The Arts and Crafts movement began in England and was founded by William Morris. He was fascinated with medieval architecture. The Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against the Industrial Revolution. There were eight major characteristics of this movement: completely hand-made, wood joints visible, based on medieval designs, influenced by Shaker furniture, predominate wood oak, simple honest designs, very heavy furniture and large exposed hinges. William Morris started his own company that focused on church decoration, textiles, furniture and stained glass. This is an image of the Drawing Room at Kelmscott House. You can see the architecture style of William Morris reflected in this space because of the heavy furniture especially.

Another person who had a strong influence during this time was a cabinetmaker, Philip Webb. He was a British architect who designed beautiful and elegant country homes with simple and original interiors. He designed the Morris Chair which was significant to this time because it was widely copied. It had simple honest construction, a solid wood frame and loose cushions for the seat and back. The Morris Chair was a symbol of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It was adjustable, it reclined, and it had an honest design.

One person who really stuck out to me was Charles Rennie Mackintosh. He was apart of the Later period of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Scotland. He was a Scottish architect and designer. He had natural and organic features in his designs. He introduced exaggerated proportions such as having really high chair backs.

Charles Greene and Henry Greene were architects that were inspired by Japanese architecture and design. They had an architectural firm called Greene and Greene, and it was the leading architectural firm of the American Arts and Crafts style. Arts and Crafts style in America mainly related to simple living and the importance of the individual. Greene and Greene used wood as the main material, hand made decorative details, and believed that accessibility to nature was important. They built the Gamble House which was the finest example of the arts and crafts style. Not only did they build the house but they also designed the inside of it and built all of the furniture as well. Here is an image of the interior at the Gamble House.

Here are some examples of contemporary craftsman furniture and interiors. This chair is a current application of the Morris Chair. Before it was plain or velvet, but now there is a contemporary flair to it with the leather.
Here are some great videos to watch about the Arts and Crafts movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBq73yxha0o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYjNO2Y4m6c