Modern Farmhouse Design

">I live in an old farmhouse originally built around 1790 and
There is no absolute prototype for a farmhouse, butthen added onto in the 1800s and more recently added
most of us can recognize one when we see it. Byonto by my family. I have come to appreciate the
definition the originals were located on farms and weresimple detailing the wide board floors and beautiful
integral to the life and work of those farm families whofireplaces.
lived there.When designing a modern farmhouse, porches, wide
Depending on when and where those homes wereboard floors and beautiful fireplaces are welcome. The
built, they could be made of stone, brick, shingles orfloor plan can be center hall, side hall or a variation of
clapboard. Most farmhouses had porches since therethe two. Gathering places within the home are as
was no air conditioning and many farm and familyimportant today as they were 200 years ago. Modern
chores were undertaken there. The porch rooffarmhouses include big bright kitchens to
provided shelter from the sun and rain yet allowed theaccommodate the inevitable influx of friends and
cool breezes to flow through and help make thosefamily. These days many families spend most of their
steamy summers tolerable.time in the kitchen cooking, eating, talking, studying and
The center of family life in the farmhouse was thejust visiting. Energy efficiency is important, with some
kitchen. Meals were prepared and often eaten therefarm houses using geothermal heating and cooling and
as well as home pickling and canning for the longsolar panels on the barns.
winters (in the North). In the older farmhouses, aWe are lucky to inherit the traditions of our founding
cooking fireplace was essential. Additional fireplacesfamilies including their most treasured possession, the
were used to heat as many rooms as possible.farmhouse.