Best Of 62+ Inspiring Prairie Style House Design Satisfy Your Imagination

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The Prairie Style house design has evolved significantly since its original conception in the early 20th century. It has been known as an undisputed powerhouse of American architecture for its modern but low-slung style. Here is a list of the top Prairie Style house designs that you can take inspiration from while designing your own dream house.

Prairie Style House Design Ideas

The Prairie style of architecture was popularized by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century. The style is characterized by low-pitched roof lines, overhanging eaves, and open floor plans. The Prairie style is often seen in suburban homes and ranch homes as well. If you are looking for an art deco inspired house design, the Prairie style is a great option.

Prairie style homes emphasize horizontal lines and feature flat or hipped roofs, projecting eaves, and symmetrical design elements. These features result in a home with an airy, open style even though the footprint of the house is quite small. Delicate, low-pitched roofs and balconies that exit the main floor of the home enhance its openness.

Prairie Style House Design Ideas

A Guide to Prairie Style Home Architecture

Prairie style homes are a combination of modern and traditional. The interior of the home is warm and inviting with an emphasis on natural light. Interior spaces are open concept, allowing for free-flowing movement between the spaces. Floor plans are typically designed in an L-shape, U-shape, or T-shape depending on the size and configuration of the home.

Common features of a Prairie style home include wrap-around porches, natural woodwork, and large windows. The exterior of most Prairie style homes is clad in stucco, brick, or wood siding, with low-pitched roofs and wide overhangs. The simplicity and elegance of the Prairie style makes it a popular design choice for those seeking an art deco inspired home.

A Guide to Prairie Style Home Architecture

Characteristics of Prairie Style House Design

The characteristics of a Prairie style house can be defined as simple and elegant. The main elements of a Prairie style house are low, undulating rooflines, both brick and stucco as exterior walls, and large windows. The floor plans cover a wide range of sizes and shapes, but the overall goal is to create an open, airy feeling.

Other elements of the Prairie style design include details such as thoughtful millwork, strong shadows, and strong geometric shapes. The Prairie style embraces natural light, often featuring a glass torso or clerestory window to bring light into the center of the home. Detailed brick and woodwork makes the spaces separate like individual art pieces, rather than one homogeneous block.

Characteristics of Prairie Style House Design

Essential Elements of Prairie Style House Design

The Prairie style of design is all about emphasizing the horizontal plane. The low-pitched rooflines, flat or hipped roofs, and sweeping eaves emphasize the horizontal line in the home. Exterior walls are typically finished in stucco, brick, or wood siding, adding texture to the home. Large windows bring in natural light further enhance the cozy, homey feeling of the Prairie style design.

The interior of a Prairie style house is stylish and timeless with plenty of room for personal touches. Design elements like natural woodwork, tile, and exposed beams add ambiance and warmth to the home. Many Prairie style designs feature thoughtful details like built-in bookshelves and bench seats, while others have an abundance of natural light with clerestory windows and wide sun rooms.

Essential Elements of Prairie Style House Design

Prairie Style Homes Architecture

Prairie style architecture is characterized by open spaces and minimalistic details. Hidden details such as the use of texture and light draw the eye from one space to the next. Unique elements such as tilings and natural woodwork bring warmth and depth to the home, while an abundance of windows creates an airy environment. Popular details such as the use of curves, low-pitched roofs, and galleries make for a cohesive look that is both stylish and timeless.

The typical floor plan of a Prairie style home typically consists of three elements: the first floor plan, the upper floor plan, and the courtyard. The courtyard can be a modest outdoors space with a few trees or a lush garden. The first floor of the home is usually comprised of a large open room divided in half by a central hallway. On the upper floor, rooms get progressively smaller as they move from the center of the home outwards.

Prairie Style Homes Architecture

Examples of Prairie Style House Design

Prairie style houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but some of the most popular designs have been around for decades. Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House in Chicago is the quintessential example of Prairie style architecture. Other popular examples include the 1926 Storer House in Los Angeles, the 1911 Millard House in Pasadena, and the 1916 Sweinfurth House in Los Angeles.

In addition to these classic examples, more contemporary Prairie style homes are becoming more common. Modern Prairie style homes are often clad in metal siding, paired with sleek lines and geometric shapes for a modern update of the Prairie style design.

Examples of Prairie Style House Design

Understanding the Prairie Style Home Design Movement

The Prairie style home design movement is rooted in the philosophies of 19th-century architect William Le Baron Jenney. Jenney revolutionized the Chicago skyline by creating steel-framed skyscrapers. He also played a significant role in bringing the Prairie Style into the mainstream. The style was further popularized by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Prairie style emphasized the surrounding landscape and nature, often featuring wide porches and overhanging eaves that create an inviting, Rammed Earth-style shelter. The movement was a reaction to the heavily ornamented Victorian homes of the time, featuring simple, elemental forms that encouraged a connection to nature.

