Take a tour of comfortable and charming farmhouses, presented Country Living style. Breathtaking photographs, accompanied by marvelously in-depth information, reveal the myriad ways these old-fashioned homes can fit beautifully into our modern-day lifestyles. While the exteriors of these houses all retain their strong lines and architectural origins, the interiors showcase a variety of sensibilities. See sophisticated farmhouses that smoothly combine the best of old and new; homes entirely decorated in flea-market finds; houses that serve as showcases for magnificent antique collections; and contemporary redefinitions with loft-like spaces and fashionable d�cor. Each profile goes room by room, carefully explaining the owner’s needs, desires, and design decisions: everything from wall treatments and light fixtures to shelving and appliances receives meticulous attention and discussion.

The antebellum era and the close of the 19th century frame a period of great agricultural expansion. During this time, farmhouse plans designed by rural men and women regularly appeared in the flourishing Northern farm journals. This book analyzes these vital indicators of the work patterns, social interactions, and cultural values of the farm families of the time. Examining several hundred owner-designed plans, McMurry shows the ingenious ways in which "progressive" rural Americans designed farmhouses in keeping with their visions of a dynamic, reformed rural culture. From designs for efficient work spaces to a concern for self-contained rooms for adolescent children, this fascinating story of the evolution of progressive farmers' homes sheds new light on rural America's efforts to adapt to major changes brought by industrialization, urbanization, the consolidation of capitalist agriculture, and the rise of the consumer society.

Icelandic Farmhouses. Identity, Landscape and Construction (1790-1945) retraces the history of Icelandic rural architecture between the late eighteenth century and the mid-twentieth century. Through the study of Icelandic rural buildings, this book narrates a very special history of architecture: one of adaptation and tradition, scarcity of building materials and transfers of knowledge with Europe. The history of Icelandic farmhouses is intermixed with construction issues, nationalistic debates, and a quest for a much-needed modernization of the standards of living. The book aims to retrace the role of modern building techniques in the development of Icelandic rural architecture and society.