Arts & Crafts Home Plans: Showcasing 85 Home Plans in the Craftsman, Prairie and Bungalow Styles

Arts & Crafts Home Plans: Showcasing 85 Home Plans in the Craftsman, Prairie and Bungalow Styles
Average customer rating:

Try it, you'll like it...

Another review to counter Kathleen's below

Duh.

Arts & Crafts Home Plans. Plans for Homes. Home plans.

Only for People Planning on Hiring Carpenters to Build Them a New House

Arts & Crafts Home Plans: Showcasing 85 Home Plans in the Craftsman, Prairie and Bungalow Styles
Inc. Home Planners
Manufacturer: Home Planners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
House Plans | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The American Collection: Craftsman Style (American Collection) (American Collection)

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Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New (Updating Classic America)

ASIN: 1931131260

Book Description

n Opening editorial chronicles the history and philosophy of the Arts Crafts school of design n Eye-catching exteriors and smooth, harmonius interiors celebrate the simplicity and honesty of these homes n A photographic study of several Craftsman homes and tips on creating an authentic Arts Crafts style interior are also included n Complete construction blueprints available for every home in this collection Let Arts Crafts Home Plans be your guide to this well known and beloved American home design.

Customer Reviews:

Try it, you'll like it..........2007-04-20

First off, kudos to the authors for getting the facts right regarding Sears and Aladdin kit homes of the early 1900s. I was so pleased to see the honorable mention of these companies and accurate factual info that I nearly swooned from pure joy. I truly appreciate their giving the kit home companies of the 20s and 30s their due.

As to the designs of the houses pictured in this book, I was pretty impressed with that, as well. Those are some good-looking homes. As to the other reviewer's comment that the houses had big garages and great rooms, the fact is, old-house purists buy old houses and spend 43 years restoring them to their original condition, replete with monitor-top refrigerators and old gas stoves with pilot lights and porcelain tear-drop handles.

The rest of the house-buying public may want something with an exterior look that gives them warm-fuzzy memories of Grandma's house, but with innards that are much more modern (and easy to manage and maintain). The plans offered in this book meet that criteria.

Having spent much of my life in old homes and a small time in a new home, I can see the advantages of a newer home. There is something to be said for being able to pay a utility bill without taking out a second mortgage.

The houses pictured in this book had a nice look. I don't think they'd ever be mistaken for OLD houses, but I was surprisingly impressed with their attention to detail. And the floorplans are spacious, practical and appealing to people who like 21st Century homes.

Rose

Another review to counter Kathleen's below.......2006-08-19

The book is plainly marked "House Plans." That's exactly what you get: plans to build a house. Not to decorate nor historically analyze it, but to build. To rate it low because she wanted it to be something it's *clearly* marked that it's NOT is unfair.

Good stuff working looking at.

Duh........2005-11-29

I really wish that however disappointed Kathleen might have been with what she GOT vs. what she thought she was getting, she would have rated it based on what it was, not what she wanted it to be. It sounds like she thinks it's an OK book of plans, but she only gave it one star. I can only assume that's because it's not a decorating book. That's a little like going to see Citizen Kane and calling it a crappy movie because there weren't any good battle scenes or car chases.
So... even though I haven't read it, I'm giving this 5 stars just to counterbalance Kathleen because it would be a shame if someone looking for a book of plans didn't check this out because of an artifically low rating.

Arts & Crafts Home Plans. Plans for Homes. Home plans........2005-10-23

This book is a catalog of home plans. Operative words: "home" and "plans". Plans with which you can build a home. The other reviewer missed that somehow.

If you want a book of painting tips and decorating suggestions, don't buy this book. This is a catalog of plans for a future home that you might be considering to build.

Just wanted to clear that up a little. Thanks.

Only for People Planning on Hiring Carpenters to Build Them a New House .......2005-10-18

I just have a big warning for anyone thinking of buying this book: it is a catalogue for blueprints that you can buy from the Hanley Wood Company. For some reason Hanley Wood calls their catalogues "books." Their choice, I guess.

