The terms “art and craftsmanship” and “missionary style” are often used today as synonyms. They refer to the style of house design and furnishings, emphasizing natural materials, especially wood, and showing a clear geometry in the design. Their immense revival of popularity is largely due to their association with hand-made elements (although many knocking elements are produced by machines), which is rare in this advanced age. These elements offer a quality inheritance and a patina that deepens with age. Artistic and artisan furniture and interiors are usually very durable and classic with timeless charm. They correspond to today’s desire to simplify and return to the basics. Artistic and artisan interiors are an ideal combination of functionality and aesthetics, the spaces are designed to work for the people who live there. In order to create your own artistic and craftsman’s interior, you need to consider several elements, both in materials and design.

The materials used in artistic and craftsmanship interiors, although not limited to nature, highlight wood, stone, glass (made of sand), ceramic tiles (made of minerals/ground) and textiles (using wool, cotton or linen fibers and of course leather). Oak has traditionally been used, but nowadays natural cherry is often used. The oak tends to shine golden brown while the cherry is red. Both darken naturally with age, which is to be expected.

The floor, all elements of architectural finish, doors, staircases, and stiff staircases and exposed structural supports are typical wooden elements, the most common being oaks. Waxed or oiled finishes dominate. Connections are tied or hand-made metal fittings are used. Door knobs, cabinet handles and the like are again hand-made of forged iron or bronze in black, amber or verdigris. Many of them are square or rectangular in shape and are hand hammered. For a brighter look, some homeowners today choose soft, brushed tin or nickel-plated finish. After receiving the tips, they can be bent according to your needs. If an alternative to a wooden floor is desired, a tile or slate would be a suitable replacement. The tile should be large and arranged in a linear pattern and not diagonally.

To balance and complement the visual depth of the wood, walls are often painted with textured paint or plastered (old bungalows have original plasters.) A good solution is to finish the river rocks with Ralph Lauren paint. Painting patterns are influenced by nature with golden yellows, burnt bronzes, cimarron and Indian red, sage and moss, and a neutral palette of earthy cans, croutons and beiges. There is a general feeling of harmony, continuity of all cooperating elements, none of which is able to rise upside down. It is about creating an organic home, one that works in its own environment and takes full advantage of its surroundings, both inside and outside.

In the fireplaces, there are mantles of wood or stone, surrounded by stone, ceramics and sometimes brick. Wood is oak with a golden stain, usually waxed or rubbed, and not polyurethane. Satin or matte rule finishes. The stone is a field stone, laid dry or with mortar, presenting a great texture optics. Instead, river rocks can be used, and round smooth stones counterpoint straight geometry that would otherwise be present. Ceramic tiles usually have a motif by nature, perhaps a leaf or acorn, or have an opalescent finish. Today, glass tiles are also used for great advantages. The brick, when used, is smooth and laid in clean horizontal strips. Also in this case, one of the distinctive features of artistic and craftsmanship interiors is the linear quality. The feeling that the house is part of a larger view, part of the horizon, is an effort to be out of and out of the ground.

From a historical point of view, in many art and crafts houses and mission houses, there were windows made of artistic glass, or at least many glass panes. This made it possible to leave the windows open and still looking decorative. Today, artistic glass windows can be expensive, except in selected areas, so if treatment is desired for privacy, light or temperature control, simpler treatment is better. This translates into options such as plain Roman shade, silhouettes, wooden blinds or panels on overlaps or rings, on a decorative bar (wood or wrought iron), with finals. If ties are desired, consider sisal tassels, straight and bold, or a strand of the same fabric.