Craftsman Home Plans

Craftsman style house plans use simple forms and natural materials such as wood and stone to express a hand-crafted character and are comparable to Bungalow style home plans. Craftsman style plans were inspired primarily by the work of two California architect brothers, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene in Pasadena in the early 20th century, who produced "ultimate bungalows" like the Gamble house of 1908. The Greenes were influenced by the English Arts & Crafts movement and Japanese woodworking traditions. Craftsman style homes and bungalows sprang up by the thousands, prompted by Craftsman style home pattern books and The Craftsman Magazine. The Craftsman house features a low-pitched, gabled roof (often hipped) with a wide overhang and exposed roof rafters, and a strong garden connection. Craftsman style porches are either full or partial width, with tapered columns or pedestals that extend to the ground level. The appeal of the Craftsman home design can be found in its rustic appearance and efficient plan that often includes built-in storage and cabinetry. The Craftsman house plans in this collection stay true to these ideals, offering variations of the Craftsman style home from simple one-story home plans to elaborate two-story estate floor plans. See Craftsman Bungalows, and Bungalow House Plans for more variations.