Craftsman-style homes (paint color, furniture, room, cost)

[mrsengle]

Going with PrettyHateMachine's theme of housing style, I've noticed in my area (Austin/suburbs) that craftman-style is starting to be the new trend. Almost seems like 'everything old is new again.' I love this style of house. The only problem is, the new construction of this 'genre' is either cheap and small, or way out of my budget. Then there are the older homes located close to downtown (again, way out of our price range), or others that have been fixed up nicely, within our budget, but the commute would be awful.

Has anyone else seen this craftman-style trend?

[mbuszu]

Originally Posted by mrsengle

Going with PrettyHateMachine's theme of housing style, I've noticed in my area (Austin/suburbs) that craftman-style is starting to be the new trend. Almost seems like 'everything old is new again.' I love this style of house. The only problem is, the new construction of this 'genre' is either cheap and small, or way out of my budget. Then there are the older homes located close to downtown (again, way out of our price range), or others that have been fixed up nicely, within our budget, but the commute would be awful.
Has anyone else seen this craftman-style trend?

My wife and I met a realtor at an open-house the other day and we heard this term for the first time. We're not sure what it means - and assumed it just meant high quality/custom built. What does it mean?

[Lakewooder]

It's the only true American architectural style. See Sears Homes, Crafthome, American Bungalow, A Field Guide To American Houses, etc.

Typically the homes have exposed rafter tails, brackets, front porches, big and numerous single-pane windows. There are Japanese and Indian influences, but they are All-American. Most were built from the early 1900s to the middle 1920s.

My neighborhood in Dallas, the Junius Heights Historic District (East Dallas/Lakewood) has many examples and is one of the "Bungalow Heavens" scattered around the country.

My home is a 1916 Sears Hazelton model -- will attach pic from Sears.

[BlueWillowPlate]

In Denver, there are a fair amount of Craftsmen bungalows.
I am not sure it is especially popular, but those who live in them seem to like them--however, I've noticed that if/when people add on, they go up rather than out, which loses that bungalow look.
We lived in a 1916 bungalow, and when we added on, we tried to keep as true to the style as we could (did not pop the top.) Our house was similar to the pic that Lakewooder posted.

[golfgal]

There are two developments near us that specialize in the 'nostalgic' architecture. The one neighborhood in particular has gone overboard with trying to make everything look historic that they have pretty much made the neighborhood look awful. The houses are literally 5 feet apart, each house must have at least 3 paint colors but instead of painting the body of the house one color and adding interest with multiple trim colors they have painted 1/3 of each house a different color. The lack of trees also takes away from the 'charm' of the older neighborhoods.

Once you get inside of many of these homes the nostalgic architecture is pretty much gone, stock trim, basic windows, etc. We lived in a true Sears Craftsman style house and I LOVED that house but these new houses aren't even close to the quality and style the originals had.

I grew up in an historic town, many houses 150+ years old and none of them look as silly as these houses. They are on stately lots with lots of room between houses.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by golfgal

There are two developments near us that specialize in the 'nostalgic' architecture. The one neighborhood in particular has gone overboard with trying to make everything look historic that they have pretty much made the neighborhood look awful. The houses are literally 5 feet apart, each house must have at least 3 paint colors but instead of painting the body of the house one color and adding interest with multiple trim colors they have painted 1/3 of each house a different color. The lack of trees also takes away from the 'charm' of the older neighborhoods.

Once you get inside of many of these homes the nostalgic architecture is pretty much gone, stock trim, basic windows, etc. We lived in a true Sears Craftsman style house and I LOVED that house but these new houses aren't even close to the quality and style the originals had.

I grew up in an historic town, many houses 150+ years old and none of them look as silly as these houses. They are on stately lots with lots of room between houses.

Painting 1/3 of each house a different color? Hmm, is this a bygone custom or something?
In terms of "reproducing" a school of architecture, I think it depends on the developer: a master planned community should not be treeless nor does it have to be, and a good builder should do his homework--and spend the bucks, so yes, it'll cost ya.
Obviously, you build a new community out on the prairie, you're not going to have mature foliage overnight.
Our "historic" neighborhood in Denver (registered with the city ) did not have stately lots, though the houses were indeed further apart than 5 feet. But not much further: I could indeed hear my next-door neighbor blowing his nose. That's urban living.

[dncngrl1964]

Originally Posted by mbuszu

My wife and I met a realtor at an open-house the other day and we heard this term for the first time. We're not sure what it means - and assumed it just meant high quality/custom built. What does it mean?

this is a nice Bungalow style Craftsman home
Started by the Great Frank LLoyd Wright

[JBrown]

The term "craftsman" comes from Stickley...he had a magazine by the same name. An awlfull lot of people think it's got something to do with Sears. Although it's certainly true that Sears offered home kits of the "craftsman" style in the early 1900s and later "borrowed" the phrase "Craftsman" for it's line of hardware products they didnot originate the term.

There's a good articles here that'll give you a brief background.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Stickley

[BlueWillowPlate]

Aren't they all sort of joined together though?
We decorated our former home with a lot of Arts and Crafts type furnishings, which preceded (but led to) the American Craftsman period.
Our interior design reflected Frank Lloyd Wright, but also William Morris and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. (Couldn't afford any original Stickley.)

[JBrown]

Stickley furniture is still in bussiness BTW although it is no longer family owned as of a few years ago.

I have a few pieces, very well made and finished. Not cheap but high quality usually isn't.


FYI http://www.stickley.com/