Prairie decorating is an earthy style of decorating that originates from the rustic elements of the American Midwest. It’s a style that celebrates nature and brings the beauty of the outdoors in. Prairie decorating has elements of natural wood finishes, textured fabrics, warm earth tones, exposed beams/woodwork, quilts, and antiques.
Color palettes often include shades of beige, brown, white, and muted tones of yellow, green, and blue. Prairie-style decorating creates a comfortable and cozy atmosphere that is both inviting and calming.
Accessories include found objects like suncatchers and baskets, plants, and rustic-style artwork that helps capture the natural and cozy feel of home. Prairie decorating often involves a mix of organic elements with minimal furniture and neutral colors to create an inviting and comfortable home.
What makes a house a Prairie style?
The Prairie style house is a uniquely American style of architecture that originated in the late 19th century, characterized by a combination of details from the Craftsman, Mission, and Arts and Crafts styles.
The Prairie style is marked by low-slung, horizontal lines and minimal ornamentation, harking back to the open prairies of the Midwest.
Prairie style homes often feature a combination of wood, stone, and brick materials, with emphasis on the use of wood, which could be stained or painted. The exterior is typically anchored by wide porch roofs that run along the full width of the home and feature exposed rafter tails.
Ample windows and other expansive glazing help enhance the natural lighting of these homes and emphasize the horizontal emphasis.
Interiors of these homes often feature an open living plan and the hallmark of the Prairie style, an open staircase. Characteristics such as earthy colors, built-ins, and trim work made of wood and stone further differentiate this style from traditional homes.
To sum up, the Prairie style house features a horizontal, low-slung aesthetic, incorporated a combination of modern and natural materials, and maintained an emphasis on open living and natural lighting.
Is Prairie style still popular?
The Prairie Style of architecture remains popular today, although the style has evolved and adapted over the years. This style was made popular by Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed and built homes in the Prairie Hill neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois in the early twentieth century.
The style is characterized by strong horizontal lines, low-pitched roofs, and an emphasis on harmony with the environment.
In modern times, the Prairie Style has been adapted to be more energy efficient and cost-effective, while still maintaining its distinctive elements. It is often incorporated into suburban developments and larger homes, as it emphasizes open spaces, light, and spaciousness.
Houses of the Prairie Style are generally considered a ‘green’ option, due to the emphasis on nature-friendly materials and insulation, which decreases energy usage.
The style’s distinctive look has remained popular over the years, allowing it to transcend time and change with the times. Although many of the original Prairie-style homes are no longer standing, the style is still in use and still highly sought after among home buyers.
Is Prairie Style same as arts and crafts?
No, Prairie style and Arts and Crafts are different architectural and design styles. Prairie style was developed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who sought to create an American style of architecture that was different from the Beaux-Arts and neoclassical styles popular during his time.
The Prairie style emphasizes horizontal proportions and integrated interiors, focusing on the relationship between interior and exterior spaces in the home. Arts and Crafts is a British-originated design style with a focus on craftsmanship and natural materials.
Its elements include low-pitched roofs, exposed timber trussing, masonry cladding, arts and craft inspired decoration, and stained glass. The two styles share some elements, including the emphasis on clean, simple lines and earthy materials, but overall, Prairie style and Arts and Crafts are distinct from one another.
What are the different types of Craftsman homes?
The Craftsman style of home is an American architectural style that was popular from 1900 to the 1930s. It is characterized by a low-slung, gable-roofed design that features deep eaves, overhanging eaves, and exposed rafters.
This popular style typically includes elements such as decorative brackets, exposed beams, built-in benches, half-timbering, and stone walls. It can commonly be found in the shape of bungalows, which includes small, single-story homes with porches or verandas that are commonly built near walkways.
Aside from bungalows, Craftsman homes vary greatly in size and shape. Some of the most popular models of Craftsman homes are the foursquare, which was a symmetrical box-like two-story dwelling; the California foursquare, which was similar to its East Coast counterpart but with more low-pitched roofs; and the American Foursquare, which had a generally square shape and expansive porch.
Other smaller Craftsman homes with a lower roof pitch are typically referred to as ‘Period Cottages’. These homes commonly have a living room in the center, surrounded by bedrooms and other areas such as a bathroom, kitchen, and dining room.
A more modern variant of the cottage is sometimes called ‘California Casual’, which uses simpler building materials including brick, stucco, and wood siding.
Today, Craftsman homes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, each characterized by its unique building elements, construction techniques, and materials. Whether the style is traditional or a modern take on the classic, these homes offer an attractive yet comfortable living space.
Why are Craftsman houses called craftsman?
Craftsman homes, sometimes referred to as Arts and Crafts homes, are a signature style of the early 20th century that is strongly connected to the Arts and Crafts Movement which began in Britain in the late 1800s.
The movement represented a reaction to the industrial revolution, promoting handmade production and artisanship in a time when machines were increasingly used. The style is characterized by its use of natural materials, simple design, and attention to detail.
The focal point of a Craftsman home is often its large and prominent front porch, which often features tapered, square columns and tapered posts. The exterior of the home typically features straight lines, low-pitched roof, overhanging eaves, and rectangular windows.
Additionally, it often employs the use of natural building materials such as wood, stucco, and stone. Inside, Craftsman homes have spacious panelled entryways, built-in shelving, and ceiling beams.
Craftsman architecture is appealing due to its notable simplicity and timeless charm, and it has stood the test of time. Even a century later, Craftsman homes remain as iconic and desired as they ever were – and as such, they’re often referred to as American Craftsman, or simply Craftsman.
Is the Prairie style Modern?
