Craftsman-Bungalow: Then and Now Part 3

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Craftsman-Bungalow: Then and Now Part 3

Published at January 09 2024 by JFord

When you think of a classic, you think of something that is timeless. You start thinking about things that tend to be made simply, but well. A good hamburger and fries. A simple black dress and flats. A nice rain coats. These things are things that we know are going to be something that people are always going to need and actually want to buy. Craftsman-bungalow house plans are exactly like that. They are made with simple lines and built to last.

With classic items, it is always easy for them to adapt to the times. This style of home is no different. From their inception in the early part of the last century, they have been continuously evolving to suit the times. The modern craftsman-bungalow house plan will have many of the elements of their predecessors but will have parts that a modern homeowner needs and wants.

Modern Craftsman-Bungalow Style Elements

From the beginning this style of home has catered to those who are looking for the most bang for their buck. In the early part of the last century, new homeowners were wanting to get away from the massive wasted space of the Victorian and Edwardian style homes and move into more modern homes that featured multiuse rooms and clean lines.

Now, the craftsman-bungalow home is still adapting, blending elements from other styles seamlessly into a cohesive look that is just begging for you to build it. From modern materials on the exterior of the home to open floor plans, the modern craftsman-bungalow house is sure to please.

On the exterior of the home, you will still have that look that tells you this is a craftsman home, but the materials make all the difference. Vinyl is a popular choice now, especially luxury vinyl from companies like Ply Gem with their line of Mastic siding.

The entry will still be separate from the rest of the space but will incorporate more of the style elements from other styles. For an example, check out our Melrose Place plan below.

The living room will still have the focus to be mainly on the fireplace and still need to have that physical and visual connection to the entry way and front porch. The dining room will become more integrated with the kitchen area and the kitchen will no longer be isolated from the rest of the home. The open floor plan is being blended into the traditional craftsman-bungalow home and giving you a lovely floor plan.

The traditional dining nook, where informal meals were served for decades, is still serving that purpose but is being renamed into the breakfast nook or is being integrated into the kitchen area itself. The butler’s pantry has now become a central hub where modern day conveniences such as computers and smart hubs have taken root.

The mudroom is no longer just a way to keep mud and muck out of the house. With attached garages becoming more common, mudrooms are now drop zones and are perfect for helping keep families organized with our ever-growing to-do lists. The den has gone from the informal relaxing area of the home to the media center of the home. Now you are more likely to find a in home theater system here rather than a space to find quiet.

The biggest change to the craftsman home is with the bedrooms and bathrooms. The traditional craftsman-bungalow will usually only have one centrally located bathroom and no master bedroom. The modern home requires many more bathrooms than that. Now you are more likely to find in-suite bathrooms attached to every bedroom. And the master bedroom gives you more space than the other bedrooms and a larger attached bathroom and closet system.

Melrose Place (MEN 5198)

This gorgeous craftsman-bungalow house plan from award winning designer Michael E. Nelson gives you just over 4,500 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms and 1 half bath. The plan also includes a 3-car garage to store all of the family vehicles. The outside of this home mixes that classic craftsman-bungalow front porch with rustic exterior materials and exposed beams and stone giving the home some great curb appeal. On the inside of the home, the classic craftsman-bungalow entryway opens up to a very modern open floor plan that includes the great room, kitchen and dining room. Don’t forget about entertaining during the nice weather! This plan gives you some awesome outdoor living space just for that.

As you approach the home, the first thing that you notice is the craftsman-bungalow style front porch. This classic porch makes you feel like you are definitely coming home. This house plan mixes that classic look with rustic elements and exterior elements such as exposed timbers and rough-cut stonework.

Entering the home, you find yourself in the foyer. This formal area is perfect to greet your guests and includes a coat closet just before you reach the rest of the home. Just like a classic craftsman-bungalow home, this foyer opens directly to the great room giving visual and physical access from the great room to the front porch.

The great room is part of the open floor plan that also includes the kitchen and dining room. The great room is perfect for entertaining with a large centrally located fireplace located on the right wall of the space. This is also a nod to the craftsman style that inspired this plan.

The large bank of windows that takes up the rear wall of the space and the exposed beams and vaulted ceiling in the great room are a nod to the rustic style exterior materials on the front of the home. You can’t have a rustic style home that doesn’t have at least some large windows that give you that openness and head space.

The rear of the space looks out onto the outdoor living area. This outdoor living area is completely covered and perfect for entertaining. The smaller space is great for cozy evenings with friends and family while the larger space features a corner fireplace.

The kitchen is separated from the great room by two kitchen islands. The larger of the islands and the one closest to the great room is perfect for prepping and serving meals and features bar seating for 5. The smaller island is perfect for cleaning up and features a sink that faces the great room.

