Craftsman Style

Many older neighborhoods in cities in the United States feature craftsman style homes. Craftsman style homes first began to be popular in the U.S. during the latter part of the 19th century and reflected the class shift taking place in Western society at the time. Because the Industrial Revolution was providing opportunity to the working class, the number of people willing to enter domestic servitude drastically decreased, and housewives found themselves having perform housework and cooking chores themselves. This new cultural development resulted in new homes being built that didn't include servants quarters or kitchens that were isolated from the rest of the home. Craftsman style homes also evolved as a reaction to the new phenomenon of mass production and included high quality craftsmanship in their detailing. Exposed rafters, hand-crafted woodwork, overhanging eaves and low-pitched roofs are all characteristics of craftsman style homes.