PRAIRIE STYLE - FARM STYLE

I sometimes have conflicting thoughts about prairie/farm style.  I have trouble reconciling what I remember growing up on the prairies of Colorado in a farmhouse with what we see classified as prairie and/or farm style in our homes today.

This is my family's farm.  My parents lived in the tiny 3-room house in the center of the photo when I was born in 1938; and moved to the slightly bigger house across the road when I was 3.  (Click on the photo for a bigger view.) Grandma and Grandpa built the large Craftsman Bungalow in the 1910s shown center left in the photo.  When Grandma moved to town in the 1960s, my parents lived in the big house for a few years until the farm was sold.

So, because of my background, I devour magazines, blogs, anything on the web that goes by the title, Prairie Style or Farm Style.  I love it!  But, I don't remember our homes ever looking like so many of today's images.  

Our homes were nicely furnished, but not expensively.  We had wool carpets on the floors, well-made oak dressers and dining room chairs in a natural finish from the early 1900s, lovely walnut beds and end tables from the 1930s, comfortable overstuffed upholstery.  There was no chippy/distressed-painted furniture.  Grandma had a couple of painted small chests that had been damaged in a fire; but they were repainted every year for a clean look.  

There were no pillows made from feed sacks or burlap, no chipped dishes, no bead board, no utilitarian items in sight - nothing tattered and torn.

Some of what I see today in the style are items that came from the barns, workshops, and sheds of the farm.  

I don't love the style any less.  After all, our family farm had lots of out buildings with treasures to be discovered.  

As young-married kids, we loved scrounging around for those treasures for our new home - especially in what was known as the onion house with its dirt floor and the scale house, plus my Dad's workshop.  

I realize that this was my personal experience growing up in a prairie farmhouse - not all were the same.

This past week, I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing this new magazine.  It combines the feeling of the farmhouses of my youth with the style prevalent today.

Get out your magnifying glass and check it out to find those items that have moved today into the house from the outbuildings to combine with the nicer things of the era.

I'm joining the following:
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at our Home
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday