You believe in the practical nature of things. In your home, craftsmanship and quality of construction are as important as style and visual appeal. Youll find your ideal furniture in the collections that make up Arts & Crafts. With strong and beautiful woods and wonderfully textured upholstery, the collections will give your home a timeless appeal.

Design Elements:

• Simple clean lines, lack of ornamentation with an emphasis on fine craftsmanship

• Textiles inspired by nature in earthy hues, leather, twill, chenille and corduroy

• Oak, cherry and maple are the woods of choice, although oak is used most often

• Walnut pegging at the joinery, whether real or implied

• Slatted spindles, rectilinear lines and geometric shapes

• Arched aprons on chairs and occasional pieces • Accents of hammered or cast-metal hardware

• Stained glass, mica shards, hand-made pottery

• Woven rugs influenced by nature or geometric designs

How to get "the look"

1. Look to nature for scheme and fabric patterns. Arts & Crafts homes reflect the colors of nature. Depending on your color preferences, they range from buff, tan, orange, gold, and brown to a choice of natural greens. The idea is to create a sense of welcome and well being. A more contemporary approach to todays color palette may include combinations of black, white and gray with splashes of color, such as purples or cobalt blue. It is the contrast of light walls wit the dark warm tones of the furniture and bright accents that create balance and interest to the room.

2. Select a theme. Dramatic contrasts and conflicting patterns are undesirable, as they are inconsistent with the spirit of unity that defines Arts & Crafts. Often these themes consists of stylized flowers or other nature inspired objects. Geometric forms are also widely used. The general rule is to stick with subtle variations on one theme.

3. Less is more. The simplicity of Arts & Crafts homes is incompatible with fussy window treatments or accent pieces. Some design elements are inspired by classic Frank Lloyd Wright interpretations. They can range from American Revival, Asian influences t contemporary designs. Hardwood floors can be embellished with turn-of-the-century Indonesian. Persian, and American Indian rugs with geometric designs. Lighting should have that craftsman appearance. Mica shades offer an amber glow. The accessories feature hand-crafted items such as, artwork, ceramic tiles, metalware, and pottery.

	American Expressions: Classic, handcrafted furnishings inspired by the simple purity of Mission design
	Madision County: If your house is poetry in motion, this blended style adds warmth without sacrificing style
	Mission Arts: Oak furniture with enduring integrity and a simple, honest Mission