Customer Reviews

The Farmhouse: New Inspiration for the Classic American Home

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, although well detailed and presented left something to be desired as far as I was concerned. Appreciating the "classic farmhouse" style, which covers a wide variety of architectural detail, I did not like many of the homes highlighted in this book. They were much too contemporized for my "Yankee" preferences. Oddly, the house most resembling a traditional farmhouse style inside & out was a California Greek Revival.The unusual angling of portions of 1 house, the strange selection of plastic siding for another, the glass & steel addition to an otherwise beautiful famhouse, left me wanting more. I'm sure some people like this style, but they were "cold" buildings. If you are looking for a book on beautifully detailed, classic farmhouses, look no further than "American Farmhouses" by Leah Rosch. I believe a modern day farmhouse can be built with an eye to the past and livability for today without sacrificing the warmth and traditional look.

This book is a valuable resource as my husband and I plan our "farmhouse" that we intend to build next year beginning in February. It gives examples of restorations, new construction built to look like the old classical farmhouses across the midwest, and amazing interiors. I love the shaded boxes of information, emphasizing the importance of features such as shape, the color white, porches, etc. It is a lesson book for those wanting a basic education on how to talk farmhouses. We bought three books, and this one is far superior to the others.

This book is a great quality hardcover full of spectacular color photos of the traditional farm style. I found it's content and pictures insipiring and it would make a great gift for any 'farm-style' enthusiast... or it's great for any coffee table! Really an excellent book, un-beatable in terms of conveying a classic style and delivering inspiring ideas!

Around the world the farm house has been a traditional design. In England, the thatch roofed masony building comes to mind. In France the house isbuilt around the kitchen and garden. In America there was a different climate, different building materials, different needs.

This book looks at old houses that have been remodeled, and new designs that were based on the traditional look of American farm houses of New England and the mid-west. Most interesting is the architectural blending of additions to the old houses. Some of them are made to blend in as though they were part of the original design. Some of them are made so obviously different - steel and glass addition on a 1799 vintage wooden square box house.

In this day of mass produced sub-divisions with cookie cutter houses, it is great to see that the design of interesting, beautiful and utilitarian houses has not completely gone away.

Written by an architect for the layperson, Jean Rehkamp Larson makes you feel the elbow room of the farmhouse and surrounding countryside without being too technical. Showing several house styles from historical to contemporary, Larson teaches us what characteristics make the American farmhouse a house style that is as ingrained in our minds as baseball and apple pie.

I am a Manhattan city dweller struck by childhood nostalgia about what it is like to live on the country side. For types like me, interested in farm-house inspired modern architecture, this book offers a great visual feast. If you are looking for real farm houses, however, look elsewhere.

The Farmhouse is an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS book; a collection of divine photographs and beautiful descriptions to carry you away to a place of serene and simple pleasures. Floor plans, site plans, architectural notes and historial ditties keep you interested the whole book through. A directory at the back of the book gives contact details for featured architects and designers. Author Larson has put together a lovely book; great for inspiring your own farmhouse build, with tasteful and personal tips. Handy reference guide or lovely coffee-table book.

Nice book, pretty pictures. I would have liked a little more info related to the historical perspectives and how to draw from them using modern elements. All in all worth the money..:)

I go to this book for inspiration on decorating my old farmhouse - but also enjoy the information about each farmhouse featured in the book. Even if you don't have a farmhouse you will enjoy this book for the beautiful pictures of an American Icon - the Farmhouse.

I liked the layout of this book. The different perspectives of farmhouses presented in this book offer a plethora of ideas!