Designed to sit in harmony with its natural surroundings, this charming Craftsman home in Alabama is now somewhat ironically being taken back by Mother Nature. Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast battled through the undergrowth to capture the neglected Arts and Crafts beauty. Once a treasured local landmark, read on to uncover its enigmatic past.

Surrounded by trees and dense greenery, the two-storey farmhouse has been left to languish. The property was built in 1915 on the site of a former plantation by an Atlanta-based architect for a wealthy local family.

A captivating example of the American Craftsman architectural style, the property was designed to complement and blend in with the landscape. Beneath the undergrowth, the façade incorporates rustic stonework and timber details, along with features such as wide overhanging eaves and lattice windows.

Sadly, a riot of ivy and tangled vines has enveloped much of the exterior. From the outside alone, it's obvious that the abandoned farmhouse was deserted some time ago and lamentably left to wrack and ruin.

The neglect is even more apparent once you step over the threshold. Note the once-grand staircase with its ornate bannister, which is rounded at the base. The house was so admired that neighbours are said to have asked the builder to replicate its design for their own properties. One homeowner even purportedly went as far as to rip out their existing staircase and replace it with a copy of this one.

The parlour showcases some of the design elements that made the Craftsman style so popular, including exposed beams and fine wood panelling. Given the corner bookshelves, this well-proportioned room may have doubled up as a small library. A piano, which is curiously one of several in the property, sits against one of the walls.

The parlour leads into another reception room, which features a further three pianos, including an ornate grand piano. Perhaps the former owner was a music teacher? Details are sketchy but it appears the house was passed down through the family to the owner's daughter in the 1940s.

According to her obituary, the property's last owner was a much-loved neighbourhood figure and the “epitome of a gracious Southern lady”. Her home was described as “the scene for much social life and hospitality”.

In what might have once been the dining room, the classic coffered Craftsman ceiling is clear to see and would likely have been a prized feature of this grand abandoned home. Unfortunately, time has taken its toll here too, with paper peeling away from the ceiling and the floor littered with debris and the former owner's plethora of possessions.

This light-filled room with dual-aspect windows may have been used by the former occupants to relax and watch TV. Sheets of paper are strewn across the floor and the room appears to be exposed to the elements, if the leaves scattered near the windows are anything to go by.

While debris litters the treads, the staircase is still in remarkably good condition. The last owner passed away in the 1990s at the ripe old age of 94 and it's thought the house has sat vacant since then.

With the current owner unknown, the house has been left to the mercy of Mother Nature. Once a handsome space, this bedroom is overflowing with boxes and personal effects. Light from the windows is obscured thanks to a wayward branch growing through the broken pane.

Loose papers and debris cover the floor of this further bedroom and a rather eerie-looking rocking chair is positioned in the middle of the room. Exactly why the property was never cleared out is anyone's guess.

More belongings are seen packed into this eaves room, which looks to be in especially bad shape. Staining to the walls and ceiling indicates significant water damage, which points to a serious problem with damp.

Scattered across a mantelpiece in this bedroom, an array of old jars sit untouched, aside from the thick cobwebs that have grown around them. While peeling and faded, chintzy floral wallpaper offers insight into the previous owner's tastes. The house is a sorry shadow of its former self but there may be hope for the historic structure yet...

While it may be losing the fight with Mother Nature, Leland Kent reported that the property was listed for sale last year for $500,000 (£383k). Here's hoping a deep-pocketed buyer with a fondness for Arts and Crafts architecture snaps up this historic farmhouse and restores it to its former glory.