I will get to what this catalogue is in a minute. What is important is what it is not. It is not a book about the Arts and Crafts movement. It is not a book of photographs of Arts & Crafts homes since almost all of the pictures are architects' renditions of what the finished houses might look like, not actual photos of what they do look like. It is not a book about Arts and Crafts interiors, which is what I thought it was. When I read about getting 85 "home plans," I was so excited to think that I would be getting 85 ideas for room paint jobs, furniture and fixture ideas, etc. None of that. There's just a handful of photographs of interiors and no real attention paid to that side of it: the dominant imagery is of what the building might look like on the street (curb appeal).

There are a lot of other books about the Arts & Crafts movement that can give you ideas for decorating or redoing an existing home. This just is not one of them. I'm now taking a look at "Living the Arts & Crafts Style: A Home Decorating Workbook."

If you are planning on hiring a bunch of carpenters to build you a house in the Arts and Crafts style, I would buy this book for sure, even though a lot of the plans are not very original Arts & Crafts looking. They have a lot of 2000s details like "great rooms" and three car garages, and some of them look like McMansions with some Arts & Crafts features added in. A lot of them though are original looking and rather nice. You just might find your dream house and won't have to hire an architect. Even if you are planning on hiring an architect, I would buy this little catalogue anyway just to keep him or her honest!

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Blend of History and Photography
Arts and Crafts Style, strictly speaking

Craftsman Style
Robert Winter , and Alexander Vertikoff
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Arts & Crafts Home Plans: Showcasing 85 Home Plans in the Craftsman, Prairie and Bungalow Styles
Bungalow Details: Exterior

ASIN: 0810943360

Book Description

Inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement, Craftsman-style homes captured America's heart at the turn of the 20th century. Bungalows and larger houses with broad roof overhangs, comfortable porches, and hand-hewn wooden details grew out of California's warm climate and influenced a range of other building types, from resort hotels to churches and schools. Today Craftsman-style structures can be found as far east as New York State. Intricate woodwork gives them a timeless handcrafted look, and rustic materials tie them to the earth. Behind each element lies a hint of a craftsman plying his art.

This handsome volume is a celebration of Craftsman-style architecture, which flourished in America from about 1895 into the 1920s. It took on a more natural and rustic form on this side of the Atlantic than its British counterpart, in keeping with the rugged American frontier ethos. Robert Winter, one of the country's leading authorities on the Arts and Crafts movement, has supplied the informative text, which complements the gorgeous color photography by Alexander Vertikoff.

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Blend of History and Photography.......2005-09-20

This book is perfect for the person who wants to know more about the Arts and Crafts Movement from a historical perspective and who also wants to see wonderful examples of this architectural style. It is also particularly helpful in training the eye to select accessories for your own home that follow the Craftsman tradition. The photography is just beautiful.

Billie Weinstein
La Crescenta, California

Arts and Crafts Style, strictly speaking.......2005-01-04

I'm in the middle of converting my house into a neo-Craftsman style house (http://hillsdalehouse.blogspot.com). I'm trying really hard to recreate all those wonderful details that you can seemingly only find in the circa 1914 originals. So, whenever a new book with Craftsman in the title (especially picture books) comes out, I'm quick to sneak a peek. So, I jumped all over this book (actually, I got it from the library). Here are my thoughts:

If you are looking for a nice coffee table book with very pretty pictures of turn-of-the-century Arts & Craft houses, then look no further. This book has some wonderful stuff from houses featured in other similar books, plus many many houses I have never seen before. But, if you are looking for a book about Craftsman Style houses, you have found the wrong book.

Yes, there are some houses that are what most people would call Craftsman. These include the usual Craftsman Farms house, some Green and Green, and the obligatory Bungalows of Pasadena. But, most of the houses in the book are not Craftsman at all, that is if you subscribe the notion that Craftsman houses are houses that were either featured in Gustav Stickley's original Craftsman magazine, or were obviously inspired by one of them. Instead, you'll find some beautiful pictures with a more William Morris type definition of Arts and Crafts. First off, you'll actually find pictures of William Morris' own house (never seen that before!). You will also find wonderful pictures of very gothic looking houses. You'll see marvelous neo-medieval houses. You'll find terrific Tudor revivals. But, you won't find many Craftsman Style houses, which is fine, except for the title of this book. Yes, Stickley and his followers were very much inspired by Morris, and it is fair to say that all things Craftsman are part of the Arts and Crafts movement. But, it is incorrect to say that all things Arts and Craft are Craftsman.

