A Shaker dressing room.

“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.”
—Shaker design philosophy

Shaker interiors often feature wall pegs. (Photo: Thomas.Merton)

An elegant, minimalist—yet somehow grand—aesthetic is on display at the living history Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.

The 3,000-acre compound, founded in 1805, features 34 restored buildings and an extensive museum collection. There are also acres of farmland planted with heirloom varietals.

Bedroom. (Photo: Thomas.Merton)

The visual experience brings to mind the “Less is more” credo of Mies van der Rohe.

More on the history of the Shaker sect.
More on Shaker Village.
Pegboards and hangers available at Shaker Workshops.

Photos via Flickr. Front page photo by lumierefl.
A version of this story is at Remodelista.