Fabled Gables: 222 West Valerio Street
Craftsman Memories from a Onetime Resident of This Stately Home
While festive architectural trimmings of the 1880s gave way to the fantasy-inspired Victorian movement, the next building genre soon caught on and quickly became a nationwide shift toward a more simplified approach in American living.
The craftsman era emphasized nostalgia of the frontier, juxtaposed with the rising “middle-class” society, ultimately producing warm and inviting residences. Designed less ornate than their predecessors, these homes were typically one to two stories. In addition, craftsman homes offered the generous use of earth-friendly building materials including softwoods, tile, and natural stone.
During this time, a number of journals originated, including The Craftsman magazine and Ladies’ Home Journal. In addition, there were several notable architects to emerge from the craftsman era, which included Frank Lloyd Wright, Bernard Maybeck, Gustav Stickley, and the Greene brothers of Pasadena.
