True Craftsman homes were built from materials native to the area, including local stone and wood. Select interior and exterior building materials and trim from local artisans, or at least consult your local lumberyard when picking out wood from your region. For example, you could reface an existing fireplace with natural stone from a nearby quarry for an authentic design and texture. Choose wide, dark woodwork for simple door frames and crown molding. Replace the metal gutters with Craftsman style's signature wooden gutters, integrated as part of the roof design. They could be reproduced using treated wood that is unlikely to rot even in wet climates.
You can refinish the wood floors in your Craftsman style house or choose a glossy ceramic tile with a narrow border in black or white characteristic of the era. You may want a brick or stone floor in your kitchen, as both of these materials were considered sufficiently naturalistic by Craftsman architects. When removing carpet or linoleum that may have been installed in later years, you are most likely to find solid oak floors in a Craftsman style home from the period of 1900 to 1930.
Keep your renovation authentically Craftsman by avoiding shiny brass light fixtures. Choose one of the iron and glass Mission-style sconces or overhead lights, or select a dark brass lamp with a stained-glass shad in keeping with the simple style of the arts and crafts movement. You'll want to stay with clean, straight lines and angles in your lighting rather than curvy, ornate Victorian fixtures.
Your wide porch columns may need repair for rotting wood and a fresh coat of paint. You'll select earthtones of brown, green or gold if you wish to keep to a Craftsman's naturalism. Pick out regional stone to replace broken stone detailing or steps. Instead of a concrete driveway or sidewalk, choose brick for a more harmonious appearance. Iron or dark patina brass porch lights and a freshly refinished wooden porch floor will add to the curb appeal of your restored Craftsman.