The Craftsman/Bungalow House

The Craftsman/Bungalow style house was the favorite small house of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Averaging between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet, in many ways this simpler design was a reaction to the ornate detailing and "oversize" elements of the Victorian-style houses. First popularized in California, the Craftsman/Bungalow is said to possibly have its roots as far back as the thatched huts of the Eastern Indians. If so, this would make the Craftsman/Bungalow among the first purely American architectural styles. This 11/2 or sometimes 2 story-style house was comparatively inexpensive for its time. The first floor often had 10' ceilings with the 1/2 or second story having 8' ceilings. Other characteristics included:

• a pleasant front porch that often ran the entire length of the front of the house
• low-pitched gable roofs, which on the front extended out over the porch
• porch roof supported by porch columns, or posts resting on piers or a railing
• wide-eave overhangs

• decorative knee braces and beams, particularly evident on the porch

• extensive use of dormers
• often visible roof rafters on the interior
• an open interior design with few hallways. This lent itself to a more living space and a commodious feel for a house of its size.

The 2000 Old North Knoxville Home Tour included examples of Craftsman/Bungalow style houses. They were 1200 Kenyon Street and 209 Glenwood Ave.

An example of a Craftsman/Bungalow house

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