The desire to buy a Craftsman-style home has increased in the past few years.
“I recently guided first-time homebuyers who specifically wanted a Craftsman property,” says real estate agent Johnny Austin, of Tacoma, WA. “It was a challenging hunt, but their excitement upon securing the home was palpable. It wasn’t merely the aesthetics—it was about purchasing a lifestyle, and a home rooted in community and nostalgia.”
Now, homebuilders are eager to meet the demand.
“There’s been a noticeable shift in buyers moving from generic modern builds to homes that radiate warmth, character, and history,” says Austin. “Builders who were initially cautious about higher labor costs and specialized materials are now vigorously embracing this style because they’ve realized the extra effort is justified by substantial returns, as these homes consistently attract buyers eager to pay premium prices.”
As people move away from “cookie-cutter” homes, Craftsman-style houses are becoming more popular nationwide.
“The nature of being a custom builder is helping the client to realize their dream,” says Jerry Hogue, managing member of Sun Custom Homes in Oklahoma City, who has constructed several Craftsman homes in the past decade.
What is a Craftsman house?
Craftsman houses were a product of the American Craftsman movement at the turn of the 20th century.
The architectural style applies both to interior design as well as exterior and landscape design, when it comes to houses.
During the international Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman houses rose to prominence in Southern California first in the early 1900s, before popping up all across the United States. These small-to-medium-sized single-family homes were also referred to as the “California bungalow.”
(Artazum/Shutterstock)
In fact, the Craftsman bungalow was so iconic in American culture for a time that you could even buy a kit home by mail order from Sears and construct it yourself.
Craftsman-style home features
Many features distinguish Craftsman homes from others.
Craftsman homes are relatively small and easy to care for—and feature intricate woodwork and open floor plans.
They have low-pitched, gabled roofs, with a wide, unenclosed eave overhang; exposed roof rafters; and simplified decorative beams or braces under the gables.
They’re typically one and a half stories and have a horizontal shape.
Craftsman-style homes are known for their large front porches with thick square or round columns. The porch supports are usually squared and sometimes tapered, and the porch support bases extend to the ground level.
“The welcoming, expansive porches invite neighbors in, enhancing the community,” says Austin.
The homes typically have wood, stone, or stucco siding and an exterior stone chimney.
Most of the living spaces of a Craftsman-style home are on the ground floor and are connecting rooms without hallways.
There’s often a living room at the center, with a dominant, focal-point fireplace, and numerous windows with stained or leaded glass.
Craftsman homes usually feature built-in furniture and lighting; beamed or coffered ceilings; and dark wood wainscoting and moldings.
“Interiorwise, it’s exposed wood galore,” says Jameson Tyler Drew, president of Anubis Properties, in the Los Angeles area. “Some of the most expensive Craftsman-style homes sport interiors made of teak or American chestnut wood, which were commonly available to homebuilders around the turn of the century. The interiors were often works of art in themselves, sporting expensive finished carpentry throughout.”
Types of Craftsman homes
Below are the four main types of Craftsman-style houses.
Craftsman bungalow
The bungalow is the most popular type of Craftsman and is what most people think of when they picture a Craftsman-style home. It usually features a raised first floor, with access via steps leading up to the front porch.
Prairie-style Craftsman
The Prairie-style Craftsman home was developed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago in the early 20th century. He used a lot of stained glass and made many traditional Craftsman elements (such as overhangs and pitched roofs) even bigger.
Mission-Revival Craftsman
The Mission-Revival Craftsman home blends elements of Spanish Colonial and Mission architectural styles. Typically finished in stucco, it highlights vibrant, handcrafted tiles, arched windows, and intricately carved wood details.
American Foursquare Craftsman
This two-story Craftsman home got its name because it has four rooms per floor. When you look at the home from the street, there are usually four windows with the front door in the middle.
Where to buy a Craftsman-style home in America
Craftsman-style homes are particularly popular in Southern California, where they originated in the U.S.
“A Craftsman can be had in Los Angeles, but you will need to bring at least $1 million to the table and get in line,” says Drew. “When they do come up for sale, they go quickly, often with dozens of bids. Unfortunately, we lost dozens of these styles of homes in the Eaton fire this winter in Pasadena and Altadena.”
Craftsman-style homes are also popular in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest—but they can be found across the entire country
5 Craftsman homes for sale
1340 Carroll Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
(Realtor.com)
2047 E. 13th Street, Tulsa, OK
(Realtor.com)
4626 50th Avenue South, Seattle, WA
(Realtor.com)
5217 Highland View Avenue, Eagle Rock, CA
(Realtor.com)
2220 Lakeview Drive, Sebring, FL
(Realtor.com)
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