Craftsman Architecture Trends of 2021

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Craftsman Architecture is legendary for a reason and thanks to the movie, The Sandlot, we know legends never die. But what makes it so appealing? It is a departure from the over stylized Gothic and Elizabethan influence that had to have everything over the top, in other words less is more. It celebrates the mastery of the tradesman. Pieces that are elegant in their simplicity, and made beautiful because they are hand-made for functionality, in addition to adornment. Pieces such as Cedar Gables and Brackets, are hand-crafted by carpenters who have honed their skills for years, passed down from master to apprentice, and father to son so that each piece is a work of art and a labor of passion. Exterior shutters draw the eye relying on their simple perfection without the need for extra frills and flourishes. Window boxes are kept simple, often made of wood, stained and finished. 

It is in the name, these houses were and are statements in the elegance of master craftsmen. They are dressed in lines and curves that appear simple, and yet are the mark of dedication to a trade and mastery that appeals to the eye both trained and untrained alike. The common features found on these homes would include, Gables to accentuate the peaks of the roof with simple lines and gentle curves, that soften and brighten a roof line. Large porches, with brackets or decorative braces in the roofline corners, become social centers for the family and the neighborhood. Shutters, in a Board and Batten or Raised Panel design, frame the windows like a jewelry box displaying a gem. Cutout exterior shutters are sometimes even a step up if the craftsman is looking to put their full abilities on display and add a little flair to their work.

Intricate columns are also a crowing jewel of the craftsman style of architecture.  Columns in this style should be simple beams made of stained wood like cedar, paneled beams that don't look too colonial, or tapered columns built out to show off the craftsmans mastery of carpentry.  The simplicity does not look easy or contrived; it is not captured in tract homes and subdivisions thrown up in a week. It is found and appreciated in homes all over the US and is an emerging trend in the South and California. You can find grand old homes passed down through a family, often built by the current owners great grandparents or, if you prefer, new construction built to your specifications, so that you can have the house you want in order to start the home of which you have always dreamed.