Inside A Small But Vibrant Amish “Shop” Home (17 Photos)

This charming little place is yet another home in Fillmore County, Minnesota. The county has three separate Amish communities; the best-known and biggest is the Harmony settlement, a Swartzentruber Amish settlement. This home, with a Mabel, MN address, appears to belong to that settlement.

Unlike the three previous traditional farm homes from this settlement we’ve looked at, this is a smaller place, with just two bedrooms listed, of a much simpler design.

This is along the lines of a shop home, lived in now, but one day meant to transition to being a workshop once a proper home is built.

The Amish are nothing if not practical and families will make do the best they can. It also helps when you are a member of a plainer church.

This home has what I would call a vibrant interior with the characteristic blues in bold shades seen in Swartzentruber and other plain groups.

I think the camera filter adds a little “pop” to these photos but that aside I often find these interiors’ cheery notes override, or rather complement, the plainness.

Here’s the property description via Zillow:

Located just outside of Mabel and a short drive from Canton, this 10-acre property offers a mix of open ground and improvements in the heart of Southeast Minnesota. The slab-on-grade Amish home provides a solid foundation for someone looking to finish or update to their own needs.

Of the 10 acres, approximately 8.5 are open pasture and tillable ground, offering flexibility for hobby farming, livestock, or rental income with a 80.8 CPI rating. Several outbuildings on the property provide ample storage and space for equipment, animals, or workshop use.

Situated only 17 miles from Decorah, Iowa, the location offers both small-town convenience and access to a well-known outdoor and cultural hub. Properties of this size with open land and improvements are rare to find in this area and provide a unique opportunity for a variety of uses.

Let’s have a look.

Inside the Home

When it comes to the interior, we’ve really only got photos from three “rooms” of the home. But as is typical, one of those rooms is rather a large one, serving multiple purposes and reflecting a typically Amish open floor design.

This main space has the kitchen and eating area in the center, with a living area adjacent. This community seems to be on the more materially progressive for the Swartzentruber Amish, as we see what looks like a Dewalt battery light hanging from a chain in the ceiling.

Here’s a view looking in the opposite direction. Note the day bed that is a common feature in these homes. Bold blasts of color in this room create a cheery feel.

The next space we see is an entry hall, decorated with some fun rugs.

Which brings us to the final space, a utility/wash room. Here you can see a wood-fired hot water stove, and a refrigerator. The refrigerator likely contains ice and used something like an ice box.

The water is heated for washing clothes and also bathing. If you have a look at this next photo, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a wringer washer in that color before (typically they are white).

So it looks like it’s been painted. They seem to really love that shade!

There are no photos of the two listed bedrooms included.

Having a look back outside.

A simple garden. Interestingly, this property has some simple flowers on it. This Swartzentruber community is a bit more permissive of material niceties like that, from what I’ve seen in this example and in the other homes. Decorative flowers are usually not much of a Swartzentruber thing.

Here we see where the buggies are parked.

These hoop barns make good inexpensive storage spaces.

Looks like the horse barn.

A very nicely done set of photos. Whoever took them shot them well and choose a great time of day for it. So how much is this 1,720-square-foot Amish shop home, on 10 acres of land?

It’s currently on the market for $265,000, listed by Benjamin Vix and Robert Stalberger of Whitetail Properties Real Estate. Could make a great little place for someone. Check out more Amish homes here.

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