Owning a craftsman home plan is like owning a piece of history. Some of America's most prominent architects designed the Craftsman style home. The designer we think of most was Gustave Stickly. Mr. Stickly started off his career as a furniture designer. After finding great success with his furniture designs he branched out to house plans. He developed the craftsman home design. The design is known for its simplicity. These homes are normally informal. Charm just oozes from this home design. The curb appeal of these homes makes them a hot commodity in the housing market today.



"The Craftsman," magazine founded by Mr. Stickley also became the name of his house plan. The magazine as well as the house plan was known for promoting simplicity, functionally and quality. The craftsman house plan was designed to show off the artistry of home building, furnishing and decorating. The simple design was created to encourage the average individual to build the house themselves.

Henry Mather Green and Charles Sumner Greene were also influential in the progression of the craftsman house plan. Mather and Green combined arts and crafts with easy wooden buildings from China and Japan. California has been named the birth place of the house plan.

The influence of the Arts & Crafts movement during the 1800's in England gave the Craftsman house plan its foundation. This movement was started by John Ruskin, William Morris, and other English designers. The informality and simplicity of the plan was contradicted the Victorian period and the effects of the industrial revolution.

There are many different exteriors found on these homes as you travel across the Us. Most craftsman homes found in the west are stucco and wood. As you move to the Midwest homes are often found with brick exteriors. In the east the homes have more shingles on the exterior.

This homes feature

* Wood, stone, or stucco siding * Low-pitched roof * Wide eaves with triangular brackets * Exposed roof rafters * Porch with thick square or round columns * Stone porch supports * Exterior chimney made with stone * Open floor plans; few hallways * Numerous windows * Some windows with stained or leaded glass * Beamed ceilings * Dark wood wainscoting and moldings * Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seating

There are new communities popping up all over that are focusing on the craftsman as their home plan of choice. The homes developed by Mr. Stickley are warm and inviting making them exceptional choices for young families and starter homes.