The French Country style has its roots in the sunny hillsides of rural France. French Country architecture reflects a wealth of diversity. Old and new, formal and informal elements are mixed in homes ranging from humble cottages and farmhouses to grand chateaus. With all of their variations, French Country homes share a casual charm and an understated elegance that is unmistakable and a charisma that is completely unique.

     The Victorian era dates from about 1840 to 1900. During this time, industrialization brought many innovations in architecture. There are a variety of Victorian styles, each with its own distinctive features.

     Arts and Craft style homes started to appear in the 1900 and began to boom in the following two decades. Arts and Crafts style homes are sometimes referred to as craftsman homes. This style of home was most popular on the smaller affordable bungalows.

    Early American explorer, William Keating wrote "The monotony of a prairie country impresses the traveler with a melancholy, which the sight of water and woods cannot fail to remove" in response to the open prairies and rolling hills of the uncultivated Great American Prairie in the heartland.

     With its refreshingly open interiors and strong horizontal lines, the Praire house clealry evokes the freedom and sweep of the limitless mid- western landscape. Deep sheltering eaves, gently sloping roofs, and low terrace walls reach out to nature. Broad bands of casement windows let nature come inside and their vertical lines add rhythm.