The pictures are wonderful, the text is insightful, but the title is wrong. Oops.

Average customer rating:

Might better have been titled Craftsman-Like Houses
Craftsman-Style Houses by Fine Homebuilding
Mildly disappointing
Disappointing, but some articles of value

Craftsman-Style Houses (Great Houses)

Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

House Plans | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1561581054
Release Date: 1995-07-15

Customer Reviews:

Might better have been titled Craftsman-Like Houses.......2005-02-26

Ok, I'll break from the pack and say I really like this book. As previously mentioned, it's actually a collection of older articles from Fine HomeBuilding. I bought the book many years back, when I first started to develop an interest in architecture. My architectural library has now outgrown a medium-sized bookcase, and I've even designed and built several houses. Nonetheless, I still find myself coming back to the articles in this modest book.

Go forewarned - this collection does not focus purely on craftsman bungalows. Instead, the theme tying these articles together is a craftsman-like approach toward design, materials, and building. There are indeed some true Arts and Crafts treasures highlighted, like the Bolton house by Greene & Greene. Others though have a somewhat modern feel about them. Others still...well...we won't go there.

I must say that even the articles about houses that I don't care for offered up something of value. Sometimes this is just a clever detail or use of material. My favorite article is the Greene and Greene inspired home by Rodger Whipple. This showed me how heavy timber could be elegantly integrated with conventional modern stick framing. I'd never seen this done so well and this little article heavily influenced the direction I took with my own work.

Don't write this one off - I consider it a hidden gem.

Craftsman-Style Houses by Fine Homebuilding.......2002-06-22

At best, this book is mis-titled. With a few exceptions, it takes a smattering of abstract interpretations and applications of the Craftsman Style and incorporates them into new homes. Maybe it was my fault for literally interpreting the title, but this is not a reference for Craftsman/Arts & Crafts/Bungalow style architectural elements nor design. I am a Taunton Publishing fan, but this was a real disappointment and a waste of my money.

Mildly disappointing.......2000-12-28

While the houses featured are not the finest examples of the style, the diagrams of construction details are good.

Disappointing, but some articles of value.......1998-11-10

This book will be a real disappointment to readers who expect a collect of articles on the restoration or reproduction of houses in the Craftsman style. Most of the builders/architects whose work is included seem to think that "Craftsman style" means "use a lot of visible wood in the interior." Additionally, there is one real horror of a remuddling of a hapless bungalow.

However, there are a handful of articles of real value, mostly on restorations. These are almost worth the relatively inexpensive price of the book.

Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture: 27 Stickley Designs for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings for)
Average customer rating:

Authentic Design, all you need to recreate Classic Arts and Crafts Projects

Good Source of Information

Don't take it as gospel . . .

Nice book but bad measurements

"Shop Drawings" useful and fun

Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture: 27 Stickley Designs for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings for)
Robert W. Lang
Manufacturer: Cambium Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style)

ASIN: 1892836122

Book Description

Featuring working shop drawings, this book demonstrates 27 pieces of authentic Craftsman household furniture by Gustav Stickley and his contemporaries. Every type of furniture is represented here: Morris chairs, chests of drawers, wall shelves, bookcases, sideboards, dining tables, occasional tables, beds, side chairs, and rockers. Each project includes a perspective view along with elevations, sections and details, and complete measurements.

Customer Reviews:

Authentic Design, all you need to recreate Classic Arts and Crafts Projects.......2007-05-15

23 pages of "how-to's" and then detailed 2D and isometric drawings with dimensions and with cut lists. Cheap paper, no color, but clarity is very high because the plans are in drawing form rather than photos. Could have been improved with exploded diagrams of through-tenon joints, but Stickley's craftsmen didn't need that evidently. The projects are authentic, and work for woodworkers who don't want any style upgrades and only want the 1rst generation Arts and Crafts that the book represents.

