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| Source: Antiquehomestyle.com |
As I started to think about our bungalow, I should start with a disclaimer: I use the terms Arts & Crafts and Craftsman interchangeably (If you want to learn more, check out Antique Home Style.com. - they are a great resource for photos and additional information.). I know there are overlaps and differences, but for our design I wanted to highlight the following:
To help us start thinking through some of these elements, I created the 'Inspiration Wall' in the Dining Room. I printed out all the great ideas I've found online (Houzz.com is my favorite source) and taped them all over the walls. As we've mulled over the different project phases - design, demo and rebuilding - we've constantly referred to these photos.
So here are a couple of design elements that we will definitely be doing:
Colonnades - these colonnades, from an old Sears Catalog, are fantastic. They were in the 1921 Building Material catalog for $34. They are truly a classic and have an amazing resemblance to the ones we will build between the living room and dining room!
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| Source: Sears Modern Home, searshomes.org |
Cabinetry - See the built in cabinet behind the colonnades in the illustration above? We're going to create a built in hutch in the dining room, reusing a base from another house and creating custom shelving above. And we'll add lighting above the shelving, to really highlight the space.
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| Houzz - TMS Architects |
Eaves & Exposed Rafter Tails - the nondescript front facade on our project is going to get a makeover with a Craftsman style porch roof overhang. It will be something like this, with broad eaves, chunky brackets and exposed rafter tails.
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| Houzz - Kenny Craft, South Main, CO |
Do you have any favorite design elements of Craftsman style? I'd love to hear about them! And stay tuned as we get going and start to turn these ideas into reality!
The old farm house I grew up in had similar colonnades like you've shown but there were glass front bookcases in bottom half. Years later after house was demolished, and after researching its floor plan, I discovered it was either a Sears Home (they came on railroads as kits complete right down to the last nail) or else a Montgomery Ward Home...much like Sears' idea. It was a very simple and rather small house. The inside had Craftsman elements but the outside was quite plain jane ;-) Clearly one of the less expensive models.
ReplyDeleteAh, it's so wonderful that you were able to figure out that it was a catalog home!! I bet it was so interesting to figure out what features people wanted to add when they purchased them. Probably like buy a car today!
DeleteLaurel
My favorite parts of our 1920 Craftsman are the steps up the front, the rafter tails, windows, and our built-ins :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe not a classic element but my friend's CA home had big, stained pocket doors between living and dining rooms and foyer. (Which her parents shut for slumber parties!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful transformation! My husband and I are planning to remove one wall to open up our staircase. I noticed from your after photos that both sides of the stairs match perfectly. I'm curious if you had install a whole new staircase or if you were able to match both sides based on your existing staircase? I ask because our GC is suggesting that we replace ours with a new one in order to match although I'd prefer to salvage the existing one. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWe were moving the staircase to a whole new location - so we built it new! Before you tear out the old staircase, make sure you GC has worked through the rise/run requirements to meet building code. Sometimes, that can dramatically change the space the staircase will take up.
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