Schacht, originally born in Germany and educated in Europe, moved to Portland in 1883 after the German government claimed his Hamburg home via eminent domain, and he decided to move as far away as possible. While his work over his four-decade career spanned a variety of architectural styles, it has been noted that after 1900, he was "among the first Arts and Crafts-influenced architects to practice west of the Rocky Mountains."
Design movements are often in response to what has come before - and Craftsman interior design is one of the most clear examples of this cyclical nature at play. While the Victorian design of the late 19th century believed in more is more when it came to ornamentation and formality, Craftsman interiors focused on a return to simplicity, nature, and, well, craftsmanship.