Good Source of Information.......2007-05-07

I have enjoyed looking at the plans and for the most part are very well done but I have built some of the pieces and have found errors in the measurements - as you should always do Measure Twice and cut once

Overall I would buy other books from Mr. Lang

Don't take it as gospel . . ........2005-03-26

I built the #332 Morris Chair from the plans in this book and found a huge mistake in the measurements: the chair was fully 4" too wide (I caught this in time to fix it, thank goodness). In Mr. Lang's drawings the seat area is measured at 27" wide; in all the Stickley catalogs, it's clearly labeled as 23". Several of the other dimensions were also questionable.
Much of the information in the book, in the text and the drawings, is very valuable. I've enjoyed the book and would buy it again in a minute. Just make sure, if accuracy is important to you, to check his details against every picture and description of an original piece that you can find!!

Nice book but bad measurements.......2003-12-07

This book is an excellent compendium of arts and craft style furniture, but boys and girls, check your measurements when you start some of the pieces. I built the wardrobe No112 and have pretty good shop experience. I found errors all over that particular wardrobe. I can understand bad measurements but some were obviously the planners fault.
Admittedly I have not built anything else in the book and this is a fairly elaborate piece. But I found myself shaving off full half inches where I shouldn't have to. Triple check any measurements made and you will be fine! It is unfortunate that such a detailed book with great ideas for plans does not have its measurements doubled checked. The scales for the furniture in the book do not match some of the drawings either. When I get a series of drawings I expect the measurements to be tried and tested. The book does have a good set of suggestions to build the furniture. Sometimes drawings are missing though that would clarify the project. The economy of pages makes the carpenter lose out.

"Shop Drawings" useful and fun.......2001-12-22

Ever since building our first piece of "Stickley" style furniture I've been looking for a book with more ideas. This one certainly filled the bill. Given the time, I could outfit my whole house with these attractive pieces! Mr. Lang's style helped make it an enjoyable read while his hints and advice came in useful from the start. An added benefit was the facinating history of the Stickley company. It really gave me some insight as to the designs.

Craftsman Homes: More than 40 Plans for Building Classic Arts & Crafts-Style Cottages, Cabins, and Bungalows

Average customer rating:

Original Work
An OK Read
There are better Craftsman Books
Beautiful houses, great interior ideas
Another good reference...

Craftsman Homes: More than 40 Plans for Building Classic Arts & Crafts-Style Cottages, Cabins, and Bungalows
Gustav Stickley
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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The American Collection: Craftsman Style (American Collection) (American Collection)

ASIN: 1585744921

Book Description

Gustav Stickley's own compilation of the best of his designs.

Customer Reviews:

Original Work.......2007-07-29

Please understand that the author of this book, Gustav Stickley, is founder of the original Arts and Crafts movement which evolved to American Crafstman in the United States in the early part of the 20th century. This book is in fact the original work from that time period, so is dated in its composition, but, of course, an historically significant piece of literature.

An OK Read.......2007-04-10

This book has very poor sructural building plans. It informs of the classic arts and craftsman period and how it effected design. It did not inspire nor reveal any proceedure's on how certain designs were accomplished.

There are better Craftsman Books.......2007-01-16

I was dissappointed in the poor illustrations and lack of depth on the topic.

Beautiful houses, great interior ideas.......2001-03-28

This is a reprint of a house plan catalog from 1909. These books are actually exact reprints of original plan books from the turn of the century (1880-1925, roughly). Dover adds little or no modern explanations, just presenting the catalog as it was. So when one looks to review these books, one isn't really judging the modern-day publisher, or editing, or writing. The only modern element is the accuracy of reproduction- in some cases, if pages in the originals that Dover found are damaged or torn, that page is reproduced in the original with the tear, smudge, blot, or hole showing. So to judge the books, one has to compare each one to others of its kind, and then to decide whether the material in it is thorough and complete according to the standards of its time. Since there are several dozen of these catalogs published by Dover, we have the basis for such a comparison.

Stickley and the Craftsman school of design are well known. Many people own bungalows, or admire them even if they don't own them. What getting a book such as this does, is give a person insight into the details of the lifestyle of the time, of the philosophy of the architects/designers, and so on.