Understanding the Prairie Style Home Design Movement

Pros and Cons of a Prairie Style House Design

Prairie style homes offer a unique look and welcoming atmosphere. Considered a "green" style of design, they are often built with environmentally friendly materials and feature the same sustainable design elements as a modern green home. Prairie style designs are also well-suited to a modern lifestyle as they have an open concept floor plan with a lot of natural light.

On the downside, Prairie style homes are more complex and difficult to build than other designs. Prairie style homes also require careful maintenance to keep the home looking its best. The low-pitched roofs and overhanging eaves may be more difficult to repair than other standard roof designs.

Pros and Cons of a Prairie Style House Design

Craftsman Prairie House Design Explained

The American Craftsman style of architecture is closely related to the Prairie style. The Craftsman style is characterized by simple forms, natural materials, and an emphasis on craftsmanship. The Craftsman Prairie style combines the low-pitched roofs, overhanging eaves, and open floor plans of a Prairie house design with the low, horizontal roof lines of a craftsman style home.

The result is a unique, contemporary look that is perfect for art deco inspired homes. The sophisticated combination of both styles creates an inviting and cozy atmosphere in the home. Common features of a Craftsman Prairie house design include natural wood accents, large windows, and an abundance of natural light.

Craftsman Prairie House Design Explained

Prairie Style House Design and Decorating Tips

Prairie style house design is all about emphasizing open, airy spaces and embracing the natural beauty of the surroundings. To get the most out of this 21st century art deco style, make sure to focus on functionality and comfort rather than overly ornate details. Natural materials like brick, wood and stone are great for Prairie Style homes, as they bring warmth and interest to the design.

When decorating a Prairie style house, consider the subtle yet distinctive details like wood paneling and millwork. These details will add visual interest and texture to the space. Choose furniture and fabrics that have clean lines and natural colors for a timeless, stylish look.

Prairie Style House Design and Decorating Tips

Choosing the Right Prairie Style House Design

If you’re looking for an art deco inspired house design, the Prairie style is an excellent choice. It combines modern and traditional elements to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The style features low-pitched roofs, overhanging eaves, large windows, and an abundance of natural light.

When selecting a Prairie style house design, consider the size and configuration of the home and your lifestyle. Look for houses with open floor plans that will flow well together and make the most of the natural light. Think about the details like woodwork and millwork that will make the home truly special. Once you find the perfect Prairie style house design, you can settle in and enjoy your art deco inspired home.

Choosing the Right Prairie Style House Design

The Unique and Modern Aesthetic of Prairie Style House Design

Prairie Style House Design

Prairie style house design is rapidly becoming a popular choice in the modern home design world. This distinct architectural style is known for its shallow-pitched roofs, long horizontal lines, organic geometry , and an emphasis on natural materials. Prairie style homes emphasize the connection with nature by incorporating tall windows and including outdoor living spaces. Designed by 19th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Prairie style homes are both timeless and authentically modern.

The hallmark of Prairie style house design is its integration with the natural surroundings. The unique style places an emphasis on nature with its expansive, continuous terraces and wrap-around porches. This architectural style also includes the use of natural materials, such as stone, wood, and brick. Its low to the ground roof lines provide an open feeling, as these are often outstretched into wide eaves. By taking into consideration the elements of the space, Wright was able to emphasize the flat lines of the Prairie style and connected them to the natural elements like vast fields, vast skies, and tall grass.

Prairie style house design is composed of many elements and details. The modern aesthetic is seen in the windows, which often extend from floor to ceiling. The square patterns created by these tall windows are echoed through the patterned brick or wood exterior . The low-angle roof lines and wide overhangs create a feeling of openness which contributes to the natural, airy atmosphere. Other features of the style include porch wraps, large central chimneys, large fireplaces, art glass windows, decorative ornamentation, and kitchen furniture elements.

Outdoor Living Spaces

Prairie Style House Design

The hallmark of Prairie style house design is its incorporation of outdoor living spaces. This style of architecture emphasizes the connection with nature by including outdoor seating, a large deck, or a patio. Decks and porches provide outdoor living space and add to the organic feel of the design. With outdoor living spaces, the homeowners can enjoy their outdoor living space while feeling as if they are still a part of the home.

Modern Improvements

Prairie Style House Design

As the architectural style has grown in popularity, many modern improvements have been made to the Prairie style house design. Increased use of solar power can be incorporated for both functionality and aesthetic effect. Natural ventilation techniques, durable materials, and green building techniques are often incorporated into modern Prairie style houses. The modern homebuilder can also incorporate energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and heating systems to take full advantage of all of the advantages of the Prairie style house design.


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