About Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival
ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES and the Revival grew out of Old-House Interiors magazine, founded in 1995. The quarterly magazine covers contemporary practitioners as well as the historical antecedents of the continuing Arts & Crafts movement.
OUR MISSION is to offer expert advice and perspective for those building, renovating, or furnishing a home in the Arts & Crafts spirit. We celebrate the revival of quality and craftsmanship, going beyond the narrow definition of American Arts & Crafts as a “style” confined to the first decades of the 20th century. Offering hundreds of resources, we showcase the work not only of past masters, but also of those whose livelihoods are made in creating well-crafted homes, furnishings, and works of art today. Here you’ll find a portfolio of the best work in new construction, restoration, and interpretive design, presented through intelligent writing and beautiful photographs.
SEND US PHOTOS OF YOUR HOUSE for inclusion in the magazine, to be published on pages with themes like Curb Appeal, Artistic Foursquares, Paint Jobs, My New Kitchen, Inspired By, Before & After, and so on. If your old or new house was inspired by the Arts &Crafts Movement in the U.S. or Europe, please send photos or .jpegs with a descriptive paragraph or two to letters@artsandcraftshomes.com, or to the street address below. We encourage our readers to comment and submit materials.
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We have been living in our basement since July and are about to “resurface” into our newly remodeled kitchen and great room. Our 1980’s split-level has shed it’s former Mennards colonial style kitchen cabinets, stair railings, trim, etc.; replaced by A & C inspired, custom built, quarter sawn oak cabinetry, railings and trim. The old taupe wall-to-wall carpeting has been recycled and red oak plank floors have been installed. Even though the kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, the kitchen and great room are truly Arts and Crafts!
What I love most about this remodel is the way it feels to be in it – like places I have been before that I loved – an old lodge kitchen on the North Shore of Lake Superior – my grandmother’s kitchen – the upstairs hallway of an old house in Iowa. So, even though it is all new, and my husband and I have been living here for many years, it feels like we have finally come home.
Anyway, I am looking forward to sending you our photos, especially since your magazine has been such an inspiration to us with this project.
My name is Caitlin Fowkes and I am the manager of a French framing store called, L’Eclat de Verre located in Washington D.C. The D.C. location is the first in the United States with more than 40 located in France. Our store is special because instead of traditional mat boards to enhance art work our store uses papers from all over the world to wrap our mats, which enhances a certain color, texture, or pattern in the subject being framed. Our store offers master framers who combine this modern way of framing with French 18th century techniques to create one-of-a-kind mats. Everything is completed by hand so we can play with the depth of a mat making the framed piece look more professional and significant.
Our “framing academy” was instrumental in encouraging and enhancing art framing as a popular, do-it-yourself hobby in France. Our Washington L’Eclat de Verre offers weekly workshops to teach anyone with 3 hours to spare this exciting yet simple way to frame. Experienced employees help pick papers and show you step by step how to wrap a mat with paper, mount the art, and sandwich it all together with glass and a frame. Workshops are taught in English and sometimes in French. Other workshops offered at this store teach “cartonnage.” Cartonnage is a French term for “craft” where customers create handmade boxes, photo albums, and anything that can be constructed out of construction board and paper. Due to the paper options and no size restrictions the possibilities to create are endless.
I am writing you today to let you know we are available for any craft request or possible new story idea. If our concept interests you I would be happy to send photos, write up a small do-it-yourself demo, or send you samples of our unique papers. Many of our papers are limited to L’Eclat de Verre stores, but could add a special touch to a paper craft your magazine is promoting. Feel free to contact me Monday-Saturday 10-6 at 202-333-6840 or email me at Washington@eclatdeverre.com.
I hope we can work together in the future. Thank you for your time.
Caitlin A. Fowkes