architectural specialists from the American Institute of Architects Chicago will discuss how to choose an architect as well as how to navigate zoning and permit regulations. After the session, attendees can have a 15-minute one-on-one consultation with an architect. 6 p.m. May 18 at the Avalon branch library, 8148 S. Stony Island Ave.; and 6 p.m. June 3 at the Mayfair branch library, 4400 W. Lawrence Ave.

• Expanding Spaces: Basements — Julie Liska, of Liska Architects will discuss how to best use unfinished basement space to maximize living and storage space potential at 6 p.m. June 4 at the Jefferson Park branch library, 5363 W. Lawrence Ave. and 6:30 p.m. June 9 at the Woodson regional library, 9525 S. Halsted St.

• Vintage Masonry Repair — Mario Machnicki of Marion Restoration will help homeowners identify priority repairs and how to establish a scope of work for rehab projects at 6 p.m. June 15 at the Budlong Woods branch library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave. and 6 p.m. June 23 at the Brainerd branch library, 1350 W. 89th St.

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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