The key to creating an authentic Craftsman kitchen is embracing those details that embody hand-craftsmanship and hand-joinery.
History of the Craftsman Interior Design
As a response to mass production and an abundance of cheaply made goods, the Craftsman design movement achieved prominence in the early 1900’s and recognized value in the work of the craftsman and artisan. The handiwork of the cabinetmaker was idealized and an appreciation for quality and craftsmanship was celebrated. Homes of this period were designed with an open floor plan and a central hearth or gathering area. Woodwork and cabinetry became architectural focal points in warm wood tones and joinery techniques were prominently featured.
A cabinet drawer box with sleek dovetail joinery from Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
The Craftsman Color Palette
Create an authentic Craftsman-style color palette with earth-tone stains and paints. Think warm stained wood finishes and paints with natural hues when making your selections. For cabinet materials, consider Quarter-Sawn White Oak with its distinctive grain pattern, Red Oak, Cherry with naturally red undertone, or Maple with its classic grain. Painted finishes can be smooth and sleek on our traditional Paintable wood species or textured on Red Oak. These are all classic finish favorites for Craftsman-style cabinetry.
Quarter-Sawn Oak with its distinctive grain pattern is a staple of Craftsman interior design.
Nature inspired greens and blues are commonly used as accent colors in Craftsman styled interiors.
Selecting Craftsman Style Cabinetry
With Craftsman interiors you’ll find cabinet door styles are more traditional and can have a flat panel or raised panel. Cabinet doors with straight, square edges and simple, clean lines work fantastic in Craftsman kitchen designs. Traditional framed cabinetry construction is a staple of this design. Although Inset door construction is one of the first that comes to mind when thinking of Craftsman cabinetry, Full-Overlay and Standard Overlay doors are also an option when creating this look.
Art glass was a familiar feature in Craftsman architecture. For this reason, leaded glass inserts are an appropriate complement for a Craftsman kitchen. Elegant mullion cabinet doors are also popular in characteristic period patterns.
Design Elements of Craftsman Styling
Hand-craftsmanship is prominently featured in a Craftsman kitchen and great attention is given to the small details. Oftentimes, a simple stylized motif is created to embellish surfaces or an arched valance is used in toe spaces or below wall cabinets to add an arts & crafts flare to the design.
Seek cabinet hardware with a recognizable Craftsman-era embellishment are used to go with with craftsman style of this cabinet door.
The decorative detail in the arched valance is ideal for Craftsman styling.
Detailed wood hoods add a true hand-crafted focal point to a Craftsman style kitchen design.
A craftsman kitchen with a beautiful craftsman styled wood hood in Quarter-Sawn Oak with a burnt red stained finish by Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
Corbels with a hand-crafted and traditional look are ideal for a Craftsman kitchen design.
This Craftsman style molding stack uses a beveled crown with the a custom carved “3-square” motif to add and extra touch of the Arts & Crafts look to the wood hood.
Small corbels are often repeated in molding stacks and below countertops.
A “flared” turned post is another classic period design element.
Cabinet bracket embellishments on the corners of the craftsman styled wood hood add just the right craftsman detail to this kitchen design.
Design features like kitchen islands for example, tend to have a more furniture-styled look. Dura Supreme Cabinetry design by The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street Carpenters Inc., Pennsylvania.
Interiors of cabinets commonly feature customized, well-thought out storage solutions like this.
Is Craftsman your interior design style?
Page left to right to browse the gallery of Craftsman style kitchen designs to discover inspiration for your next project.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry shown with the Craftsma Panel-Inset door style with a “Mission” stain on Quarter-sawn Red Oak with a kitchen island shown in the Lancaster – Inset door style with a custom green paint and rub-thru finish.
