Second House c. 1791 interiorMark your calendars for this rare opportunity to tour privately owned Shaker houses in Harvard, Massachusetts September 15, 2012 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Advance tickets to tour twelve Shaker buildings as well as two other notable Shaker properties are available via the Harvard Historical Society. Tickets also include free admission to the Fruitlands Museum and Harvard Historical Society exhibits.

I'm a fan of the Shaker aesthetic -- its ingenuity, sense of purpose, and attention to craft. I've written about inspired Shaker design here, here, here, and here.

If you're like me, these Shaker houses will leave you aflutter; the quiet elegance of these gentle giants (in structure and legacy) is not to be missed.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

I can spot a winner. True, former winners often repeat, but still, I called this one early in the summer before it  blossomed into its full award-winning glory.

See all of this year's winners in the Salem Gazette (print edition), including the box above at 188 Derby Street created by Claire Bailey. Well done. I've featured the fruits of Claire's labor in previous years, as in this design snapshot from the House Enthusiast archives. Another stunning entry from a previous year resembles this year's third-place finisher in the Business Window Box category. (Not sure if they're the same location.)

Congrats to those who repeated and to those who secured first-time wins. Victory certainly smells sweet.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Crafted detail on the West Tisbury HouseMaine architect Will Winkelman writes in the August issue of Maine Home + Design about the essential collaboration between craftspeople and architects in creating well-crafted homes.

Winkelman notes that craft "can add an entirely new dimension." Indeed. He writes, "The addition of a layer of craft to a project furthers the project's narrative, giving more depth and character, furthering the story of its 'place'." How true.

It's well-crafted details and moments that speak to our desire to live a well-crafted life. This is the sentiment behind Alain de Botton's The Architecture of Happiness, too. Quality craftsmanship can be perceived as a form of beauty and as such can reflect back to us the kind of life we desire, where such care, thoughtfulness and artistry are at home. It's why the collaboration between craftsperson and architect is vital to creating a home that resonates with those who encounter it.

When a home sets my heart aflutter, it's often the craftsmanship of the architecture that's sparked my reaction. Let's continue to promote craft in the craft of architecture.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Few of us will ever have the opportunity to live in a lighthouse. Nevertheless, we can translate some simple lighthouse window design lessons to our own humble abodes.

The gabled hood on this arched-topped louvered window is a beautiful bevy of contrasts: angled/curved, black/white, and opaque/porous. It's also a harmonious pair of elements working in concert to control the elements: roof for shelter, louvers for ventilation.

Keep contrasts and complements in mind when designing your own windows. Make them lighthouse worthy.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast