As a part of the theoretical Arts & Crafts Movement of the 19th century, Craftsman style decorating snubbed its nose at the traditional Victorian era proclivity toward formality and ostentation. The industrial age brought prosperity to the people of Europe and the United States, and while the movement originated out of the fundamental ideal against mass production and machine generated textiles, it was working class families who eventually adopted the simple yet …

To create a classic or elegant look in a room or exterior space, decorative columns make a powerful yet subtle statement. Columns provide both decorative and functional benefits, as they embody the principles of architecture like no other structural or ornamental element. Bringing elegance and sophistication to entrance ways, porches or foyers, they can be used to define spacial surroundings, highlight focal points, or create a border between two rooms. Ideal for …

A shutter literally shuts out intruders as well as the rain, wind, and dust from entering a home or building. First used in ancient Greece, shutters have been popular since colonial times. They are today an important aspect of functional window treatment and add both character and aesthetic value to an exterior. Over the years many different shutter styles and innovations developed. Colonial buildings had simple functional straps and hinges, Victorian ones had …