This particular book is one of my favorites. As with other Stickley catalogs, it includes several essays. The first one is "The Simplification of Life: A Chapter from Edward Carpenter's book called 'England's Ideal'". This essay resonates today, with people who are looking to get away from some of the modern excesses of possessions and displays of wealth, to a simpler life. There is also a review of another book, with quotes from it: "The Art of Building a Home" by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin.

One of the features of this catalog is that along with the exterior view and floor plan of every house, there is an extensive written description. For many of the houses there are drawings of the interior, with suggestions for furnishings. There are also examples of what types of light fixtures one might use. The written descriptions, in some cases, even include alternate ways to finish the house to save money or to adapt it to a particular type of location. Most of the illustrations are drawings/paintings; there are a few photographs, but not many. The drawings of the interiors include wallpapers and curtains. One illustration even shows a Craftsman piano! There are some concrete/cement houses, including ones mixing concrete with wood construction.

There are a few houses in the book without indoor bathrooms, which is not unusual for the period, but most have a full bath, and some have two bathrooms. Almost all have extensive built-ins: sideboards, bookcases, benches and settles, shelves. There are illustrations of the kitchens; while built-in kitchen cabinets as we know them now were not common at the time, these illustrations show kitchens furnished with the cabinets and tables that were common, and show the placement of stoves, water heaters, etc. There are also some wonderful examples of inlaid decorative wood flooring, and large sections on Craftsman furniture, metal work, and fabrics and needlework.

One of my favorite things in the whole book is "Two Inexpensive but Charming Cottages for Women Who Want Their Own Homes." It's difficult for us to imagine now, how radical an idea that was - that women might want to own their own homes without necessarily getting married. Recognizing that even if she works, a woman's income at that time would be significantly less than a man's, Stickley designs these homes to be economically built. He describes how two or three single women might manage to share such a home, making it more affordable. Very forward-thinking for the time!

Another good reference..........2000-04-11

This book assisted us in the redesign of our home in the craftsman tradition. A good reference for us to formulate our ideas, and for our architects to see what we liked. Worth the price

In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style)

Average customer rating:

Projects from Cutting Edge Craftsmen
In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style)
In the Craftsman Style
An Excellent Guide to Building Arts & Crafts Style Furniture
Excellent book

In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style)

Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Arts and Crafts Furniture: From Classic to Contemporary

ASIN: 1561583987
Release Date: 2001-02-15

Book Description

The Arts and Crafts style is simple enough to look good in almost any home and works with many types of furniture. Encompassing the Craftsman, Mission, Greene and Greene, and Stickley styles, this book gives readers detailed instructions for creating Arts and Crafts pieces at all levels. Step-by-step photographs and illustrations walk them through the process of building a classic Arts and Crafts chair, bookcase, sideboard, blanket chest, clock, and mantel, among other pieces. Photos of finished pieces provide additional inspiration.

Customer Reviews:

Projects from Cutting Edge Craftsmen.......2007-05-15

The quality, complexity, and complication of these projects can be stunning. Its a great resource for planning your own projects, but few of us will have the competence to take our work to this level of professionalism. Projects are highly imaginative and the write-ups are full of great "how to's". This is actually a cheap book for Taunton Press to put out, since it is culled from a few years of Taunton's Fine Woodworking magazine - therefore don't pay more than 20 for it, and look for it used.

In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style).......2007-03-31

In the Craftsman Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Arts & Crafts Tradition (In The Style) I Purchased this as a gift for a friend who builds Craftsman Style furniture. We were both a little disapointed that so many of the pieces were "modernized" and "stlyized" - almost to the point that they didn't seem to fit the genre.

In the Craftsman Style.......2003-07-27

Fine Woodworking provides excellent photographs, sophisticated projects and adequate details for building. This book exemplifies these qualities with respect to craftsman furniture. I particularly liked the modern adaptations which are less heavy than many of the originals and the variety of projects.

An Excellent Guide to Building Arts & Crafts Style Furniture.......2002-01-14

This is the best introduction to building Arts & Crafts style furniture I have read.

I found it to contain an excellent balance of history, theory, project plans, and inspiration. The articles are well-written, accurate, and thorough. The photos and diagrams are crystal clear and colorful.

