The American Arts and Crafts Movement (circa 1900 to 1920) was a direct descendant of the British Arts and Crafts Movement that began in the 1860's. The British version emerged as a counterpoint to the opulent ornamentation of the Victorian era, exemplified by the Queen Anne style. Architecture inspired by the British Arts and Crafts Movement reverted to simpler lines and the craftsmanship of hand-made materials rather than the mass-produced Victorian extravagance enabled by the Industrial Revolution.

Nearly half a century later, brothers Charles and Henry Greene and their influential architectural firm in Pasadena, California unveiled bungalow-type homes that epitomized the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Some of the Greenes' house designs were featured in a popular magazine called The Craftsman — a name that became synonymous with the style.

Craftsman houses are characterized by a low-pitched gable roof, which may also be hipped. Wide eaves are unenclosed, typically featuring exposed rafters to show off the craftsmanship of the builder. Decorative beams or brackets also are often included under gables or the roofs of complementing dormers. Covered porches, either full- or partial-length, usually have roofs supported by tapered square columns with exaggerated bases that extend all the way to the ground.

As with their British predecessors, original Craftsman style houses featured mixed materials — particularly wood, stone and glass.

For modern interpretations of Craftsman homes, today's vinyl siding, architectural trim and accessories can authentically replicate the look of wood cladding without the maintenance hassles of painting, peeling, warping, rotting or cracking.

Whether designers want to include the look of traditional clapboard, split shakes or board & batten, vinyl and other polymeric siding provide ideal options. What's more, trim and accessories include such details as vinyl corner posts and window lineals. Low-maintenance column wraps and decorative brackets also are available.

In addition, vinyl siding offers nearly 400 colors certified for color retention (see related article) - including the neutral hues and earth tones especially suited to the Craftsman style.

When considering options for such an artistic style, designers love the profiles and color palette vinyl siding offers for unlimited possibilities in the Craftsman tradition. And with the exceptional durability of vinyl siding, it's a tradition designed to last.