What a great idea: a house tour of “modest” but well-designed homes in Oak Park. I toured eight houses last Saturday on the “Southeast Style” tour and found a bit to like in each (it was particularly fun since my husband and I own a bungalow in southwest Oak Park). One favorite was a gut conversion of a brick bungalow—inside it feels like a downtown loft. Brian and Angela Pettit did most of the design work themselves. Brian told me he reasoned that bungalows are essentially modern—he just took it a few steps further. I’ll keep you posted should the tour be held again next year.

–JAN PARR