Craftsman tradition gets modern update

The Absecon is an update of the Craftsman-style home, considered the most popular small home in the early decades of the 20th century.

Hallmark features include: the tapered square chimney and porch supports; a low-pitched, gabled roof, accented with decorative braces; and, of course, the simple but intricate door and window detailing. Guest designer Steven Duarte created this plan.

Inside, the layout blends traditional with contemporary. All three bedrooms are upstairs as they often were in earlier versions, but here the master suite has its own bathroom while bedrooms two and three share another. Both of the front bedrooms have ceilings that slope down at the front, with built-in desks facing into the dormer windows.

That same central dormer, so interesting to admire from the street, brightens the entry and stairway. The entry ceiling is a lofty two stories high. Formal rooms are on the right, informal gathering spaces on the left, and the kitchen at center.

Living room and dining room are well-separated. In the living room, the brick or stone fireplace serves as a focal point. Whether it burns gas or wood is up to the owners. Craftsman windows flank the fireplace and another set faces onto the wide front porch. A larger set of similarly designed windows brightens the dining room, along with two more facing the rear.

The relaxed, day-to-day living areas are designed with contemporary families in mind. The Absecon's U-shaped kitchen boasts plenty of counter space, and is open to the sunny breakfast nook, which is linked to a large family room. The tiny bathroom and utility room are close, and the latter's exterior access allows it to double as a mud room.