I just love old Craftsman homes like this. What surprised me most about this particular one is how the homeowners updated it. As you’ll see when you peek inside, all of the original dark wood has been painted over. Even the hardwood floors are so light that they’re practically white. They’ve given an old house a new look. But does it work?
Take a look around and let me know what you think!
The detached garage is used as an office space:
Do you like the contemporary spin they put on the house and all of the white wood and pale floors, or would you prefer a more traditional style? I’m sure there are a lot of hardwood purists out there who are cringing that it was all painted over!
(Photos via Home Shoot Home, which has even more photos from this house if you want to see them. Home Shoot Home connects home owners with TV and film producers and is a fun place to browse!)
If You’re Hooked on Old Houses:
- I Spy a Classic Foursquare
- Can This Old House Be Saved?
- Sears Modern Homes: House Kits from Catalogs
- See All Historic House Tours
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 110 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
I love it except for the white walls need texture!! To me its very simple and washed out. Texture would give it depth.
Love the exterior color, would like to know what color it is.
I don’t understand how someone can buy a beautiful Craftsman with all of that wonderful natural wood and destroy it by painting it all white. If that is what you want then buy a modern or indistinct home and go for it.
People who love Craftsman buy them and spend months sometimes years undoing the destruction that people like this have done. I don’t live in a Craftsman, I live in a nondescript ranch home, but I appreciate the beauty of Craftsman homes and it kills me to see this happen. If you don’t like natural wood please don’t buy a Craftsman.
I stumbled onto this site because I was looking for information to place in a letter I am sending to HGTV. They have a show called The Unsellables where the host thrives on painting over the natural wood in these homes.
The reason there are so many styles of homes is so there is something for everyone. Don’t buy a grand example of a particular style, then destroy it’s distinct features while trying to make it something is wasn’t meant to be. If you want modern, buy modern.
I hope that someday a person who appreciates a Craftsman for what it is buys this home and restores it back to what it was before these idiots ruined it.
We restored a true craftsman bungalow some years ago — unfortunately it lacked the beautiful wainscotting in this house — and live in a glorified bungalow/farmhouse (late 20s) now. I agree with the poster who commented on the tone-on-tone. That is the beauty of old houses painted white. When you take into account the architectural interest and texture of simple but hefty trim work painted white against a white wall, it’s the light coming into the house — and these kinds of houses have lots of windows (major reason to live in one) — that creates the excitement. So, add me to the thumbs-up category on this house.
Admittedly, I’m basically not a white wall person so after about 8 years with the white living room walls I painted them green. Most of my time in that room is at night so the color added intimacy and warmth. However, during daytime hours I do sometimes miss that play of the sunlight against the different white elements in the room.
Also, thanks to the poster who noted that all wood is not created equal. Old pine used for trim in modest houses is still a lot prettier in its natural state than is new woodwork, but it’s not going to provide the same “gorgeous wood” vibe that you get from old oak. Floors are excepted from that comment though — old heart pine gives any kind of oak a run for the money. Every floor finisher who works in old houses that I’ve talked with feels the same way.
My first instinct is “Love it!”, but as I keep scrolling down all the blandness starts to get to me, particularly in the hallway shot…I think if they had just kept the floors dark, that would have made all the difference. Love their style in general, and if it hadn’t been a lovely Craftsman home to begin with I probably wouldn’t think anything of it. The exterior is gorgeous, though! Wouldn’t change a thing about that!
Wince!!!
I know that there are two ways to go with Craftsman houses – all natural woodwork and all painted white. MY bungalow (much, much smaller than this one) has the natural woodwork (except in the kitchen, bath and upstairs bedroom).
This is just too stark, though. And the mid century modern furniture just doesn’t ‘go with’ the architecture of the house at all. The owners should have bought a different house whose ‘bones’ fit their style better.
Count me in the purist camp – I LIKE the moody, dark, cozy earth colors of traditional Craftsman style. The light colors feel cold to me.
As someone from the midwest – I understand the limitations a traditional bungalow can pose – and that’s about the only architectural style available in the first-time homebuyer category. The wood is beautiful – but too much and it dominates the interior, if you try to introduce other styles of furniture, it can feel like an apartment – with your stuff “making do”.
Our solution was to find a charming little home that did not have any built-ins or stained glass. Then we painted the walls white, but left the beautiful wood trim around the windows, doors and ceiling in their natural state. The effect is a bit more cottage, less midwestern bungalow – and it feels like a breath of fresh air from all the others with their heavy wood, fake tiffany lamps, and burgundy dinning rooms.
The exterior looks great but I cringe when I see in interior. Such a waste.
Some people shouldn’t have money, in this case to buy paint.
I was just watching “The Unsellables” on HGTV and was so absolutely appalled that in this episode they were painting all of the century-old woodwork white and covering up a beautiful brick fireplace with cheap plywood and marble that I hopped online to vent. Thanks for the forum. And Terri, your answer is spot on. Why? Why, buy a home with these priceless, irreplaceable features and ruin them. This “designer” needs to be stopped!
I would not do the painting, but I like the way this house looks.
← Previous Comments