Farmhouse kitchen

The center of the universe in my parents' house is the wood stove. When it's cold outside and there's a fire going, people walk in the back door and go directly to stand against the hot stove. There's nothing like being awakened by the sound of my dad (or, earlier, my grandmother or grandfather) lifting the round cast iron lid to add wood and kindling and start the fire first thing in the morning.

There's an electric part of the stove, too, including an outlet. The hot water heater is encased next to the stove. Behind the stove are shelves for drying nuts and hooks for hanging towels and socks to dry. My grandfather also installed a fan and duct system that uses the hot air from behind the stove to heat the bathroom.