This allows you to clean up while keeping an eye on the comings and goings in the great room and the rest of the home. The rest of the kitchen gives you tons of counterspace and room for a large range. Along the other wall you will find room for both a fridge and a freezer.

Adjacent to the kitchen you will find the dining room. This is a throwback from the dining nooks of the classic craftsman-bungalow style home. This dining room is great for both informal and formal dining and features a large triple window that faces the rear of the home. This space also gives you an entry way to the outdoor living space on the rear of the home.

At the front of the home, you will find a short hallway. This hallway gives you access to the office, pantry, entry from the garage, half bath and laundry room. The office features a double casement window that looks out onto the front of the home.

The pantry is large enough for even the most dedicated shopper and features built in shelving and a window that faces the front of the home. The entry leading in from the garage is adjacent to the pantry making it easy to bring groceries in and get them put away. This entryway also features a perfect place for a mudroom and has space for storage.

Across from the entryway is the half bath which is great for those with small kids. The laundry room sits at the end of the hall. This space can also be used for hobbies and crafting. It has plenty of floor space that gives you room for a sewing or crafting table and has its own adjacent storage room.

The laundry room gives you access to bedroom 3 from a short hallway. This hallway can also be accessed from the kitchen. Bedroom 3 has its own in-suite bathroom with a large glass shower and linen closet. It also features a large triple window on the rear of the home and a walk-in closet.

On the other side of the home, you will find the master suite and bedroom 2. The master bedroom has a private entrance to the outdoor living area on the rear of the home and a triple window facing in the same direction. The master bath gives you both a whirlpool tub and a large tiled shower. Don’t forget about the large walk-in closet that is large enough to house a small boutique.

Bedroom 2 is at the front of the home and has its own in-suite bathroom. This bathroom gives you a small glass shower and a linen closet. The bedroom itself has a double window that faces the front of the home and a small walk-in closet.

Downstairs, you will find a large game room that opens up to the lower covered porch on the rear of the home. Bedroom 4 is located here in the basement. This large room has windows on two of the walls and a large walk-in closet. There is a 4th bathroom located on this floor.

Cedar Mountain (MEN 5026)

This rustic beauty gives you down home vibes and modern conveniences. At just over 2,600 square feet, this house plan gives you 4 bedrooms with 3 full baths and has space for a 2-car garage. This home has a large open floor plan that features the kitchen, great room and breakfast area. It also gives you an absolutely gorgeous outdoor living area.

The first thing that you see about this home is the vaulted ceiling over the porch. This just makes you have all of the rustic feels. Between the vaulted ceiling and the stonework columns, you might think that you were in the Rocky Mountains!

Entering the home, you find yourself in the foyer. This space is given great definition with a high ceiling. To the left of the foyer is the formal dining room. It features sloped ceilings and large picture window facing the front of the home.

Stepping through the foyer, you find yourself in the open floor plan featuring the kitchen, great room and breakfast room. This enormous space gives you plenty of room to move and entertain. The great room is dominated by a large fireplace that occupies the right wall of the space. It also features large windows that open up to the outdoor living area/grilling porch.

This space gives you plenty of room to entertain or just to cuddle on a cold night in front of the outdoor fireplace. It also features an outdoor grilling kitchen that is perfect to prepare the feasts of roast beasts.

The great room also features exposed beams running throughout the space. This continues into the kitchen where you will find a large island that has seating for 8. This island separates the space between the great room and the kitchen and has the perfect placement for the sink so that you can wash the dishes and watch the kids at the same time.

The kitchen also features a large pantry set in the corner for those huge grocery hauls. Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast area. This features a boxed ceiling and a large window facing the rear of the home. You can enter the outdoor living area/grilling porch from a door between these two spaces.

The hallway running to the rest of the plan leads to the laundry room, garage and master suite. The laundry room gives you plenty of space to organize and fold as well as hanging storage over the washer and dryer hook ups. The master suite features large windows facing both the front and the rear of the home as well as a boxed ceiling for definition.

The master bath gives you a whirlpool tub, a corner glass shower, a linen cabinet and his and her sinks. Don’t forget about the large walk in closet!

The other end of the plan gives you bedrooms 2, 3 and 4. Bedrooms2 and 4 share a hall bathroom while bedroom 3 has its own in suite bath. All of the bathrooms have large closets and feature large double casement windows giving the rooms plenty of sunshine.

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Craftsman-Bungalow: Then and Now Part 3

Craftsman-Bungalow: Then and Now Part 3

Modern Craftsman-Bungalow Style Elements

Melrose Place (MEN 5198)

Cedar Mountain (MEN 5026)

Benefits of Nelson Design Group

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