Life in a Craftsman
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Life in a Craftsman
At the turn of the last century, American home life was changing dramatically. The Industrial Revolution had helped undermine the traditional rigid social hierarchy and had introduced a middle class, which would grow rapidly. The aristocracy grew smaller, and the lower classes began to have access to a higher standard of living. These low-income families created a demand for a middle class of houses that were larger than apartments but were not mansions. Significantly, these houses had no need for servants quarters. The matriarch of the family began to take on daily household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning and looking after children, which would have been performed by servants in the past.
In turn, the rooms of the house where these domestic tasks would be performedin particular the kitchenbecame more incorporated into the living areas of the house. (In the past, the kitchen was merely functional and was not a place members of the family would hang out.) This new model of house was known as the Craftsman, and it became one of the defining styles of American home architecture in the 20th century.
The Craftsman was recognizable by the following:
Large Overhanging Eaves
Eaves are the edges of the roof that extend a foot or two past the termination of the roof proper. In some architectural styles, the eaves are minimized or may not exist at all. But the Craftsman drew attention to its eaves, which were often equipped with decorative brackets.
Spacious Front Porch
To understand why the front porch became so important on Craftsman houses, one must remember where these houses were located geographically. As the middle class expanded, they needed a place to live. Aided by the proliferation of cars, an outward migration from cities, where nice housing was still unaffordable, engendered the suburbs that are now a signature element of the American landscape. In the suburbs, families that were accustomed to cramped city conditions found themselves with ample space, and wanted to enjoy it. The Craftsman movement responded to this desire with oversized front porches that allowed family members to relax outside and enjoy the company of their neighbors.
Breakfast Nook
Almost all American kitchens these days have some small space dedicated to in-kitchen eating. There is still the more formal dining room, but many families enjoy their more casual meals in the breakfast nook. Prior to the growth of the middle class, however, there was no need for an eating area in the kitchen. The family itself spent almost no time in the kitchen, because cooking was done by servants. However, when the kitchen became a place for family members to spend time, Craftsman houses adopted a space for them to sit and eat without having to move to another room.
This article is courtesy of The House Designers and Designers Direct House Plans who offer direct from designer home floor plans. Syndication of this article is attributed to Premiere Vanities and Simply Bathtubs who offer a large selection of unique bathroom vanities, cabinets, and bathtubs all with free shipping.
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