
Is the Craftsman Home a Pillar of American Cultural Nostalgia?
American Craftsman Homes are certainly charming, which is perhaps why they continue to be ranked as one of the most popular home styles in the good old U.S.A. They’re often featured on home renovation shows needing a lot of love, but just bursting with character. And what’s not to love? They’re ideal for anyone looking for that perfect combination of simplicity and beautiful craftsmanship–they’re craftsman homes, after all.
In a world of sleek lines, metal, and glass, entering a craftsman home can feel like a trip back in time. But what time is that, exactly?
The American Craftsman Home was a result of the American Arts and Crafts movement. This architecture, design, and lifestyle philosophy started in the late 19th century in response against the Industrial Revolution. Initially, this movement encouraged originality, a simplicity of form, use of local natural materials, and the visibility of handicraft. While the American A&C movement was influenced by the British A&C movement, it differed in various ways including this goal: to create modest homes for a rapidly expanding American middle class.

Characteristics of a Craftsman Home
Changes in taste and the shift from the upper- to middle-class homeowners directly resulted in the development of these homes. Goodbye, ornamental Victorian style. Hello easy sightlines and functional (yet beautiful) built-ins designed with the new American housewife in mind.
A&C designers typically frowned upon the thoughtless collection and display of objects if they were not useful or connected to the environment. This was the antithesis of the Victorian Bric-à-brac. Instead, craftsman homes embrace simplicity, handiwork, and natural materials–this is why people typically consider them cozy.
They represented a complete lifestyle shift. Architects moved the kitchens into the center of the home with easy sightlines to the main living areas. The built-in breakfast nook in the kitchen developed as the kitchen became the heart of the family’s daily life: a gathering place.

As part of their craftsmanship and charm, these homes often have shingle siding and stone details. Open porches with overhanging beams and rafters, projecting eaves, and a low-pitched gable roof are also common characteristics. The home’s structural components tend to be visible, especially around the corners of the home and the gables, which often feature decorative trim. Plenty of windows allow for an abundance of natural light.
These same elements that give the homes a feeling of coziness and simplicity also tend to illicit nostalgic sentiments. However, these homes weren’t necessarily built with a yearning for the past.
Building Nostalgia
In America, this simplicity was based on the future. So, while craftsman homes were designed with simplicity in mind, they were not designed on the premise of nostalgia. The American movement emphasized handicraft; however, architects and craftspeople began exploring new frontiers along with old ones.
At the time of the American Arts & Crafts movement, America lacked a deep-rooted cultural identity. And unlike its English counterpart, the American movement had general acceptance of machines and an optimism for the future. America actually utilized mass-production to create A&C furniture and accessories. This acceptance of the industrial machine and the future of technology and production allowed more common Americans to embrace this lifestyle. In turn, there was more interest, more demand for quality, and more design innovation.
Generally speaking, some of the most successful American designers were those who combined the old-fashioned, quality handicraft seamlessly with the latest production techniques and design theories.

To me, it is this sentiment which proves, at least in part, why the Craftsman-style home still reigns supreme in America. Even with the A&C movement’s decline beginning in 1919, nearly a century later we are still fascinated with revitalizing these homes. Through restoration, homeowners can now seamlessly combine the old-fashioned, quality handicraft of this architectural style with modern updates.
In a world where we yearn for simplicity yet don’t want to forego energy efficiency, AC, and up-to-code electrical work, perhaps we can all turn to the Craftsman home.
NOTE: This article initially appeared in a slightly different form on CurbAppeal.house.
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