Popular Home Styles in San Diego: American Craftsman

While you are shopping for your next home in the San Diego area, you will no doubt see many lovely American Craftsman style homes on the market.

What is the American Craftsman style, and is it the right choice for you? In this post, we are going to explore the characteristics that define this architectural style and its benefits.

The American Craftsman style sprang up in the mid-19^th century, and become especially popular during the 20^th century. It is part of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Arts and Crafts movement was simultaneously rebelling against two things: mass-produced industrial products and what its proponents saw as excessive and cluttered Victorian ornamentation. Quality, handcrafted elements factored heavily into the Arts and Crafts movement. Its aesthetic could perhaps be summed up with the phrase “simplicity is beauty.”

American Craftsman homes took off in Southern California in particular after the turn of the 20^th century. So, while you will see them throughout the US, there is a high concentration of them in San Diego.

Small American Craftsman homes in this part of the world also sometimes are called “California bungalows.”

Defining Characteristics of Craftsman Homes

Here are some common exterior and interior features that help to define the American Craftsman home style.

• Gabled roofs with low-pitched angles. You can recognize the distinctive shape of a Craftsman-style home by its low-pitched gabled roof.

• Deep eaves. The eaves of Craftsman houses are typically deep, providing a substantial overhang.

• Brackets and rafters. If you check underneath the eaves, you may notice some rafters or brackets. These have been left exposed to provide a subtle decorative flourish to an otherwise basic exterior.

• Front porch. Large porches are a common feature of Craftsman-style houses. You will notice that the porch overhangs are usually supported by simple, tapering columns with a square shape.

• Bay windows. Many Craftsman houses feature large bay windows to bring natural light into the interiors.

• Wood siding. Craftsman homes are typically clad mainly in wood siding.

• Shingled roofs. The roofs of Craftsman homes are generally covered in shingles.

• Stone or stucco. While wood siding covers most of a Craftsman home, it is common for there to be parts of the home that feature stone or stucco siding to provide textural contrast and interest.

• Earth tones. There are no hard rules about the color schemes of Craftsman homes, but traditionally, it was popular to feature earth tones on both the exterior and interior, as well as darker wood tones. So, expect to find a lot of warm, natural colors.

• Well-defined interior spaces. Open floor plans were not popular when most Craftsman-style homes were constructed. People preferred to have individual, well-defined spaces that provided seclusion. So, that is what most Craftsman interiors are like.

• Custom woodwork. Inside a lot of Craftsman homes, you will find beautiful woodwork, much of it crafted by hand and designed especially for those homes.

Why Buy a Craftsman Home in San Diego?

Now you know how to identify an American Craftsman home based on its design features. But what are the advantages of this architectural style? Here are some reasons to consider a Craftsman home in San Diego.

• An iconic style. When someone asks you to picture a classic suburban home, there is a good chance you picture a Craftsman home or a house that features a lot of the design elements that Craftsman-style homes popularized. Craftsman houses have been well-liked since the 19^th century, and will continue to be beloved for their simple, handcrafted beauty over the decades to come.

• Warm and inviting materials and colors. If you want to live in a house that feels “homey,” the earth tones and wood that are so prevalent in Craftsman homes will give you a sense of warmth and welcome.

• A well-balanced style. Craftsman-style houses are more “basic” in their appearance than Victorian homes, and feel less “busy” than homes in that style. At the same time, however, they are neither cold nor minimalist, providing just enough ornamentation to create a balanced look and feel.

• A traditional layout that offers privacy. Even though open floor plans are trendy right now, not everyone wants to live in a wide open, connected layout. The rooms in Craftsman houses are cozy and traditional, providing every family member with privacy, comfort, and a space to call their own. Each room has a well-defined purpose.

Buy Your Craftsman-Style Dream Home in San Diego

If you have fallen in love with an American Craftsman-style home in San Diego, I can help you buy it with a flexible mortgage. To get started now, please give me a call today at (619) 857-7191 to schedule your consultation.