One of the most iconic and long-lasting home styles to grace the housing market is none other than the farmhouse style house. With their clean lines, sprawling porches, and usually set on acres of land, farmhouses are a timeless choice, whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or are relocating to a new state. So what makes these homes so classic and worth adding to your list to check out?
We’ll cover everything you need to know about farmhouses to help you decide if this home is the right style for you. Let’s get started.
What exactly makes a home a farmhouse style?
Farmhouses are typically larger homes, initially intended for large households, that are minimalistic in style and feature lots of open spaces, a large kitchen, and outdoor spaces for days. These homes are usually found on a large tract of land or in the country, as the land was often used for farming. However, not all farmhouses these days are on working farms. And many farmhouses are found outside of the country in more suburban areas.
History of farmhouses
There’s no one “original style” of a farmhouse style house, as farmers often built homes to fit their own needs. Farmers constructed these houses with the materials available in their area and their own skillset. For example, New England farmhouses were typically built with timber, while Pennsylvania farmhouses took inspiration from German settlers incorporating more stone and brickwork.
However, traditional farmhouses date back to the early Colonial period, the 1600s, and persisted as pioneers ventured throughout the country. The very early traditional farmhouses consisted of a single floor and were rectangular in shape, which is common in today’s farmhouses.
Common characteristics of farmhouse style homes
While the original farmhouse style homes vary depending on the region and building techniques, each share a few common features. Regardless of where you’re looking at farmhouses, here are some of the well-known…