No, the Prairie style is not considered to be a form of modern architecture. It was developed in the early 1900s by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and has its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century.
The Prairie style is characterized by flat or hipped roofs with wide overhangs, horizontal lines, an open floor plan, an emphasis on natural materials, and an integration between the interior and exterior of the building.
As a result, it is often classified as an early 20th century traditional style of architecture.
What is the difference between Prairie style and Craftsman?
Prairie style and Craftsman are two distinct architectural and interior design styles that originated in the United States in the early 20th century. Prairie style was developed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is known for its horizontal lines, low-pitched roofs, and blend of both traditional and modern design elements.
Craftsman style derives from the British Arts and Crafts movement and is characterized by its use of exposed wood for beams and furniture, emphasized wood joints, and handcrafted and natural materials.
In terms of architectural elements, Prairie style typically uses wide eaves, large overhangs, abundant window, and bands of casement windows as well as brick or stone on the exterior. Interior design elements commonly incorporate built-in cabinets and shelving, art glass, and horizontal lines.
Craftsman style utilizes gabled and hipped roofs, large porches, and window and door trim that is often built using exposed woods such as oak and fir. Interior design elements typically include built-ins, paneling, stone fireplaces, and Japanese joinery.
Overall, Prairie style utilizes more horizontal lines and a blend of traditional and modern design while Craftsman is focused on a more rugged and natural aesthetic using exposed woods and traditional craft techniques.
How do you decorate a Prairie style home?
Decorating a Prairie style home can be a fun and creative process that reflects the unique architecture as well as the homeowners’ personal style. When decorating a Prairie style home, it’s important to incorporate its signature characteristics—asymmetrical façades, low-pitched roofs, horizontal lines, and a connection to the outdoors—to create an inviting atmosphere.
To start, select a natural color palette that keeps the community with nature, such as warm earthy hues, muted greens and blues, and soft whites. Furniture should be comfortable, low to the ground, and appreciate the understated nature of the home, with pieces that are either rectilinear or organic in silhouette.
Because of the overwhelming amount of windows, light colored curtains and window panels should be used to filter the light without blocking it out. Hang artwork such as a Prairie style Mural to maintain the charm and interest of the home, or choose pieces that are light, bright and full of color to draw attention and create dimension.
Choose natural materials for the floors like wood or stone, as these will enhance and complement the original details of the home. Finally, add houseplants for an updated touch and to create a lush environment that celebrates the outdoors.
With all of these pieces put together, a Prairie style home will look and feel clean, warm, and inviting.
What element did Wright make the central feature of his Prairie houses designed and built in Chicago?
Wright made the fireplace the central feature of his Prairie houses designed and built in Chicago. He believed in the importance of warm, family-friendly dwellings, so a cozy and comforting source of heat was essential.
He arranged the furniture around the fireplace to serve as a visual focus for the room, which unified the space and made it inviting. The placement of the fireplace also created opportunities for conversation and socializing, leading Wright to create expansive hearths flanked by seating.
These features made the Prairie houses well-suited for entertaining and gave them their welcoming appeal. Wright also designed the chimneys and fireplaces in the Prairie style to be part of the overall aesthetic of the building itself, with tall chimney stacks rising up in the background, creating a unified and distinct feel.
What is Craftsman style furniture?
Craftsman style furniture is a type of American utilitarian furniture founded in the late 19th century. It was designed to be simple, sturdy, and functional, typically made with hardwoods like oak and maple.
It is often characterized by its square, clean lines with an emphasis on horizontal and vertical details and lack of ornamentation. Common elements are exposed joinery, horizontal accents, vertical panels, upholstery, and geometric shapes such as rectangles, triangles, ovals, and circles.
The emphasis on natural materials such as wood, stone, and leather gives this furniture style a unique appearance. This style is incredibly popular in modern homes due to its aesthetic and timeless quality, as it stands the test of time.
What did houses in 1900 look like?
Houses in 1900 typically had a very simple, classic look to them. They were often made of wood and had stone foundations. They typically had one or two stories and typically included a main living space, with a separate kitchen and dining area, one or two bedrooms, and a smaller storage/utility room.
Exterior porches or balconies were common, and offer a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The roof was often gabled, made out of shingles, or covered with clay or slate tiles. Last but not least, most houses in 1900 had the classic clapboard siding and a front door, usually with a storm door as well.
Inside, furniture often had a traditional design with dark woods, fabric-covered chairs, and paneled walls. Plus, the majority of homes in 1900 had coal- or wood-burning stoves as the only forms of heating.
How did the term Prairie style come to be?
The Prairie style was a distinct variety of architecture that developed primarily in the Midwestern and Central Plains regions of the United States between 1900 and 1920. It was the first truly American architectural style, and it took elements from a variety of sources, including the work of its primary innovator, architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The origin of the term Prairie style comes from its associations with the wide open prairie lands of the Midwest. Many of the early prairie style houses drew inspiration from these landscapes for their long, horizontal lines, low-pitched roofs, and simple geometric forms.
These features were evocative of the natural forms of the surrounding prairies, and the style was often referred to as “organic” or “Prairie-related” architecture.
Though Wright is widely considered the founder of the Prairie style, there were other architects involved in its popularization, including Louis Sullivan and his protégé, William Gray Purcell. Together, these men were responsible for popularizing the use of traditional materials of wood, brick, stone, and stucco, as well practical features such as open floor plans, banks of large windows, and prominent entries.
The Prairie style became an internationally recognized style of architecture in the early decades of the 20th century, and eventually gave way to the modernist movement. Its influence can be seen in the work of many notable architects today.