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<br />B. CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW 1905-1925 <br /> <br /> <br />A new appreciation for Craftsman Bungalows has become evident within the last two decades of <br />the 1900's. Those interested in quality and fine craftsmanship are purchasing these homes to <br />restore. Featuring an extensive use of wood both inside and out, the Craftsman Bungalow is <br />known for its graceful and informal floor plan with plenty of windows and French doors to let in <br />the light and fresh air. Gustav Stickley is credited for popularizing the Craftsman concept. He <br />was a cabinetmaker who edited a magazine about the Arts and Crafts Movement, which had <br />become very popular in England. In 1903, Stickley began publishing Craftsman Bungalow plans <br />in his magazine and the style caught on quickly. His plans ranged from cozy cottages to very <br />large two-story homes and bungalow courts. Plans could be ordered through the magazine and <br />adapted to suit the owner's own taste. <br /> <br />The Arts and Crafts Movement had a deep social significance. William Morris and Phillip Webb <br />were devoted to the restoration of the arts and crafts to society. The back-to-nature concept <br />was a reaction against some of the miserable social conditions present at the turn of the <br />century. Industrialization, pollution, noise, smoke, tenements, ethnic ghetto, child labor, crowded <br />cities, and poverty inspired a return to nature, simplicity, purity, and a healthy environment. <br />Stickley carried the idea further and felt that the structure and function of a building should be <br />appreciated in its basic form. <br /> <br />The Craftsman house often seemed to grow out of the ground. The extensive use of brick, <br />fieldstone, natural river rock, wood shingles, and siding were incorporated into the bungalows <br />whenever possible. As the style grew to refinement, it became identified with certain styles, <br />such as english cottages, oriental teahouses, swiss chalets and airplane style. A whole <br />philosophy of life went hand-in-hand with the style. <br /> <br />Called the Craftsman ethic, the back-to-nature theme spread to the use of French doors, <br />sleeping porches, informal gardens and ponds, and walls and fences of natural material. Built- <br />in's such as desk, bookcases and buffets were also common features. Natural colors such as <br />buff, beige, forest green, dark brown, soft gold, and tan were popular. Interiors featured <br />Mission-style oak furniture, molded woodwork, wainscoting, large brick fireplaces, polished <br />wood floors, burlap curtains, and wallpaper and friezes with natural subjects. <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />