April 1994
So when designers at Country Home magazine and KraftMaid Cabinetry were offered an opportunity to create a kitchen and bath for the Design Idea Center at the 1994 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, they were convinced that a kitchen created in the Craftsman spirit would satisfy both readers and industry professionals. Born in England in the mid-19th century, the style was characterized by simplicity, natural materials, fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail. The idea behind the movement was that a home designed with thought and care, then filled with beautiful, simple objects, could enhance spiritual and emotional health. The American expressions
of the style, which blossomed here in the early 20th century and often are Our new American Craftsman kitchen and bath combine a Craftsman approach with the technology and convenience of the 1990s. A number of classic period details, such as etched-glass cabinet doors, floors with striking patterns, and liberal doses of metal and wood elements, fulfill two important Craftsman goals--to provide a sense of place and inspire respect for craftsmanship by using indigenous materials and artistic methods. “It's certainly laid out as a modern kitchen, and we used the latest materials, such as countertops and cabinet finishes that are easy to maintain,” says Cameron M. Snyder, certified kitchen designer, of Kitchen Concepts in Norwell, Massachusetts, who oversaw the design. “But,” he adds,
“we also made every effort to keep that fine sense of craftsmanship alive in the
design, as you'd expect in a craftsman setting.” The design team, which included Janice Pattee of KraftMaid Cabinetry as well as editors and designers from Country Home magazine, felt that if any style of the past is suited to the 1990's, it's Craftsman. Americans today appreciate quality materials, solid craftsmanship, and the simplicity that guided such artists as architect Frank Lloyd Wright and designers such as Gustav Stickley and Elbert Hubbard. The Craftsman style
abolished the ornate frills and gingerbread of the Victorian era that preceded it.
The beauty of the furniture wasn't in showy curlicues but in the glistening honey finish
of oiled oak, an intricate dovetail joint, or a simple band of hammered copper.
Mission style, Prairie style, and the California bungalows of Charles Sumner and Henry
Mather Greene all were associated with the movement. In planning this kitchen, the designers first took inspiration from Stickley, who wrote in 1909 that a kitchen should be “fitted with every kind of convenience and comfort, with plenty of shelves and cupboards.” Therefore, cabinets and drawers weigh heavily in this design, and there's even a floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet fitted with bins, pull-out trays, and special storage racks. But this is no slavish exercise in precise, historical reproduction. Instead, it is American Craftsman style seen through the lens of late-20th century living. Sensible marriages between
the present and the past abound--ideas that could be built into a new house or adapted to
an existing structure. Metal, which often was used by Craftsman artists, figures prominently as accent strips of brushed copper, chrome, and brass in the countertops of the American Craftsman kitchen. To complement the modern feel of the kitchen's recessed and accent lighting, the designers included reproduction brass lighting in the dining area and bathroom. Conveniences include an instant hot-water dispenser, a high-riser faucet to accommodate cooks on pasta night, and directional lighting to illuminate the workspace. For comfort, there's more here than just a well-equipped kitchen. This soothing design hinges on the inclusion of a sitting/dining room with a fireplace, separated from the kitchen by a display cabinet that stands at half-wall height. The floor plan is open,
allowing freedom of movement without bottlenecks. An island cooking center, which sits at the center of the workspace, was given a craftsman look with dense, rectilinear columns and a blocky base trim made of solid maple. Following Craftsman practice, the designers used undraped windows framed in wood to admit plenty of comforting and energizing light. Stock mullions in a distinctive Prairie-style pattern reinforce the decorating style.
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Decades
before vegetarian cooking, relaxation chambers, and ergonomic furnishings were touted as
the answers to better health and happier living, a group of British designers was
promoting a theory of home design aimed at the same results. It was called the Arts
and Crafts movement, and its clean style was so advanced that nearly a century later it
continues to inspire artists, designers, and home decorators.
referred to simply as “Craftsman,” had a profound and enduring
impact on art and architecture.
Wood
flooring in the kitchen and adjoining keeping room was the obvious choice for a space
constructed from simple materials with traditional craftsmanship. Designers
fashioned a stunning floor design using maple in blocks of cream, punctuated with a dark
green diamond.