Category: American Craftsman

The Craftsman home comes from a tradition of tasteful decoration that arose in the late nineteenth century in response to poor quality goods that came with the rise of mass production and industrialization. This Arts and Crafts movement began in Great Britain before arriving in the US where it influenced many aspects of life, including architecture.

At the time, the Victorian age—with its excessive ornamentation—was coming to an end, ushering in a time when more focus was placed on natural materials and clean lines. The American Craftsman style of architecture became popular, particularly in the form of the bungalow, and borrowed its name from the magazine “The Craftsman.”

Typical features of the Craftsman include deep overhanging eaves, a wide covered porch, handcrafting, and a low-pitched roof, particularly with a gabled roof.

Among the Craftsman architects who were key in promoting the style were David Owen Dryden, Irving Gill, and architectural firm Greene and Greene. An important factor in the spread of Craftsman homes was the kit house, a bundle that includes all the pre-cut materials needed to build a house. Sears Modern Homes sold Craftsman models, many of which survive to this day.

Related architectural styles include the American Foursquare and the Mar del Plata.

Sources:

1. American Craftsman
2. The History of Sears Kit Homes
3. Sears House Seeker