Heartland Gothic Idea Home

Practical as a sturdy foursquare farmhouse and graceful as a Victorian Gothic mansion, this home showcases the very best of the Midwest's rich housing heritage. Inside, 19th-century charm infuses the latest in convenience and comfort.

A red-oak floor, custom beadboard-and-glass-faced cabinets painted buttercream and an open plate rack give this hardworking room an inviting vintage look.

Dramatic colors help suit this sunny turreted room to special occasions. Floor-to-molding windows dressed in sheer shades surround the polished mahogany table.

Deep mulberry-colored walls, lush brocades and dark woods would satisfy any Victorian couple's yearnsing sfor a proper parlor. But a plump sofa and tufted-back chairs, with complementing ottomans, also make the room a peaceful refuge.

A balcony overlooking the foyer ingeniously doubles as a library. The oak ladder rolling on a brass rail adds authenticity and lets you reach even the highest shelves.

Red oak and walnut parquet work together in a specially designed pattern. The window-walled turret sets the stage for an electronically programmable grand piano, with room to spare for family sing-alongs.

Reds and purples romp in this room, designed with kid-type energy and comfort in mind. Buttercream woodwork and white-glazed cottage pine furniture, including a pedestal table with plenty of room for projects and a storage bench and secretary with lots of space for kid stuff, contrast with the deep primary colors.

A quilt that a Nebraska crafter lovingly stitched decorates the stately four-poster in this bedroom any youngster would cherish. The quilt sets the color scheme, and its pattern also shows up in the window-shade stenciling.

Victoria reigns here in more than spirit: The profiles of the queen and her beloved Albert entwine among the vines in the rose-patterned reproduction wallpaper. When guests depart, the daybed and occasional chairs upholstered in a green-and-white swag pattern create a cheery upstairs sitting room.

An ivory loveseat wiht an ottoman for two cozies up to the master-suite fireplace -- a spot designed for a quiet breakfast or a private chat at the end of the day.

Sponged with three shades of cream, walls gleam softly like pearls. Light from the turret windows bathes the massive bed, piled with lace-covered down and marshmallow-soft pillows. More lace cascades from a canopy suspended from the ceiling, gathering in puddles at corners of the bed on the hemp-colored carpeting.

Freestanding brass fixtures curve over a deep oval cast-iron tub. A wooden towel bar rings the tub and a walnut base takes the place of Victorian claw feet. His-and-her vanities stained dark walnut and faucets blend the charm of fine furniture with practicality.

Midwesterners prize outdoor living spaces. Here, you'll find a roomy deck with traditional design touches, situated just off the conservatory at the back of the house.

Every member of the family will find plenty of play space in this "bonus" room above the garage. There's a nook for any activity: watching TV, playing board games, even weaving at a loom.