Saskatoon Handyman: History of Carpentry Styles and its Influence on Modern Home Design

Carpentry refers to the designing and installing of wooden fixtures in a home or commercial space. Carpentry is generally meant to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, and the craft is important when it comes to selecting things such as kitchen cabinets and shelving units for storage. Because woodwork is meant to last a long time in a home, it is a good idea to enlist the help of custom carpentry services when building or remodelling a house. Here is some background information on the influence that carpentry has had on modern home design. 

History of Carpentry and Custom Carpentry Services

Carpentry has been around for a long time, with boats being one of the first items of importance made out of wood. Because boats needed to carry people and goods across the water, their design had to be impeccable. Carpenters also used this skill when building houses to ensure that the structures could withstand wind and other elements. Over time, carpentry evolved from being something used purely for safety purposes to something that people also employ for aesthetic reasons. Some ways that people use woodworking today for aesthetic purposes include:

• Building pillars on a porch
• Designing doorframes with various details
• Installing staircases with intricate handrails or steps 

Staircases are something to consider when making basement renovations. Throughout history, homeowners have always had a desire for things such as staircases to be both safe to use and enjoyable to look at. 

Styles of Carpentry

There are many different styles of carpentry, and which ones exist in a home are largely dependent on the time period the home was built as well as the preferences of the homeowners. Carpentry styles generally fall under three broad categories: traditional, modern and eclectic. 

Greek Revival

Greek Revival is a traditional carpentry style that accentuates styles that people associate with the country of Greece. For example, Greek Revival homes may have wide circular columns on the front porch. Greek Revival is also characterized by traits such as symmetry and straight lines. 

Victorian

Traditional Victorian styles offer a departure from Greek Revival in that they are more ornate and intricate. The Victorian style also makes use of many different colours for viewing pleasure. People can still see Victorian designs today in older homes or larger homes where the more intricate designs can hold their own. 

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern is a style that is also still popular today due to its simplicity and ability to fit into most homes. Some characteristics of Mid-Century Modern include:

• Functionality over pure style 
• The addition of materials such as plastic along with wood
• The embracement of nature in the form of things such as larger windows 
• A wider variety of shapes in the woodwork

Mid-Century Modern tends to be more minimalist, so it is one of the easier styles to incorporate with the help of a handyman in Saskatoon. 

Ways To Incorporate Styles

It might seem like a huge undertaking to completely remodel a room and change things like its cabinets and shelving. Fortunately, there are easier ways to update a house if you are interested in incorporating one of these styles. For example, you can replace just a few cabinets in a room, or install different trim around one or two doors or sets of windows. 

Finding Custom Carpentry Services

Once you are set on a style, the next step is to find local custom carpentry services. Handyman Connection is a great choice whether you want to replace trim, add a pet door or do something else. Give us a call today to discuss sending one of our qualified carpentry professionals to your home. Whether you want Colonial or Shabby Chic, we have you covered.