Characteristics of Craftsman Homes
All architectural styles have certain characteristics that make them easily recognizable. With Victorian homes, one thinks of lots of decoration and ornamentation. Colonials are known for being simple and not having extremely large windows. Craftsman homes also have characteristics that identify them as being part of the Craftsman style.
Craftsman homes are distinguished by their unique shape and size. They are generally no more than two stories high and have very simple construction. As a reaction to the Victorian period, they lack the fanciful ornamentation that would normally be present in homes of the era. Craftsman homes were meant to be simple and serve as a showcase for the abilities of local artisans and craftsmen. In the case of Craftsman homes in Britain, they also served as a response to the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution.
Some of the many characteristics of Craftsman homes include:
- Front, side, or cross-gabled roofs
- Low-pitched roofs
- Decorative braces, or beams, under the gables
- Simple, unornamented doors
- Small, double-hung windows with either four-over-one or six-over-one construction
- Wide, overhanging eaves with exposed roof rafters under them
- A huge front porch equipped with thick, square pedestal-like tapered columns supporting the roof of the porch
Beyond their architectural characteristics, a Craftsman home has certain material characteristics as well. For example, as opposed to Victorian homes, Craftsman homes were built using locally-available materials. So if a home has stone on its foundation, it was probably found nearby. The woods used on the house were also likely to have come from a nearby source. With its original furnishings, a Craftsman home would have contained quite a lot of wood.
Contact Us
For more information on Craftsman homes and their availability in the Austin area, contact the Austin real estate professionals of The Carvajal Group at 512-419-7770.
