Frank Lloyd Wright believed in organic lifestyles and environments. His thought was that “The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.” In the early part of the twentieth century Wright and other organic minded Arts and Crafts […]

Everyone longs for a moment, or longer, to relax but the fact is that most of us don’t really know how to reach full relaxation. Also, the irony in relaxing at spas, retreats, etc., is that the cost alone can create more stress. By setting up a home environment that is conducive to relaxing we […]

“Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain,” wrote the legendary American furniture designer and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was born June 8, 1867, just in time for the Arts and […]

Gustav Stickley (3/9/1858 - 4/21/1942) was the preeminent American Arts and Crafts Mission furniture designer and builder. Stickley’s designs are still collected and copied today and stand as a perfect example of America’s influence on England’s Arts and Crafts movement. Stickley led an interesting life of great influence in his field but Stickley did not […]

While Arts and Crafts architectural appeal begins at the curb the interior appeal begins with the entrance hall or foyer. This area gives the guest the legend to the home’s décor intention. The entryway is the pivotal point, the hub of the home, where everyone must come through to get to the rest of the rooms. As first […]

Like the Amish woodcrafters of today the first man to officially suggest Labor Day was also a carpenter. A day to praise the efforts of the hard working everyday laborer was first suggested around 1880 by Peter J. McGuire, founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. By 1894 Congress made McGuire’s suggestion official and honored […]

 
Like the Amish woodworkers of today Arts and Crafts inspired designers created furnishings for all rooms of the home and office. Of all design styles the Mission or Arts and Crafts style may be the most efficient yet comforting. When designing with Mission pieces and Arts and Crafts objects keep in mind that in order […]

The Amish crafted arm chair is a robust design of beauty and comfort. If any furniture has seen change and varying styles of design it would be the age old chair. Ancient wall art and pottery confirm that chairs have existed since at least 3000 B.C. Today there are hundreds of designs both in and […]

 The modern day Amish craftsmen have kept the tradition of Mission furniture, crafted in hard solid American woods, alive into the 21st Century. Mission design was originally inspired by Southwestern North America’s buildings, actually real Missions built for and by missionaries. The Southwest United States had architecture that was influenced by the natural environment that […]

 
The well appointed home without a bookcase, especially a solid wood bookcase handmade by Amish craftsmen, is not truly a welcoming home. While it may seem a bit Shabby Chic to incorporate stacks of books around your home, in reality they are more accessible and better cared for in a strong and handsome hardwood bookcase. […]