Thursday, February 24, 2011

Arts & Crafts?

I'm an architecture nerd. I know the difference between a victorian and a foursquare, a widows walk and a gable. I dream of coffered ceilings and subway tiles.

A couple of years ago I realized that I love love love Craftsman style houses.

Bungalows & Prairie Homes full of built ins, stained glass & wood make my heart flutter.

I've read books on bungalows & Frank Lloyd Wright.

It's safe to say that I'm a big arts & crafts nerd.

When we bought the Behemoth the beige stucco and square columns fooled me into thinking that our home was an early Prairie Home.

As the weeks went on I realized that the Behemoth was too old to be Arts & Crafts and fell firmly into the Foursquare category. I was so disappointed that I still say that our house is "just a foursquare."

As we've gotten into renovation we decided to play up the Behemoth's faux craftsman style. The house has the clean lines & detail that are common in arts & crafts style homes and so we're going to run with it.

One place that our faux craftsman style will shine is the front stairs.

There was nothing about the old stairs that I liked so we knew that we'd be building new stairs & finding a new railing.


My super handy grandpa suggested we go with a design based off the Bolton House in Pasadena that was built in 1906 by the architecture team of Greene & Greene.

This railing is simple enough that Jus will be able to help my grandpa build it and will tie into our faux craftsman home.

What style of architecture is your favorite?

13 comments:

Sandy a la Mode said...

i would LOVE to live in a home with as much charm as these!!!

Leah Rife said...

Those stairs are so amazing! I love the railing. I'm sure your stairs are going to turn out beautifully.
I also love love bungalow style homes...maybe someday we'll have one.

hayley said...

i am such an architecture nerd, too! i'm so glad someone shares my love of all things home like. i too adore craftsman style homes, but i also have a soft spot for mid century victorians. don't know if i could live in one, but they are definitely a favorite to drool over :) LOVE the stairs, great idea!

kitten roar said...

i have to say that the only think i know about a "foursquare" is that i use it too much on my iphone. ha! but your home looks so great, and that staircase looks amazing! i can't wait to see what it looks like when it's all put together.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness Nicole I love your blog! It's fun to keep updated, read about your reno-fun! I adore your ideas and creativity!

I love old Southern Plantation Homes. The white round columns are just so gorgeous! That would be my favorite!

Jenny said...

oh my gosh I love both photos! What an amazing house.

kate said...

I wish I was as cool as you and knew what all of this meant. Ha! The last picture looks like great inspiration though!

Ali @ His Birdie's Nest said...

*sigh* LOVE the Bolton House.

Autumn @ Autumn All Along said...

Craftsman style houses are my favorite. I love Victorian houses, but I would never want to live in one....more like I enjoy looking at them.

I am not sure if it is an optical illusion, but does that bottom stair run right into the wall? Like you would walk into the wall if you don't go to the left side of it?

Scientific Housewife said...

Those are fun!

Heidi said...

I love arts and crafts style too! Good thing my architect boyfriend does too-- he just finished designing a similar stair railing to replace the traditional one that is currently in our new row house. Good luck with the house! It looks like a fabulous canvas for all sorts of fun projects!

Jenny said...

Your house is so very beautiful. It is fun to take on a project and make it into something that is special and truly yours. I can't wait to see the progress! xoxo

rachelinaustin said...

I LOVE your inspiration photo!!!... and I just love driving around Austin neighborhoods looking at Craftsmen style homes and little bungalows.