The British Arts and Crafts style architecture popular in the mid to late 1800s, spawned the Craftsman style architecture which spread through the City of Toronto largely between 1905-1940. These storybook homes are easily distinguished by their wide and expansive front porches covered by gently sloping roofs with exposed rafter beams that rest whimsically on tapered brick or wood columns. The steep pitch in the front roof gable quite often features wood shingle accents and a horizontal dormer with a band of windows delicately arranged with small window panes divided by wood muntins. 

Toronto's Craftsman style homes really are a work of art and have stood the test of time. To find some stellar examples of Craftsman style homes in Toronto visit west-end neighbourhoods such as: Bloor West Village, Swansea, High Park and West Toronto Junction. There is also a plethora of these homes in Uptown Toronto neighbourhoods including: Davisville Village, Bedford Park and North Toronto. Todmorden Village in East York, The Beach in Toronto's east-end, Birch Cliff in Scarborough and Mimico in Etobicoke also boast a large number of Craftsman style houses. These homes look especially great among the tall tree canopy that has grown up around them in these older Toronto neighbourhoods.

There is something incredibly charming and welcoming in these homes. The wide front porches and entrance steps lead to a wood panelled door that says welcome home to a quieter time and place. Next time you are out for a walk in one of the aforementioned Toronto neighbourhoods, stop and look and take time to appreciate these beautiful homes. They really are deserving of the name Craftsman. I have posted some examples below:The following article and images are (c) www.ToorntoNeighbourhoodGuide.com