Ever head to the store with no plan for what you’re going there to buy?  Some of you are saying “Uh, this is literally how I go food shopping every week.” Well, I could not be more opposite. I like to have a plan. I NEED to have a plan. Otherwise the cookie isle consumes me. I get confused and lost and I have no idea where I am anymore.

I feel like this is very similar to the first-time home buying experience.  So many times a couple goes out in search of their very first home, and the entire process consumes them. I mean, there’s a LOT to learn about houses. And the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know!  What the heck IS escrow anyway?? Well, I’ve decided to start a little series on my most favorite types of homes. These posts will mainly be informational, and at the very least, can help you figure out which types of homes you like and don’t like (even if I can’t explain to you what escrow is).

To start things off, I’m going to tell you a bit about one of my favorite types of homes, the Craftsman, also known as Arts and Crafts style homes.  I fell in love with these homes when I visited Nashville this past summer. Literally every house I loved in Nashville (including the one below) was a 1920s craftsman, and they were EVERYWHERE. So cute with SO MUCH character!

A Bit of History…

The Arts and Crafts movement, which started in Britain around 1860, was a rebellion against the industrial revolution. Striving to keep handiwork, originality, and local materials in the construction of homes verses mass produced homes with little character. In America however, this style home was more a step back from the Victorian style home with its “over-decorated aesthetic.” These craftsman homes, while still original and well-made, were more simple in style.

Characteristics of a Craftsman

A typical craftsman can be spotted from the street by it’s low-pitched gabled roof with broad eaves and exposed rafters. What the heck does that mean? Basically, the roofs aren’t steep in pitch like victorian homes are, and the eaves (which are the parts of the roof that hang over the walls of the house, overhang more than other types of homes. The exposed rafters are the beams that make up the roof- and these beams are often exposed inside the house as well.

They’re usually one or one-and-a-half stories, and often have one or two dormers on the roof. I love their big covered porches with tapered square columns. It just reminds me of a time when people actually sat on their front porches and used them as another living space of the house.

Craftsman homes take pride in their handiwork, both inside and out, using mixed materials, usually all locally sourced. Notice the decorative brackets under the eaves and roofline below, as well as the use of stone for the columns. Even the change in paint and trim colors, you can tell that there is a bit of a nod to Victorian style in these types of homes.

Inside, you’ll find just as much character and charm as on the exterior. Think built-ins, detailed trim and moulding, exposed beams, and fireplaces- features you don’t see as much in the new-builds of today. I think that’s why I am drawn to them so much. I just love the character they exude and stories that they tell. They’re not too flashy, and with the revivals homeowners are doing in them now, especially in cities such as Nashville, craftsman homes can have a modern and industrial vibe, but be warm and friendly at the same time. That, my friends, is my zone of happiness.

So what are your thoughts on the craftsman style home? Are you loving them as much as I am these days? Comment below with your favorite features found in these homes! And if this isn’t your favorite, stay tuned for my next edition of My Favorite Home Styles!