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Canadian Craftsman |
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The Canadian Craftsman style has its origins in the British Arts and Crafts movement, which dates back to the 1860s. In many ways the movement was a reaction against the over-decorated aesthetic and disregard for the worker of the Victorian era. Seeking to ennoble the craftsman once again, the movement emphasized the hand-made over the mass-produced.
Typical of this style are deeply overhanging eaves, exposed rafters or decorative brackets under them, tapered, square columns supporting porch roofs and prairie-style windows. Such detailing is strongly evident in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. A common design development arising from the class-shift of the time was the built-in “breakfast nook” in the kitchen. The Victorian kitchen of the previous era was separated from the family view and daily routine. It was seen as a mere utilitarian space where servants laboured. As the housewife of the Craftsman era took on preparation of the family meals the kitchen became the heart of the family’s daily life. Mother no longer had live-in servants and she did much, if not all of the housework herself, as well as watching over the children. Something had to give. These added roles made it important that the kitchen be integrated into the main house with easy sight-lines to the common areas of the main floor as well as to the back yard. Our modern, open plan homes with their integrated kitchens, Great Rooms, and dining areas owe a great deal to the Arts and Crafts Movement! |