The first section (approx. 30 pages) introduces the Arts & Crafts style, highlights the schools of design and the designers (Morris, all the Stickleys, Greene and Greene, etc.), and showcases ways in which the Arts & Crafts heritage can be adapted for modern homes.

The second section (approx. 105 pages) contains diagrams and detailed instructions on the construction of 10 pieces of furniture, plus instructions on making Stickley-style legs and on fuming the pieces with ammonia).

The third section (approx. 20 pages) contains photos and descriptions of several Arts & Crafts-inspired pieces (though not detailed instructions on building them).

This third section seems to have upset other reviewers, either because they didn't like it or didn't expect it in this book. I found this section vitally important to the book's stated goal, which is to help the reader apply to the Arts & Crafts style to designing and building her own furniture.

In my opinion, the difference between successful Arts & Crafts furniture and cheap knock-offs lies in the subtleties of design, proportion, and details. The discussions contained in the third section of this book focus precisely on these elements, walking the reader through the often lengthy decision-making process of the furniture designer. The importance of careful attention to line, function and form are emphasized here. I might not have purchased to book just to get this section, but excluding it (or not reading it) would be a shame.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in buying or (especially) designing and building Arts & Crafts style furniture.

Excellent book.......2001-03-21

This book covers the design elements and construction of Arts & Crafts/Craftsman styled furniture, including the design element differences between Stickley, Greene & Greene, etc. It also lightly covers the history.

There are several plans, unfortunately not the one on the cover. And chairs are not something that plans can easily be drawn, even when overall dimensions are given. It doesn't take much to make a chair uncomfortable.

Some more plans covering the gallery items, especially the cover item, would have been nice. But, overall it is a really good book.

The American Collection: Craftsman Style (American Collection) (American Collection)
Average customer rating:

Plans only!!!

The American Collection: Craftsman Style (American Collection) (American Collection)

Manufacturer: Home Planners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Residential | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Craftsman Style

Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New (Updating Classic America)

ASIN: 1931131546

Book Description

american Collection: Craftsman style Celebrate the fine details and modest proportions of the Craftsman style with this beautiful collection of 165 homes in the Craftsman design and discover its distinctive American roots.

Customer Reviews:

Plans only!!!.......2007-03-12

This is a book a plans only. You can also find all these plans when you search online. Its a good book if you want to see what they would look like in color.

Average customer rating:

beautiful plans, lots of detail

More Craftsman Homes
Gustav Stickley
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Craftsman Bungalows: 59 Homes from "the Craftsman"
Arts & Crafts Home Plans: Showcasing 85 Home Plans in the Craftsman, Prairie and Bungalow Styles
Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors: Cabinets, Moldings & Built-Ins for Every Room in the Home (Shop Drawings series)
California Bungalows of the Twenties

ASIN: 0486242528

Book Description

Stickley pioneered an architecture based on beauty, simplicity, utility, and organic harmony. His approach came to be known as the Mission style. Complete plans for 78 authentic Mission-style dwellings are reprinted here from an original 1912 publication with over 300 black-and-white illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful plans, lots of detail.......2001-03-28

This is a reprint of a house plan catalog from 1912. These books are actually exact reprints of original plan books from the turn of the century (1880-1925, roughly). Dover adds little or no modern explanations, just presenting the catalog as it was. So when one looks to review these books, one isn't really judging the modern-day publisher, or editing, or writing. The only modern element is the accuracy of reproduction- in some cases, if pages in the originals that Dover found are damaged or torn, that page is reproduced in the original with the tear, smudge, blot, or hole showing. So to judge the books, one has to compare each one to others of its kind, and then to decide whether the material in it is thorough and complete according to the standards of its time. Since there are several dozen of these catalogs published by Dover, we have the basis for such a comparison.

This particular plan book is one of my favorites. It includes an introductory essay by Stickley, an essay on "The Relation of Craftsman Architecture to Country Living," and several other pieces. "The House of the Democrat" by William L. Price is also included, a thoughtful essay which would give anyone pause when looking at today's McMansions. Price says that a house should not embarrass one's friends; it should be ample enough to contain them, simple enough to leave them unoppressed, and with enough artistry to please and lead them, if they wish, to build one likewise. This essay is worth the price of the book!

