Craftsman Bungalow Styles

Craftsman Homes

• Craftsman homes in America were a response to the grandiose, and larger, Victorian homes of the 1800s. The burgeoning Arts and Crafts Movement of that era provided the impetus for this shift. Craftsman architects began to emphasize clean lines and simple, sturdy-yet-stylish homes, often made from locally produced materials. In the early 1900s, this type of architectural design philosophy picked up steam. Many affordable two-story and bungalow (especially bungalow) homes designed in the Craftsman style were built.

Craftsman Bungalows

• Craftsman bungalow homes can be either single-story in design or, more commonly, story-and-a-half. In the latter, the upstairs consists of a large, single room. Typically, it's intended to be the master bedroom, with all other room types (kitchen etc.) on the first floor. Exteriors and interiors are designed to play off each other, with neither overwhelming the other. In addition, Craftsman bungalows were made to complement their surroundings. They were often painted and stained in earthy tones.

Styles

• Common stylistic touches found in many American Craftsman bungalows include a low-pitched roof line. In story-and-a-half models, there will often be a gable at the front. Additionally, bungalows include a porch with its own roof. Original roofs made use of slate or cedar shingling in many instances. When first built, almost all featured handcrafted woodwork inside and out. Handcrafted stone work was another available exterior feature. These were touches found in both single- and story-and-a-half models.

Other Characteristics

• Original exterior colors included browns, red-browns, various greens and even light blues. Windows were often double-hung and plentiful. Also, interior woodwork was clean and straight, with little ornate scroll work present. Storey-and-a-half models normally came with basements. Single-storey bungalows, had either basements or crawlspaces. After 1930, American home tastes changed a bit, and Craftsman homes fell out of favor. But a small 21st century comeback is under way, with many being bought and restored to their original standard.