What Is a Craftsman-Style Home? Exploring the History and Design

Craftsman-style homes are the perfect solution for families looking to build a new, custom-built home with low maintenance and excellent curb appeal. But what exactly is a Craftsman-style home? Well, it’s a question we get asked fairly often, so we’ve decided to take the time to explore their history, design, and construction.

What is a craftsman-style home?

Have you ever heard the term craftsman-style house and wondered what exactly it meant? Many century homes are included in this category of home design. These homes fundamentally have a few specific characteristics that identify them as craftsman-style.

A craftsman-style home is a classic American design that was popular in the first half of the 20th century. The style is characterized by its low-pitched, deeply overhanging roofs (often with long or decorative brackets), porches with massive square pillars, and handcrafted elements. Many people differentiate a craftsman-style home from similar styles such as bungalows and American Foursquare homes by the prominent front porch. At the same time, others also consider the presence of pitched roofs to be a defining feature of this style.

The History of the Craftsman Home

Craftsman homes were predominant in American housing from 1893 to 1930. Named after architect and designer Gustav Stickley, this distinctive house style was born out of the Arts and Crafts movement in America. It emphasized minimal decoration in architecture and integrating the then newer concrete and steel materials into structures but with unique styles that had been developed during the Victorian era.

The Craftsman movement in American architecture is considered a series of furniture and house designs. It had its start in the middle of the 1880s and became very popular by the beginning of the 1900s. In fact, it is one of the longest-lasting design movements in America. The style was not enforced or created by anyone but instead was a typical design that could be found in homes around the country.

Craftsman Style Home Features

A craftsman home is all about a simple, uncluttered interior design and a casual or country exterior. This style may include brightly painted exteriors, wood siding, decks, patios, sitting areas, and porches facing the yard. Exteriors are often designed with natural building elements as well such as stone walkways and steps.

The Craftsman style American home was typically:

• low-pitched roofs

• with broad eaves

• knee walls

• exposed rafters

• horizontal clapboards

The construction often included wood-shingle or stone siding on the outside of the house, forming horizontal lines on the exterior. Low pitched, and wide-hipped roofs were seen in this style of home.

What sets Craftsman homes apart

Craftsman style homes take pride in their warm and straightforward look. Their aesthetic is a true testament to the art-deco movement. With clean lines, plenty of natural light, and a calming color palette, craftsman homes convey their importance as sturdy family dwellings. Learn more about the history of craftsman homes, the architectural styles that make them unique, and their notable traits that make them stand out from all other houses.

How a Craftsman-Style Home Looks

A craftsman-style home is any type of house that exemplifies the architectural style of Arts and Crafts. This movement came out of England in the late 1800s and spread to America quickly, gaining popularity in major cities such as Chicago and New York.

Craftsman homes first became popular because they offered something different from the architecture that dominated during the Victorian era. The craftsman-style homes, in particular, were characterized by their simple, practical exteriors that were often accented with decorative touches.