One of the features of this catalog is that along with the exterior view and floor plan of every house, there is an extensive written description. For many of the houses there are drawings of the interior, with suggestions for furnishings. There are also examples of what types of light fixtures one might use. There are several cement houses, a fad of the time which should have caught on more than it did, as it is an economical and sturdy material for building a house. The written descriptions, in some cases, even include alternate ways to finish the house to save money or to adapt it to a particular type of location. Most of the illustrations are drawings/paintings; there are a few photographs, but not many. The drawings of the interiors include wallpapers and curtains.

There are a few plans for log houses, for summer camp houses, and even for rural schoolhouses. There's also a section on gardening and landscaping; one on pergolas, one on the details of concrete house construction, and one on how fireplaces work for heating and ventilation.

Book Description

With over 200 detailed illustrations and descriptions, these two catalogs are essential reading and reference materials and identification guides for Stickley furniture. Among the items depicted and described are chairs, rockers, stools, settles, desks, library tables, music cabinets, drop-leaf tables, nests of tables, chests of drawers, sideboards, china cabinets and dressing tables.

Customer Reviews:

Launching Pad for Craftstman-style Interior Design.......2002-06-05

The best candidates for this book are those who have purchased or are planning to purchase a Craftsman-style home; however, that should not exclude those who just want to replicate the style in their decor. Although there are many style characteristics of the Arts & Crafts era that are easily identified, this book sheds light on a wide spectrum of pieces with literal authenticity.

While not a complete collection (items such as light switch coverplates and heating register covers are not included) these reproductions of Stickley's catalogs are the perfect foundation for those looking to purchase Craftsman-style interior accents.

If you desire to maintain as much as possible the look of the Arts & Crafts movement in your interior design, this book should definitely be a staple in your library.

Excellent Value.......2000-06-27

The photography is the old original work, and while it's not up to today's standards it is nice. There are prices for each piece, which is amusing, seeing a $12 price for a table.

There are measurements for most of the pieces, which is not surprising as the furniture was sold via catalog. There are no plans, this is from a catalog to sell furniture, not plans. But, between the pictures and the measurements you can develop your own plans.

Amazon.com

The Arts & Crafts movement first gained popularity in England in the late 1800s as people became distressed by spreading industrialization and factory goods produced inexpensively with flimsy construction and inferior wood. Seeing that the new system treated workers as machines, the movement sought to revive a craftsmanship of earlier times. In the United States, Gustav Stickley gathered together many of the movement's shared beliefs as he tried to, among other things, clear the clutter typically found in Victorian interiors and replace it with something simpler. The book begins tracing Stickley's life in 1876 when, at 18, he found his life's vocation while working in his uncle's furniture factory in Brandt, Pennsylvania. Through wonderful photos (many of them full-page) and careful wording, David Cathers and Alexander Vertikoff demonstrate a clear appreciation for Stickley's style--unvarnished wood, exposed joinery, strength, no-nonsense forms, and the beauty of integrity. Stickley, in short, devoted his life to celebrating and making visible the elements of construction. The work of others who helped to shape the Arts & Crafts movement--including architect Harvey Ellis, Charles and Henry Greene, Elbert Hubbard's Roycroft community, and Charles Rohlf--is also examined. Among the highlights of the book is Craftsman Farms, an artisan colony, model farm, and school Stickley built on 650 acres, described in its time as "a log cabin idealized." The book also examines Stickley's Colonial Revival House in Syracuse, New York, which he turned into the first Craftsman residential interior after a fire damaged the house on Christmas Eve, 1901. It was also to be the house where Stickley, widowed and nearly penniless, lived out most of his final years (he died in 1942) with his daughter and her five children. Many of the details about Stickley's personal life come from his grandchildren's memories. "He was," one grandchild has written, "almost an evangelist in bringing new thoughts and new appreciation of things artistic and new social thinking. That is something that doesn't go bankrupt and he, as an inspiring person, never did go bankrupt." --John Russell

Book Description

Beginning in the very first year of the twentieth century, Gustav Stickley made furniture that is prized almost a hundred years later for its honesty, simplicity, and usefulness. As a designer and manufacturer who emphasized careful workmanship, respect for natural materials, and simple lines, Stickley had a profound impact on the look of American homes. Today, Arts and Crafts design -- synonymous with Stickley to many people -- has become an American passion.

