You’ve seen them. The tapered columns. The deep, welcoming porches that practically beg for a rocking chair and a cold drink. The exposed rafters that make a house look like it was actually built by a human being rather than a factory robot. There’s a specific kind of magic in 2 story craftsman home plans that other styles just can't quite replicate. They feel permanent. They feel like "home" in a way a modern glass box or a sprawling McMansion never will.
But here is the thing: a lot of people are getting them wrong lately.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at blueprints and walking through job sites. What I’m seeing more often than not is what I call "Craftsman drag." It’s when a builder takes a standard suburban box, slaps some fake stone on the bottom three feet, adds a couple of triangular brackets in the gables, and calls it a day. That isn't a Craftsman. That’s a costume. If you’re looking at 2 story craftsman home plans, you need to understand the soul of the movement—started by guys like Gustav Stickley and the Greene brothers—or you’re going to end up with a house that feels "off" every time you pull into the driveway.
The Vertical Challenge: Scaling the 2 Story Craftsman Home Plans
The original Craftsman bungalows of the early 1900s were mostly one or one-and-a-half stories. They were meant to be low-slung, hugging the earth, tucked into the landscape. When you move to a full two stories, the proportions get tricky. You run the risk of the house looking "leggy" or top-heavy.
The best 2 story craftsman home plans solve this by using what architects call a "heavy base." Basically, the first floor should feel visually anchored. Maybe that’s through a wider porch or a change in siding material—using shingles on the top floor and horizontal lap siding on the bottom. It breaks up the verticality. It tricks the eye. Without that break, a two-story version can lose the cozy intimacy that defines the style.
Let’s talk about the roof. It’s the most important part. If the pitch is too steep, it looks like a Victorian. If it’s too flat, it looks like a mid-century ranch gone wrong. You’re looking for that "Goldilocks" low-pitched gable. And please, don't skimp on the overhanging eaves. Those deep shadows under the roofline are what give these houses their character. They aren't just for show; they protect the house from the elements, which was the whole point of the original design philosophy: form following function.
The Porch is Your Living Room
In a true Craftsman, the porch isn't an afterthought. It's an essential structural component. Honestly, if the porch feels like it was "stuck on" to the front of the house, keep looking at other plans.
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In high-quality 2 story craftsman home plans, the porch columns usually sit on massive stone or brick piers. These piers should be wider at the bottom than the top—that’s the classic "taper." It gives a sense of stability. I once saw a modern "Craftsman" with skinny 4x4 posts holding up a massive second-story overhang. It looked like the house was standing on toothpicks. It was stressful just to look at. You want visual weight. You want it to look like it could survive a hurricane and a century of family reunions.
What’s Happening Inside: Beyond the Open Concept
Everyone wants "open concept" these days. I get it. We want to see the TV from the kitchen island. But the original Craftsman movement was about "defined" spaces. It was a reaction against the cold, cavernous rooms of the Victorian era.
When you’re browsing 2 story craftsman home plans, look for a compromise. You don't want a series of tiny, dark boxes, but you also don't want one giant, echoing hall. The sweet spot is using "architectural signifiers" to define rooms. Think about:
- Built-in colonnades or bookcases that separate the dining room from the living room without using a solid wall.
- A prominent fireplace—usually the "heart" of the home—flanked by built-in benches (nooks!) or cabinets.
- Heavy trim and molding. If the plan calls for thin, 2-inch baseboards, it’s not a Craftsman. You need beefy casings around the windows and doors.
The second floor in these plans usually houses the bedrooms, but pay attention to the landing. A lot of great 2-story designs include a small "loft" or a built-in desk area at the top of the stairs. It’s a great way to use space that would otherwise just be a hallway.
Natural Light vs. The "Deep Porch" Dilemma
Here is a dirty secret about Craftsman homes: they can be dark.
Because of those beautiful, deep porches and wide eaves, natural light has a hard time reaching the back of the rooms on the first floor. This is why window placement in 2 story craftsman home plans is so vital. You’ll often see "double-hung" windows grouped in threes.
