For the last 20+ years, new Marin homes and remodels have developed a modern interpretation of the Arts and Crafts or Craftsman-style home. The Craftsman movement began early in the 20^th Century and is associated with architects like Greene and Greene and furniture makers like Stickley.

In the first half of the 20^th Century, many Marin Craftsman homes (cottages) were built. The style seems to fit the lifestyle here and remains most popular for new homes and for homebuyers.

Craftsman Cottage

San Francisco Arts and Crafts Home

The Craftsman house fits Marin well, with its emphasis on back-to-nature elements. Typically, the exteriors feature low-pitched roofs with deep overhangs and decorative roof brackets, square porch columns, and field-stone elements, like chimneys. Inside, they have open floor plans, many windows, beamed ceilings, wainscoting, and wide wood moldings. Original Craftsman houses used dark wood trim, often redwood or fir, buy modern homeowners prefer trim painted white or a neutral color.

Modern Craftsman Home in Mill Valley

Great Room in Centemporay Craftsman Mill Valley

Kitchen in Contemporaray Craftsman Mill Valley

Marin Mini News

Marin Budgets Must Adjust to the Times

The income for city governments comes primarily from sales taxes and property taxes. Both sources have declined in the last few years, leaving city governments with major cost reductions. Novato, San Rafael, and Corte Madera are facing the largest deficits of $5M, $3.2M, and $2M, respectively. Jennifer Upshaw Swartz discussed the situation in the Marin IJ on December 27, 2009. Paul Jones presented an in-depth analysis for San Rafael in the News Pointer on December 23, 2009.

Mill Valley Landscape

When I first saw Mill Valley, while lost off the freeway, the redwood trees and the town square reminded me of a fairy tale town in the Alps. The town is now planning to renovate the landscaping along one of the two main roads leading into town, Miller Ave., at a cost of about $15. Ryan White discusses the bidding process for a landscape architect in the Mill Valley Herald on December 23, 2009.

Marin’s Buck Research Institute Receives $1.5M Grant

Novato is home to Buck Institute for Age Research, founded and funded by Leonard and Beryl Buck. The Buck Trust was established to serve the needs of Marin County residents. The $1.5 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is for research in stem cells and aging. The Novato Advance gave details on December 23, 2009.

Roots of Peace Helps to Rehabilitate Afghanistan

Roots of Peace, a San Rafael-based organization founded by Heidi Kuhn is clearing land mines, promoting farming, and supplying food in Afghanistan. Paul Jones chronicled their progress in the San Rafael News Pointer on December 23, 2009.

Water Rates May Increase by 9.8%

Marin Municipal Water District, which supplies water to all of Marin except Novato, proposed raising residential water rates by 9.8%. This is to pay for increased costs and reduced income due to conservation measures. The Ross Valley Reported discussed the issues on December 23, 2009.