CRAFTSMAN

Outside there are details galore but inside, there's a simple, wide-open layout that makes the most of typically limited square footage.

As a comprehensive design and art movement it remained popular into the 1930s.
Craftsman homes were primarily inspired by the work of two architect brothers, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene who worked together in Pasadena, California, at the turn of the 20th century.

A low-pitched, gabled roof. The low-slung rooflines reflect the influence of Oriental architecture on the style. These roofs typically have a wide, unenclosed eave overhang with decorative supports. They do require routine maintenance to make sure debris such as leaves does not build up over time.

A front porch. It's rare to find a Craftsman bungalow that doesn't have a porch, even if the porch simply covers the entryway. Porches are either full or partial width, and are either sheltered beneath the main roof or under a separate, extended roof.

Tapered columns, which support the porch roof, are typically short and rest upon massive stone or brick piers that extend to ground level, both of which convey a certain solidity. Not all columns are tapered; another popular variation is the double column.

Almost all original versions have glass panes in the upper third of the door, separated from the bottom paneled portion by a thick piece of trim.

Multipane instead of single-pane windows.The windows are often grouped together and cased in wide trim.

Craftsman homes are often painted in a nature-inspired palette of browns and greens to help the low-profile bungalows blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Despite the mostly muted palettes, one or two contrasting colors are typically used to highlight architectural features like trim or decorative supports.

Stone details. Craftsman bungalows almost always feature a mix of materials. The siding is typically wooden clapboard (though shingled siding is also common), but porch piers and foundations are often made of stone. Brick, concrete block and stucco are also sometimes used.

Knee braces.These triangular supports are a structural alternative to exposed rafter tails and roof beams. Like beams and rafter tails, they are often decorative and can be added underneath any deep roof eave.

SOURCES

QUESTIONS

• Craftsman house were inspired by who?
• Craftsman houses are mostly painted with what kind of colors?
• What do you like about this house?

Untitled Slide