Arts & Crafts for a Dutch Colonial House

About

• Colonial Revival was the first revival period that was based on American architecture. Specifically, Dutch Colonial homes were inspired by the homes built by settlers of the Dutch colonies in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and western Connecticut. In addition to a gambrel roof, these homes typically feature clapboard or shingle sidings, gable-end chimneys, porches with over-hanging eaves and multi-light windows. As a design form, Dutch Colonial was most popular in the 1920s in the northeast of the country, but faded in significance a decade later. During this period, the Arts and Crafts movement thrived and homeowners furnished and decorated their homes with any antiques they could find from Dutch settlers, as well as furnishings and art made by Arts and Crafts artisans.

Delftware

• Delftware is the tin-glazed pottery first made in Delft, Holland in the 1500s. Known for its striking blue and white color and intricate designs, it ranged from simple household items such as jars and bowls with little decoration to highly ornate vases and plates, which often featured Dutch windmills, landscapes, and seascapes. The Dutch colonists brought their precious Delftware with them, and antique Delftware can be acquired at auctions and antique stores. If you can't find antique pieces, Delftware is still produced, and it's easy to find beautiful examples to enhance your home's Dutch influence.

Arts and Crafts

• Gustav Stickley was one of the main proselytizers of the Arts and Crafts movement in America, and the simple designs and high quality woods used in his furnishings made them highly sought after during the Dutch Colonial period. The simplicity of the furniture perfectly suited the simplicity of Dutch Colonial architecture. Recently, Stickley furniture has seen a revival, and original pieces sell for many thousands of dollars. The L. and J.G. Stickley company, is, however, still in business, and fine new pieces in the Arts and Crafts style can be purchased for a fraction of the price of originals.

Artwork

• Dutch and Flemish artwork, namely oil paintings, in the style of Dutch Golden Age artists would also be very suitable for a Dutch Colonial home. Seascapes are particularly appropriate since the Dutch economy relied heavily on trade by sea, colonists made their journeys by sea and, as a consequence, maritime paintings were highly popular.