Amish INSPIRED

The color blue figures largely into the design patterns found in many Amish communities. Certain groups of Amish are known for their use of their color – often sky blue and variants of it. For example, the Amish of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania are known for their tradition of painting their front (and other) doors a shade of light blue – providing a delightful splash of…

Corn might be the quintessential Amish crop. Fields of green tasseled stalks are ubiquitous when driving past farms in the many corners of the country where Amish live. Of course, that corn is the kind destined for livestock, and not what we mean here. We need to look closer, at the large gardens standard to just about every Amish home, to see robust crops of…

Amish furniture makers across the nation build furniture in a wide range of styles – including timeless varieties like Mission and Shaker – as well as more modern and contemporary designs. This list of 11 Amish-style coffee tables gives you a good sense of the types of tables the Amish are capable of producing. Check these examples for inspiration and ideas for your own living…

The Amish have a well-deserved, rich cooking heritage, with a combination of Pennsylvania Dutch tradition cuisine – such as sauerkraut, butter noodles, and shoofly pie – side-by-side with more contemporary recipes – like Italian or Mexican-inspired dishes. Try this list of ten Amish cooking secrets to add a bit of Amish tradition to your next meal. ~Erik If you’re curious about the wholesome goodness of…

The kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in the typical Amish home. Amish kitchens are spacious, practical, and often filled with handcrafted furniture and cabinetry, reflecting their woodworking tradition. Those elements – along with some other Amish-flavored ideas – appear on this list of 10 ideas you can use to create an Amish-inspired kitchen in your home.  ~Erik If you’re drawn to the charm…

Cookies are one of the most common Amish baked goods. Typical Amish homes have a steady supply of them, baked up using family or community recipe books. Cookies in an Amish home make for a tasty snack or dessert, sometimes creatively combined with other treats like ice cream. Check out these 10 Amish cookie recipes for a treat on a cozy family evening – or…

Amish homes tend to be on the larger side – reflecting their generally large families of six, eight, or more(!) children. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to maximize their floor space. These 12 Amish-style furniture pieces – some reflecting traditional Amish styles, others inspired by more modern designs – are meant to help you get the most out of your square footage. Find…

There’s nothing quite like the smell of baking – cookies, breads, pies – wafting through a cozy Amish kitchen. The Amish are experts at whipping up comforting treats using simple, common ingredients. Amish mothers are helped by their daughters (and sometimes sons) to bake a steady supply of treats for their families – as well as for church gatherings and other community events, like school…

Easter is a holiday of high importance for the Amish. Amish people remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on this day. Like other Americans, it is also a special day for family gatherings and food. These nine Amish-inspired dishes are sure to provide a bit of Pennsylvania Dutch flavor to your Easter table. ~Erik 1. Classic Amish Macaroni Salad Classic Amish macaroni salad…

While you might not immediately associate the Amish with bars, Amish craftsmen certainly build all varieties of barstools. Of course, the versatile bar stool has long graduated the local watering hole to become a standard part of many an American kitchen – whether they provide handy seating at a breakfast bar, kitchen island, or even inside a man cave. The bar stools on this list…