Stickley's Craftsman Homes

by Ray Stubblebine

Gustav Stickley's The Craftsman Home collects all of Stickley's house designs, published in The Craftsman magazine between 1904 and 1916. All the designs are here in sequential order from 1 to 221, as well as commissions and special designs, exterior illustrations, floor plans, and fascinating historical photographs from many of the featured homes. Contemporary photographs of selected built houses, keyed by number to Stickley designs, take the reader's experience from paper dreams to modern reality.
Author Ray Stubblebine discusses Stickley's relationships with other architects and the cross-pollination that took place as they shared ideas in the magazine and even formed the Craftsman Home Builders Club. Gustav Stickley's The Craftsman Home presents valuable information owners and buyers of historic homes, architects, libraries, and historians need to help identify and preserve the homes that have survived.
Ray Stubblebine is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Craftsman Farms Foundation and editor of the foundation's newsletter. He is a writer and speaker on the Arts and Crafts movement in America, and his articles and photographs have been published in Style 1900, Old House Journal, Old House Interiors, New Jersey Monthly, New Jersey Design, American Bungalow, and The New York Times. He lives in Oradell, New Jersey.

Genres: Architecture

536 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2006

Reviews

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly loved this book. An excellent collection of Stickley's home designs often featuring floor plans as well as pictures of the exterior/interior of houses if they still existed (or on many occasion, pictures before they were torn down).

I found the historical tidbits about owners of the houses very interesting, and also the surprises found during renovations for some of the owners.

The book is a chunk though! It's a heavy five-pounder at least :) And I truly wish it had more photographs, which would have pushed it into the almost unwieldy stage. Perhaps the author (if he hasn't done so already) would consider reprinting the book in sections (perhaps either by year or style -cabins in their own book) and then he could add even more historical write ups, floor plans, pictures. I've read several books about Craftsman homes and so far this one has been my favorite.

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough, yet dated, book on Stickley’s designs. I do believe I’ve come away, though, with less clarity on choosing the overall elements of a true craftsman style house.