Romantic Prairie Style: Homes inspired by traditional country life

Romantic Prairie is a style that says “home” wherever you may be because, more than anything else, it’s a mindset: it’s gentle but strong, welcoming and lasting, durable yet sophisticated, it’s the resilient spirit of “making do” and, above all, it’s real. Beautiful specially-commissioned photography showcases thirteen gorgeous homes across the United States—from Illinois to Missouri—that are inspired by the nostalgia and esthetics of Prairie style. Long gone are the sod houses, built by European immigrants lured to the vast plains and sweeping grasslands by the ownership of land in the 1880s. Over the centuries these humble dwellings evolved into sturdier, more comfortable homes, which, depending on their geographic location, took on a variety of designs, be it a ranch, cabin, farmhouse, or cottage. Romantic Prairie Style celebrates the diversity of designs, the rich and deep pleasures of creating something unique from scratch, the softer side of rustic and rugged with the union of delicate and elegant, the spontaneous acceptance of lack of pretension and the simplicity of purpose. Here interiors bear the influence of European settlers and the heart-warming authenticity of simple, natural textures, hand-hewn beams, bleached wood, weathered planks, woven blankets, cowhide, and Navajo rugs. It’s dainty but substantial, fresh but seasoned, innovative and adventurous. It’s flower-sprigged brocade, tawny leather, crisp eyelet, linen, corduroy with crochet trims, woolen plaids, cozy flannel, and wispy organza. It’s organic and sweet. It’s history retold and all about the enduring connection between people and places.

Fifi O'Neill is an editor, writer, and photo stylist. She has produced numerous features on home decorating, food, and gardening for American and European magazines, such as Coastal Living, Country Living (USA), Casa Romantica, Casa Antichi (Italy), and many more. Though she now lives in Florida and her work takes her from coast to coast and across Europe, her heart belongs to the prairie, with its enduring aura of romance and nostalgia.