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Check for "clerestory" windows—those small, horizontal windows high up on the wall. They let light in without sacrificing privacy or wall space for your furniture. If the plan doesn't have a lot of glass, you're going to be living in a cave. A beautiful, wooden cave, sure, but a cave nonetheless.
Real Talk: The Cost of Detail
I’m going to be blunt. Building a true 2-story Craftsman is more expensive than building a modern farmhouse or a standard colonial.
Why? Because of the "craft" in Craftsman.
All that extra woodwork—the rafters, the brackets, the built-ins, the tapered columns—requires more labor and more material. You can’t just buy these things in bulk at a big-box store and hope they look right. They usually need to be finished on-site. If you’re on a razor-thin budget, you might find yourself stripping away all the details that made you love the plan in the first place. By the time you’re done cutting costs, you’ve just built a generic house with a slightly different roof.
If you want the look but need to save money, focus your "Craftsman" budget on the "public" areas. Spend the money on the front porch and the living room fireplace. Go cheaper on the upstairs bedrooms or the laundry room where the architectural detail matters less.
The Sustainability Factor
Interestingly, the Craftsman philosophy aligns pretty well with modern green building. Because the style emphasizes natural materials—wood, stone, local brick—it feels more "at one" with the environment.
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Many 2 story craftsman home plans today are being adapted for "Passive House" standards. The deep eaves that I mentioned earlier? They’re actually incredible for passive cooling. In the summer, when the sun is high, the eaves shade the windows and keep the house cool. In the winter, when the sun is lower, the light sneaks under the eaves to help heat the home. It’s a design that’s been working for over a hundred years.
Common Misconceptions About 2 Story Layouts
One thing people assume is that a 2-story plan is always more efficient than a 1-story. While it’s true that a smaller footprint saves money on the foundation and the roof, the stairs take up a lot of "dead" square footage.
In a 2 story craftsman home plan, the staircase should be a feature, not hidden behind a door. It should show off the woodcraft. But remember, a grand staircase means less room for a pantry or a mudroom. You have to choose what matters more to your daily life.
Also, don't assume the master suite has to be upstairs. "Main-level living" is huge right now for resale value. Many modern 2-story plans put the primary bedroom on the first floor and the kids' rooms or guest rooms on the second. This gives you the Craftsman look with the long-term functionality of a ranch.
Actionable Steps for Your Home Search
If you’re serious about building or buying one of these, don't just look at the floor plan. Look at the "elevations"—the drawings of what the house looks like from the outside.
- Check the Column Proportions. Are the porch pillars thick enough? Do they have a base, a shaft, and a cap? If they look like 6x6 pressure-treated posts, the plan needs work.
- Examine the Window Grilles. A classic Craftsman window usually has "lights" (panes) only on the top half of the window. The bottom half is a single clear pane. It’s a small detail, but it’s a hallmark of the style.
- Look for "The Nook." Does the plan have a breakfast nook? A window seat? A reading corner? If it’s just a series of flat walls, it’s missing the "cozy" factor.
- Verify the Siding Mix. Look for a plan that suggests a mix of textures. Mixing stone, shake, and lap siding is what gives a 2-story Craftsman its visual depth.
- Audit the Entryway. The front door should be a statement piece. Usually, it's wood with a small row of glass panes at the top (a "dentil" shelf is a plus!).
Building a house is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Don't settle for a "Craftsman-ish" house. Take the time to find 2 story craftsman home plans that actually respect the history of the movement. You’ll feel the difference every time you walk through the door.
Focus on the rafters. Watch the proportions. And for the love of all things holy, make sure that porch is big enough for a real chair. You're not just building a structure; you're building a place that feels like it has always been there.
Your Project Checklist
- Identify your "Must-Haves": Is it the built-in library, the stone fireplace, or the wrap-around porch?
- Consult a Local Builder: Ask them specifically about their experience with "tapered columns" and "exposed rafter tails." If they look confused, find a different builder.
- Budget for Millwork: Add a 15% buffer to your interior finishing budget specifically for trim and built-ins.
- Prioritize the "Heavy Base": Ensure your plan doesn't look like a flat wall of siding. Demand texture changes between the first and second floors.