Arts & Crafts House Styles

The Arts and Crafts movement began as an instinctive reaction against the new industrial age. Seeking a return to simple craftsmanship, with traditional materials, its influence spread both to Europe and North America where the term craftsman denoted a traditional style of architecture and interior design prevalent before the 1920s. In England, the Arts and Crafts influence upon house building was far-reaching between 1870 and 1914. This was not least because its cosmetic (rather than ethical) details were copied by commercial builders. The result was some superb buildings by key architects like Norman Shaw and Voysey, but also a wide range of others ranging from simple terraces to the finest detached houses of the period. Trevor Yorke has written a practical introduction to the Arts and Crafts house. He describes its structure and its style, with buildings designed to fit in with their setting rather than dominate it, and with emphasis upon use of local materials. Using both his own illustrations and colour photographs he shows the distinctive features and details of genuine Arts and Crafts homes. These range from wide arched porches, elongated mullioned windows, and sloping buttresses, to terracotta plaques, decorative ironwork and patterned bargeboards. There are also chapters on the use of interior spaces, and on the furnishings and fittings which characterised Arts and Crafts house interiors, including examples of furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, and distinctive details like door handles, hinges and light fittings. This is a perfect book for those who want to learn more about the simplicity and elegance of the Arts and Crafts style.