Elegantly designed and lushly photographed, Stickley Style is the first major publication to explore in full photographic color the central role Stickley played in the development of Arts and Crafts design. Author David Cathers invites us into the world of this influential furniture maker and provides us with an insider's tour of some of the country's most important Stickley collections and interiors. Here, imbued with pure and simple lines, are the comfortable Morris chairs, the upright settles, the solid oak chests, the hammered metalwork, and the delicate textiles that have come to epitomize Stickley's style.

But Stickley was more than a furniture maker -- he was a one-man phenomenon: book and magazine publisher, proponent of a simple and natural lifestyle, and de facto leader of the Arts and Crafts movement in America. Calling the composite of his ideas and activities "the craftsmanship of life," he used the word Craftsman to refer to his houses, his furniture, and his magazine.

Stickley Style captures the excitement and revolutionary zeal of these ideas and this era, a time when Victorian fussiness was being abandoned in the search for a modern way to live. The book opens with a vivid description of the Craftsman idea and describes Stickley's vision of ways to make a house conducive to a life of beauty and contentment. Cathers then goes on to show us the collections in a series of stunning Arts and Crafts homes, including Stickley's own family home in New Jersey. Finally, for those who want to furnish their own homes with appropriate reproductions, an extensive catalogue presents everything from Stickley tables and sideboards to tall case clocks and metal door latches. Throughout, specially commissioned photographs by Alexander Vertikoff show the overall harmony that will make the Stickley style as much a favorite for the new century as it was for the last.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning!.......2006-01-17

Knowing what a nut I am for Stickley and all things relating to the Arts and Crafts movement, my wife bought me this book for Christmas. Believe me when I say that this book is not something you are likely to skim once or twice and then put away. I read the whole thing and found it to be an excellent resource for all who love Stickley's furniture and the Craftsman lifestyle. As a woodworker I can attest that there are loads of great photographs to inspire you to build reproductions of Stickley classics. As a DIY-er I appreciate the home improvement and color scheme ideas that I was able to gather in this book.

As a librarian I have already read and reviewed many books on this subject. I can honestly say that (to-date) this book covers the Arts and Crafts lifestyle as well as any other and is second to none when it comes to understanding the rise and fall of Stickley's style. Highly recommended.

Lovely Book.......2004-06-11

This book is full of lush photographs of Stickley homes. I bought it because it was well-designed, as well as informative. The photo references are impressive, and overall the book pays the same attention to detail that Stickley did. For example, I was impressed that beneath the dust jacket, the cover of the book itself was a beautiful print of a Ginko Flower textile. Almost every page has full color images, and at the back there are individual photo references for furniture, lighting, and decorative items, much like a catalog. The whole thing is indexed as well. Useful as a reference book for research, or an art book to just enjoy.

It becomes the reference book for our house and my ..........2001-10-18

woodworking projects. We moved in this Arts & Crafts house built in 1912 two years ago and started remodeling a bit by bit. Also my woodworking hobby has taken off along with the remodeling. The more we have done on the house, the more we like and the more we want to know about it. I have been in the stores looking at those expensive mission style furnitures and mimic the design on my own piece. I designed every piece I made for the house. Then at the point that we think we need to know more about the history of Arts & Crafts and bigger picture, we bought this book. It is surprisely good book that contains everything we were looking for. Gorgeous pictures, stunning furniture. When we were refinishing the master bedroom, we were looking at the book constantly for ideas and colors. Now the room is done, I am looking forward to making my next project - morris chair. Again, I already know what it will look like from this book. Well, this book is not only for people like me who needs reference but also very nice one for those Arts & Crafts enthusiasts.

Stickley Style : a book worthy in the Craftsman Tradition.......1999-12-06

An excellent book for both the Stickley and Arts & Crafts Movement enthusiast. We recommend it.

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