The Craftsman Bungalow design has taken over the housing market in the US, but it’s been around for over a century. Learn the history!
If you’ve driven through middle-class neighborhoods anywhere in the US, you’ve seen craftsman-style homes pop up over and over again. It’s everywhere, almost to the point of exhaustion. In fact, when I think about my friends who own their own houses, 8/10 have some version of a craftsman home. Of course, the Craftsman Bungalow design has been around a lot longer than you realize, so how did it come to be, and why is it still so popular today?
Unlike home designs that were big and costly at the time, like a Victorian-style home, Craftsman Bungalows were smaller, with open floorplans and less ornamentation. The style also celebrated natural elements such as wood and stone instead of excess paint and wall coverings. Because of this, the bungalows were cheaper than other homes and more accessible to a broader range of incomes.
The craftsman style was born out of rebellion. Early pioneers of the Arts & Crafts movement, like the designer, poet, and author William Morris, were exhausted by ornate design; they desired something more simplistic yet artfully crafted. The style and cost of the homes eventually led to the Bungalow Boom, and from there, the style began to take over the country.
Find out more about these unique but widely popular home style below:
The above video explores the history of the Craftsman bungalow, from the 1800s Arts & Crafts movement, to its popularization in America, to its commodification in the 1910s and 1920s.
