My favorite residential architect style hands-down is a Craftsman bungalow. I drool over just about any Craftsman style home from tiny to humongous. When we were choosing our manufactured house, we tried to get close to a Craftsman style, but ended up more on the Cape-Cod spectrum to get the floor plan we wanted with a bay window. So, I’ve been doing some homework on how to make our Cape-Cod home look more like a Craftsman.

Our home in need of some Craftsman accents.
Our home in need of some Craftsman accents.

I’m learning it’s all in the details.

Let’s start with the exterior color scheme. Most Craftsman style homes consist of a tri-color scheme with a neutral base. This can be an olive green base with burgundy accents and white trim, or a navy blue base with white trim and red or rust-color accents. The accent is usually a vibrant color, used minimally. We came very close to this in our own color choices; light blue, white, and burgundy. Although we were shot down by our community on our original idea of more burgundy around the bay window area and eaves (one draw back of living in a mobile home community – super strict rules!) At this junction, we’re thinking we might just have to get comfortable with the colors as they are and someday add colored wooden screens on the exterior windows. At least for now we have a burgundy door.

Craftsmanpalette

Craftsman homes often have specific lines to them; whether it’s the pitched roof, square, tapered columns, or deep eaves with exposed rafters, these elements make it look more arts and crafts style. Adding stone or brickwork to the skirting of the home and porch columns brings out the style of the house. And speaking of the porch, a deep porch is almost a requirement of a Craftsman home. In our own home, we were able to select square columns, but forgot to mention tapering them, something we won’t be changing.

exteriorlightLighting, window boxes, and pergolas can add Craftsman accents that won’t break the bank. We’re currently looking at exterior lighting that’s more reminiscent of Craftsman styles – square with symmetrical lines in a rod iron color. I’m also trying to convince my other half that a pergola above the garage is a nice accent to mimic the look of exposed rafters, something that’s not featured on our own home. It will also give climbing plants something to grab on to when we landscape our tiny plot. And speaking about plants, I’ve been looking into black window boxes as a dramatic way to add contrast to the house without having to go through our community for approval. As long as it’s not permanent, they can’t complain (hopefully.)

We’re about six or seven weeks away from moving into our home since there’s still quite a bit to do (and the house has been sitting there practically untouched for 3 weeks!) But each day, we get a little closer. So far, we’ve picked out the wood laminate (golden oak) and tan masonry on the front. We hope to soon choose the garage door and get the darn thing built! I really just want to nail down a move in date. *sigh*

Do you live in a specific style of home? What style is your favorite?

*Craftman home photo credit: Small Town DJS

2 Comments

  1. latoya @ LIFE AND A BUDGET Reply

    I have always adored craftman style homes, they are so beautiful! Your home is coming along really well and it looks great. It’s amazing how much character can be added to tiny homes now!

    • @Latoya – Craftsman homes just have so much character. We are really looking forward to moving into our home, however, it just feels like it’s taking forever at the moment! 😉

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