Are you familiar with the Arts and Crafts movement, also known as the American Craftsman style? A type of home design that harkens back to the end of the 19th century, the movement encompasses handcrafted quality and local natural materials in addition to originality and simplicity.
About the American Craftsman Style
In addition to showcasing the skills of local artisans, the Arts and Crafts style notes the rise of the middle-class family. Homes created during this movement have no need for servants' wings (as Victorian-era houses often do), and therefore feature a floor plan that integrates the kitchen with the rest of the main floor. In fact, American Craftsman-style homes were the first to feature breakfast nooks for the whole family to spend time in the kitchen together.
The Arts and Crafts style relies on a variety of materials to create simple, yet elegant, design features. Although these homes often blend vinyl, linoleum, cork and other elements, one of the most common materials is handcrafted wood. Keep reading for three common materials to consider for your American Craftsman home.
1. Hardwood Flooring in Your Arts and Crafts Home
Reclaimed hardwood flooring fits in with the Arts and Crafts style seamlessly. In addition to relying on natural materials with a rich history, its planks offer character and unique beauty that is hard for machines to replicate.
In fact, hardwood flooring in general is an extremely popular choice for American Craftsman homes. In addition to its sustainability, wood floors can be hand scraped to give it a unique handcrafted look. In addition, hardwood flooring is a beautiful, durable, high-quality option that's affordable for the middle class.
IMAGE: Craftsman Living Room by San Clemente Architects & Building Designers Studio 6 Architects
2. Luxury Vinyl Tile in Your American Craftsman Home
Luxury vinyl tile is another fantastic way to add Arts and Crafts style to your home. In addition to a wide variety of colors like marmoleum, luxury vinyl tile can also mimic the appearance of other common American Craftsman materials (including stone, tile and hardwood) at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s extremely durable and waterproof, making it a fantastic option for the kitchen and/or bathroom!
3. Marmoleum in Your American Craftsman Home
Created by blending wood flour, jute, rosin and linseed oil, marmoleum is a sustainable, durable flooring material with a lot of versatility; it adds a lot of beauty to a space as well.
Curious how marmoleum fits within the Arts and Crafts style? Linoleum, an early ancestor of the material, was very common in the early days of American Craftsman homes. As a more modern version of the historic flooring, marmoleum is naturally colorful (with over 300 colors) and can be used to create period looks that were common in the teens and twenties. Its sustainability fits in nicely with the Arts and Crafts movement’s emphasis on sourcing natural options, too.
IMAGE: Victorian Kitchen by Oakland General Contractors Mueller Nicholls Cabinets and Construction
Want to learn more about marmoleum, luxury vinyl tile or hardwood flooring? Come visit our showroom to see examples first-hand and to talk to our experts about how these materials may be a good fit for your home! Make sure you contact us for a free in-home estimate, too.
