Bungalow Decorating - A Quick Lesson

Set apart by it's simple elegance and superior quality, the
Craftsman Style Bungalow was a precursor of today's
continuing trend towards simple, uncluttered interiors. At
the turn of the 20th century, in rigorous rejection of
strict Victorian dictates and ostentatious interior design,
the Arts and Crafts Movement prompted a return to true
craftsmanship. Pioneered by William Morris, this
international movement originated out of the fundamental
ideal opposed to the mass production of the industrial age
and promoted originality in home furnishings.

The Craftsman Bungalow reflects understated elegance,
simple lines, and form following function. The current
trend awareness of environmental issues and "green living"
dovetails into this aesthetic has resulting in a resurgence
of interest in the Arts and Crafts Style.

Typically limited in square footage, the bungalow home is a
model of practical design and creative use of space
traditionally including built in cabinetry and an open
floor plan. Many of today's newer craftsman style homes and
bungalows are much larger than at the turn of the century,
but still reflect open styling and distinct interior and
exterior detailing.

Lot's of windows to bring in natural sunlight help brighten
up the typically darker wood details of many original
craftsman homes. Choose sheer, simple fabrics for window
coverings to allow ample light into the home. A simple
embroidered detail along the hemline will add the
"craftsman touch."

The natural interior colors for your craftsman style home
can be easily inspired by nature. Think of using the colors
of a vineyard, the different hues of fall leaves, the muted
tones of stones. Nature is anything but boring! It is
soothing to the eye to follow your interior colors as they
continue outside, as when glancing through a window or an
open door. Take your outdoor surroundings into
consideration, the colors of the foliage and sky. The
exterior colors should also be subtle and natural, think of
your craftsman home as "growing" from it's foundation.

When furnishing your home, there are many options from
antique Stickley, Morris, Limbert and other furniture
makers of the day, as well as mission furniture
reproductions at many price points. Don't be afraid to mix
antiques with good quality reproductions. Simple and sturdy
well made pieces will give your home the look you are
after. You can easily mix in textural upholstered pieces in
a simple shapes to soften the room. Embroidered pillows and
tabletop linens also "soften the edges" of the typically
masculine forms of mission furniture, adding color and
texture to delight the eye.

Lighting is another key ingredient to your craftsman home.
Once again, mixing antiques and quality reproductions is
quite effective. Remember to balance overhead lighting with
table lamps and pendants to create flattering light from
several heights in the room. Combine fixtures of different
materials, a stained glass floor light, a hand blown glass
shade on a table lamp, perhaps pendant lights over the
dining room table or kitchen island. Hand crafted artisan
lighting is a great way to add quality to your home and can
give the richness of an antique at a fraction of the cost.

Rugs can vary from Navajo style to the many beautiful Arts
and Crafts patterns produced today.

Remember to add your personal touch with accessories made
of hand hammered copper, Tile and pieces of Art Pottery to
complete the Craftsman Touch.

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Jan Davidson is an artist and designer currently focusing
her talents on creating products for the Arts and Crafts
Lifestyle. http://www.craftsmantouch.com is a great
resource dedicated to providing quality Craftsman Style
furnishings and accessories with wonderful photographs for
ideas and inspiration.