The Craftsman style of interior design is based on principles of simplicity, fine craftsmanship and a pre-industrial aesthetic. Read more on Craftsman Interior Design...

The Craftsman style of interior design is based on principles of simplicity, fine craftsmanship and a pre-industrial aesthetic.  Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and architect, originated this American style and developed it through his popular design magazine, entitled, The Craftsman.

The monthly magazine would featured a home that characterized the craftsman movement with deep, overhanging eaves, large groupings of casement windows, open floor plans, and an abundance of natural materials like wood and stone.  During the early twentieth century the craftsman style became popular allowing Americans access to high-quality architecture and design.

Craftsman homes are usually built with local materials.  The overall design takes into account the site and surrounding landscape.  The principles of Craftsman design was widely popularized, even finding its way to lower-income housing in the form of Sears “kit” homes.

The ideology of craftsman style is “form follows function,” in other words the function of the design takes precedents over the form. This ideology can be seen throughout a craftsman style interior design. Structural elements and lighting are first made functional and then tailored to add decorative value. Built-in cabinetry, benches, and bookcases add both utility and beauty to the living spaces. Rustic fireplace built of stone and flanked with built-in bookcases create an “inglenook” within the craftsman interior design.

Furniture built in craftsman style is usually made of quarter sawn oak. Craftsman-style furniture ranges from sturdy, slatted “Mission” style desks to bed frames with long, elegantly tapered bedposts. Furniture like armchairs and rockers are usually upholstered in natural, simple materials like canvas and leather.

There are some general guidelines that can be followed when designing a Craftsman interior.  Any wooden furniture with good craftsmanship and clean, simple lines will work with this style -- particularly if the natural beauty of the wood is the main attraction.  Accessories are important, both to evoke the period and to lighten up the dark wood tones that predominate in Craftsman homes.  Against the background of simple white walls, hardwood floors, oak-beamed plaster ceilings and built-in cabinetry, use stained glass accents, Tiffany lamps, and the glint of metal in the form of pewter accents or brass candlesticks to add sparkle.  With accessories, the honesty and warmth of the Craftsman basics can be customized to your taste, whether that runs to more contemporary elements like sisal floor mats, period pieces like Lalique glass or pre-Raphaelite art, or ethnic accents like Mexican textiles and pottery.