The American farmhouse has simple, elegant logic rising from its function, says Jean Rehkamp Larson, architect with Rehkamp Larson Architects in Minneapolis, Minn., and author of "The Farmhouse" (The Taunton Press).
The farmhouse was set into the countryside. It was shelter against the elements. It took its form from the land. The home was built from wood sawn on site, from rock dug out of land. Settlers understood design. They were influenced by the English, Germans and French. The Greek Revival brought forward the idea of balance.
The modern country home doesn't need to mirror the 19th century farmhouse. But it can follow the principles that made those homes. It should still fit into its setting and make sense for the lifestyle. Rehkamp Larson offers these ideas.
Living room. The farmhouse does not have to stand in isolation to the rest of the property. This room takes advantage of the high-insulating value of modern windows. Walls of glass connect the inside of the home with the outbuildings. Notice, too, how the wood floor is flush with—and is connected to—the grass outside.
Kitchen. Dave and Susan Marek, clients of Rehkamp Larson's, traded upper cabinets over the sink and countertops for the view. Pantries replace lost storage. The windows look out over prairie grass and a modest amount of landscaping.
Entryway. The entrance mixes exterior elements—horizontal siding, hand-hewn beams and stone—with inside finishes, such as cabinets and wood floors. The entrance creates an interesting transition from outside to inside. Large windows blur the boundary between the two.
Hallway. This is the main intersection in the Marek home. Instead of a stud wall in the center, an innovative floor-to-ceiling island holds the bookcases, with a fireplace on the opposite side. Simple banisters from lengths of painted lumber let natural light travel throughout the area.
E X T R A: Country Homes By the Book
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STEP 10: LANDSCAPING >>
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