Inspired by the country villas of Italy, Italianate was a popular style for houses, barns, town halls and libraries in the U.S. from the 1840s through the 1870s. Italianate houses were built before electricity was invented, so residents kept warm with fireplaces in many rooms. Most houses also lacked indoor plumbing. The original furnishings included ornate wardrobes, fancy mirrors and chandeliers, doorknobs and window dressings--but these were also common in houses of later eras. Steps were usually made of limestone, as concrete had not been invented.