The Tiny House Trend Began 100 Years Ago
In 1924, sociologist and social reformer Caroline Bartlett Crane designed an award-winning tiny home in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
How Hobbies Changed the Home
Basements, sheds, and workshops found their way into American homes because leisure activities pursued by men and boys were often loud and smelly.
Dawn of the Bathroom
The bathroom didn’t become a thing until the nineteenth century, and most working-class US homes added plumbed-in amenities in piecemeal fashion over time.
Heating Your Home Sustainably
Home heating can be done more sustainably than we currently do it. How to do it depends on a number of factors.
The Punk Rock Linguistics of Cottagecore
So you want to borrow a concept from another culture but don’t know what to call it? Try a morpheme!
Smart Toilets: The Jetpack of the Bathroom
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are envisioning a toilet that can analyze urine for indicators of disease.
A Phrenologist’s Dream of an Octagon House
Orson S. Fowler thought houses without right angles would offer a better life, but his own architectural experiments did not end well.
What Ever Happened to the Parlor?
For musicologist Edith Borroff, the parlor was egalitarian, open, and joyful—all qualities she equates with the best musical spirit.
Did Better Household Technology Create the Baby Boomers?
The Baby Boomers have been blamed for everything from economic stagnation to America's current political situation. But where did they come from?
Homes of The River Gods: The History of American Mansions
Mansions hold a special place in the American imagination, and dates back to colonial days.