In reaction to the Industrial Revolution, Social theorists like William Morris outlined a philosophy embracing handcraftsmanship. As industrialization and mass production produced both alienated factory workers and a rising middle class, it also spurred the work of artisan entrepreneur-publishers such as Elbert Hubbard and Gustav Stickley, who promoted the arts and crafts movement and handcrafted products through widely read and circulated publications, including The Craftsman magazine, establishing what we now widely recognize as the “arts and crafts bungalow” type of house. The Craftsman Style has now become associated with simple forms and a rejection of classical details in favor of those that might be made by the home hand-craftsman. In some ways, it launched the modern DIY movement and all that goes with it.
The following images include the work of Robert Lang who has written numerous books on woodworking, including “Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors”, a standard reference for woodworkers. The book provides detailed plans and instructions for creating cabinets, mouldings, and built-ins in the Craftsman style for every room in the home. It includes over a thousand illustrations, photographs, and construction details along with step-by-step instructions for building bookcases and sideboards to mantels and wainscoting.
For further reading on Craftsman Era Mouldings, we recommend Robert Lang's 2003 book "Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors".
