So what exactly is a "craftsman home"? Could you give a definition? Is it a time period? A style?

the Craftsman was a magazine that was published for about 15 years by Gustav Stickley at the turn of the century. Issues of the magazine were published monthly, and included essays on art and design, crafts and gardening, but also fiction, poetry, and even sheet music. Throughout, the editorial perspective remained steadfast, decrying the effects of industrialization while advocating for simplicity in life, and encouraging a do-it-yourself ethic and aesthetic. He was influenced greatly by Ruskin and Morris, and even borrowed one the latter's favorite quotes(which he in turn borrowed from Chaucer), “The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.”

Working with a number of architects, he established the Craftsman Homebuilders’ Club in 1904. Readers of the Craftsman could order architectural plans for homes published in the magazine. These designs proved so popular, that the title of the magazine became ubiquitous for a style of home, the bungalow. This name is now attached liberally to any home remotely Craftsman-esque. Though, truly if one designed their home in Stickley's style, they would essentially be living in a farmhouse.

Stickley's magazine went bankrupt and he abandoned the style, retiring to upstate New York. His brothers continued to trade on the Stickley name. In the nineties, Barbara Streisand renewed interest in Stickley's furniture by purchasing a piece for nearly a half million dollars. Prices have escalated since.

"Craftsman" style was popular in the early part of the 1900s - like 1910 to 1930ish, and remains popular today. It involves a lot of clean lines, really. Think Frank Lloyd Wright or Stickley, and you've got it.

The Wikipedia article sums it up quite nicely:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_style

the phrase "clean lines" could describe anything.

I live in an apartment in a building built with craftsman details. The building was converted from apartments to condominiums in 1999 and I was the first buyer in the building so had my pick of units. Rather than choose a top floor unit both of which had been stripped of some of the details, I chose one that still had all the original woodwork that was left unpainted and specified to the developer under no circumstances should it be painted or even stripped and refinished. It has the patina that only 83 years of wear can accomplish. Granted it was an apartment for 72 of those years and not every tenant took great care of the woodwork but I love the history that even the blemishes tell. For me it is the best of both worlds because I don't want the maintenance of a home with a yard but I love the architecture of the craftsman period. This summer I took a month to hand paint some craftsman stencils around the living and dining rooms to emphasize the craftsman details. Most of my furnishing are decidedly more contemporary and eclectic. The paint colors I chose aren't exactly historic either but I really like the juxtaposition between the old and new. Craftsman style is about simplicity, beauty and function and I try and still accomplish living that way in a more contemporary fashion.

Thanks for this post! Personally I would love to see more craftsman homes. The style has really seen a resurgence in popularity for many years which is why craftsman homes, especially those with a lot of original details, are harder to come by.

The craftsman style was also considered a counter movement from the more ornate victorian period. At the time, craftsman style was considered more simplistic from the ornate details during the victorian period although by todays standards these simpler details still seem ornate. By clean lines I think bodicegoddice is referring to the simplifying of details from the more ornate victorian style.

Dover Books publishes reprints of The Craftsman in book form. They're terrific and are complete with Stickley's essays. Bookstore chains have them in their house plan section.

i did not know that.. the comments are full of so much great info..

Other things I associate with craftsman style: compact houses with multi-functional spaces (at least compared to the Victorians) that, at least in public areas, tend to flow together. Many have fireplaces with either inglenooks or built-in bookcases, dining rooms tend to have built-ins, and houses are designed to connect the inside and the outside,, through large numerous windows, wide porches, etc.

We are really lucky to live in the Milwaukee area, which has an amazing selection of craftsman houses of all sizes and types. Our Milwaukee bungalow (which has a sunroom instead of a front porch, which makes sense in terms of the winters) is pretty mid-range, but has amazing woodwork and built-ins (quarter sawn oak in the public rooms, maple throughout the rest of the house), including original birch kitchen cabinetry. While the house is compact (first floor is 2 bedroom/1 bath 1000 sq. ft. the second floor is a half floor with one originally finished room and a finished attic with a bath and bedroom adding 600 sq. ft.), the space flows well and very comfortable and human sized.

I love these comments about Craftsman homes! Pasadena Heritage is one of the two largest conferences about Craftsman architecture in the country. If you REALLY want to see some wonderful examples of Craftsman homes, they offer bus tours, walking tours, drive-yourself tours and receptions. There is also a Craftsman Exposition that includes over 80 exhibitors that specialize in furnishings and decorative arts as well as antiques. Their brochure is online www.pasadenaheritage.org