A Craftsman home is defined by honest, well-made details you can see: low-pitched gabled roofs with broad eaves, tapered columns on sturdy bases, natural materials like stone, brick and wood, deep porches, and interiors with built-ins and visible trim. The style grew out of the American Arts and Crafts movement of the early 1900s. A modern Craftsman keeps those details and adds what families want today: open everyday spaces, taller ceilings and more glass.
Craftsman isn’t the trendiest style on the market, and that is part of its appeal. In a 2024 Redfin survey of real estate agents, 33% named Craftsman one of the three styles buyers want most, behind modern, mid-century modern, contemporary and farmhouse. It has stayed in steady demand for more than a century because it is built on craftsmanship rather than fashion.
Below are the six details that define a Craftsman home, each shown in a custom home we designed on a wooded hillside in Huntsville, Alabama.
The short version:
- Broad eaves and tapered columns.
- Natural materials and a confident color.
- Porches that extend the living space.
- Formal rooms where they matter.
- Open, tall everyday spaces.
- Craftsmanship and color carried inside.
Craftsman vs. modern farmhouse
The two styles are often confused because both lean on porches and simple forms. The differences are in the details.
| Feature | Craftsman | Modern farmhouse |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | Lower-pitched gables, broad overhanging eaves | Steeper gables, tighter eaves |
| Columns | Tapered columns on stone or brick bases | Simple square posts |
| Siding | Shingles or lap siding, often in rich colors | Board-and-batten, usually light colors |
| Materials | Stone, brick and wood used visibly | Painted surfaces with wood accents |
| Interiors | Built-ins, trim, wainscoting, warm wood | Clean white walls, open shelving, simpler trim |
1. Broad eaves and tapered columns
The fastest way to spot a Craftsman is the roofline and the porch. Broad, overhanging eaves shade the walls and give the house a sheltering, settled look. Tapered columns, wider at the bottom than the top, sit on substantial bases and make the porch feel solid.
The Huntsville home uses both: generous overhangs, tapered columns and stone accents give it a strong, welcoming presence from the street.
2. Natural materials and a confident color
Craftsman homes were never meant to be all white. The style favors materials that show their nature, like stone, brick and wood, paired with rich, earthy colors. A deep exterior color is one of the easiest ways to make a new Craftsman feel authentic rather than generic.
This home is clad in deep blue shingle siding with crisp white trim, set against stone accents and the surrounding trees. The color makes the house stand out on the street while still feeling at home in the woods.
3. Porches that extend the living space
Porches are central to Craftsman design, and on the right site they can do much more than frame the front door. This home has covered porches on both levels, designed to take advantage of the wooded hillside setting.
Out back, an arched covered porch leads to a stone outdoor fireplace terrace, extending the living space into the trees. It is designed for Alabama evenings year-round: shaded in summer, warmed by the fire in cooler months.
4. Formal rooms where they matter
Traditional Craftsman homes had distinct rooms with doors, trim and character. A modern version doesn’t need to be fully open. Keeping a formal entry and dining room gives the house a sense of arrival and a place for holidays and dinners, while the everyday spaces open up.
In this home, the entry greets guests with arched double front doors and French doors to the adjoining rooms. The dining room keeps a traditional feel with wainscoting, crown molding and its own set of French doors.
5. Open, tall everyday spaces
This is where a modern Craftsman departs from the original. Historic Craftsman bungalows often had low ceilings and small rooms. Today’s version can open the everyday spaces and add height without losing the character.
Here, a two-story living space anchors the plan. Tall windows fill it with light from the trees, and an exposed brick wall, a shiplap fireplace wall and built-in shelving keep it grounded in Craftsman materials. A balcony overlooks the room from the second floor.
6. Carry the craftsmanship and color inside
A Craftsman exterior feels most convincing when the interior speaks the same language. In this home, the open kitchen is framed in classic cabinetry and shiplap detailing, with a wood-topped island and a brick column that echoes the living room’s exposed brick.
The exterior’s deep blue carries through the house too: in the front doors, the kitchen cabinetry and even a bathroom, where a blue freestanding tub sits against gray subway tile. One color, used with intention, ties the whole home together.
Building a Craftsman on a Huntsville hillside
Huntsville’s wooded hillsides suit the Craftsman style well. Its natural materials and broad eaves blend into a treed setting, and stacked porches can take advantage of views that open up from a slope. Hillside sites do take extra planning: in this home, stone retaining walls shape the grade around the house and the garage, and porches on both levels make use of the change in elevation.
Before you design: a Craftsman home checklist
- Which rooms should stay formal, and which should open up?
- Where will the porches face, and will you use them in every season?
- What natural materials, like stone, brick or wood, will you see inside and out?
- Is there one color you want to carry through the house?
- Where do built-ins make more sense than furniture?
Frequently asked questions
What makes a house a Craftsman?
Low-pitched gabled roofs with broad eaves, tapered columns on sturdy bases, deep front porches, natural materials like stone, brick and wood, and interiors with built-ins and visible trim. Together, these details express the Arts and Crafts emphasis on honest craftsmanship.
What is a modern Craftsman home?
A modern Craftsman keeps the style’s exterior details and natural materials but updates the plan, with open kitchen and living spaces, taller ceilings, more windows and current finishes.
What is the difference between Craftsman and farmhouse style?
Craftsman homes have lower-pitched roofs with broad eaves, tapered columns, richer colors and more visible natural materials. Farmhouse homes have steeper gables, simpler posts, board-and-batten siding and usually a lighter palette.
Are Craftsman homes still popular?
Yes. Craftsman isn’t the trendiest style, but it has stayed in steady demand for more than a century. In a 2024 Redfin agent survey, a third of agents named it one of buyers’ three most-wanted styles.
Does Oak River Design work with my builder?
Yes. Oak River Design works with homeowners and builders across Huntsville and North Alabama and produces construction documents builders can price and build from. See how our design process works.
See the full project: more photos of this home are in our portfolio as Huntsville Residence II.
Planning a custom home in Huntsville or North Alabama? Start a conversation with Oak River Design or call (256) 424-3700.
