William Morris

Many years ago, our little house was called a "bungalow." Thousands of them were built in the Northwest at the beginning of the 1900's as economical single family dwellings. But even the cheapest construction materials were different then: heavy lathe and plaster walls, hardwood floors, solid wood trims and siding made with clear lumber from vanishing old growth forests.

Over the last 20 years or so, a revival of interest in the arts and crafts movement, mission furniture, Stickley antiques, and the art of William Morris (pictured here) has helped elevate the status of these humble little houses, and crafty real estate agents now refer to them as "craftsman homes."

An old house from this period gives you appreciation for the beautiful designs of William Morris. He was really was an English renaissance man: furniture and textile designer, socialist, artist, writer, poet, and closely connected with the Pre-Raphelite movement.

Morris was also an intellectual, and translated medieval and ancient texts. These stories and legends inspired his beautiful tapestries and poetry. We have reproductions of the "Pomona" and "Woodpecker" tapestries. Really, they aren't anything like the real thing, but hide the cracks in the plaster and I like looking at them and thinking about the stories.

I once a king and chief,

Now am the tree-bark's thief...

William Morris, Woodpecker Tapestry

"I am the ancient Apple Queen,

As once I was so am I now.

For evermore a hope unseen,

Betwixt the blossom and the bough.

Ah, where's the river's hidden Gold!
And where the windy grave of Troy?

Yet come I as I came of old,

From out the heart of summer's joy."

William Morris, Pomona Tapestry

Wm. Morris also designed other textiles and exquisite repeating wallpapers (!) based on nature themes. Oh lucky English house that still has a scrap of original Morris wallpaper hanging somewhere.