This nineteenth century home plan included a porch, a wide hallway, and parlor for welcoming guests. The author noted in the text that some families may prefer to use the room marked “parlor” as a bedroom. But bedrooms on the first floor had become old-fashioned by the mid 19th century. Downing also advised that the “two best rooms on the principal floor of the house” should be tastefully papered and painted.
From The Architecture of Country Houses by Andrew Jackson Downing, 1851 (p. 105)
This picture would be a great asset to use in a social studies classroom when learning about the structure of homes and how architecture has changed over time. This would be a good visual for those who learn visually.