Farmhouse style designs that embrace bucolic living are more desireable today than ever before. As farmhouses conjure images of pastoral settings, the pursuit of a peaceful lifestyle is driving demand for the architectural style.
The modern farmhouse style by itself is more than a home design, it’s a way of life. Mid century designs, which were all the rage in 2019, have now taken a backseat to rustic and country living tastes.
Today’s farmhouse embraces advanced technology modern decor, while in pursuit of temperate living.
What Is The Farmhouse Style?
Torch Architecture
Maybe you’re imagining fresh pies and porch rockers. If you desire a spoonful of sanctity or ice-cold lemonade, you can remain calm as we know what you want regarding farmhouse living. This modern farmhouse in Naperville, Illinois, was designed by Torch Architecture and M House Development.
Although modern farmhouse styles have changed, their original spirit hasn’t. Remaining intact are the Puritan values of yesteryear when hard work and prudence were the highest virtues.
What Is The Difference Between A Classic And Modern Farmhouse Style?
The classic farmhouse style is centered on a simple aesthetic. The homes include warm, earthy tones joined with aged or reclaimed wood or patina accents. A classic farmhouse invokes a magnanimous family lifestyle immersed in a pastoral setting.
Modern farmhouse designs feature puritan aesthetics with contemporary or industrial themes. Highlights include minimalist components like stainless steel appliances and mid-century modern furniture.
Pedestrian but not dull, the modern farmhouse centers on a basic lifestyle in a utopian setting. Monochromatic interior color schemes wrapped in neutral exterior hues personify the kindred qualities of rural living.
History Of The Farmhouse Style
Europe gave us the farmhouse. Taking its inspiration from open fields of Germany and Scandinavia, a farmhouse wasn’t a home but a family-driven enterprise. Each element had a productive purpose.
Farmhouses were made of wood and built on flat surfaces with a nearby water source like a lake or river.
Many farmhouses featured front porches, wrapping their full perimeter. Unlike their decorative purposes today, porches were dry wood storage areas and makeshift locker rooms for work boots and field outerwear.
At the end of a long day, the porch was a congregational space for family, neighbors, and visitors.
Farmhouse Front Porch Furniture
View in galleryWhitten Architects
Dash Landing farmhouse in Freeport, Maine is from Whitten Architects. Drawing inspiration from New England-style architecture, the home uses advanced technology while maintaining its traditional roots.
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The solar-calculated overhangs offer cooling shade during warm seasons and solar gain when it’s cold. Double-doors feature on the front porch. A standing seam metal roof protects the home from heavy snow.
And a reading nook on the second floor, which has become a popular modern farmhouse feature.
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Low ceilings and narrow doorways were the standards for original farmhouses. That was backwhen people spent most of their time outside or in the kitchen. During the 1700s, the farmhouse style spread West to Canada and then the US.
It inspired the Cape Cod and Colonial styles that you see today.
Modern Farmhouse Style Exterior
Hobbs, Inc.
Located in New Canaan, Connecticut, this design is from Hobbs, Inc. Similar to original farmhouses, the front porch almost runs the length of the home and features wood stain French double doors.
Northwest Modern Farmhouse
This modern farmhouse in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a marriage of Northwest comfort and rustic architecture styles. A wrap around porch and French double doors follow traditional farm home concepts.
With a solid foundry and yellow side door is an example of how color can accent a white exterior.
New England Colonial
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Built in 1784, this Newton, Connecticut colonial farmhouse restoration project features two large stone chimneys and reclaimed wood. Each restoration plan has made the home better, as the style remains a tribute to American home design.
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Looking for the ultimate rustic farmhouse to welcome you home? Let’s forget the white altogether. A plain wood house will be a unique find among the white farmhouses and it will match your wood barn like no other.
Modern Cottage Design
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Even if you don’t live in a modern farmhouse you can add features to your home to help make it feel like one. A French rustic 4-lite door or wooden window awnings like the ones you see here offer country living charm.
Cottage Porch Style
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As the cottagecore aesthetic hits US homes, the modern farmhouse has become its long-lost soul mate. The porch is a functional aspect of farmhouse living rather than a design highlight.
This cottage porch features rustic board and batten shutters with a rustic French door that pays homage to early-Puritan living.
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As a theme, congregational is why many modern farmhouses resemble churches. The front porch is accented with a teal French door.
View in galleryJim Huntington
This modern farmhouse in Charlotte, Vermont features a red barnyard and is a tribute to the colonial homes from the Industrial Revolution.
Front Porch Lights
View in gallerySteve Powell Homes
Located in Alpharetta, Georgia, this modern farm house boasts a one-of-a-kind full-length tea porch with Brazilian cherry flooring. The front porch lights offer a Tudor antique gas lantern design with rustic copper finish and clear glass.
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The front porch fixtures illuminate the stone lime wash to create a soothing, glowing affect. As the lights create the overall mood, it still doesn’t mean you can’t add other accents.
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The right front porch light style will augment a classic farmhouse look. The rustic lantern-styles pay tribute to late 19th century living.
You can also consider installing stone in your walkways and drive rather than on the house. You’ll achieve the texture and color without worrying about siding material.
Modern Farmhouse Decor
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Cream-colored farmhouses offer a break from traditional white hues. The blue board and batten vinyl exterior shutters complement the front porch windows. With farmhouse styles, alpha shutters add curb appeal.
As a porch centerpiece, a mahogany 6-lite wood entry door with matching sidelites features a mulberry wine-colored stain. Mahogany is a modern farmhouse aesthetic choice as the wood offers protection from termites and wood fungus.
The paneling is an option if stone is too rustic for your sensibilities. If your home is in a suburban setting it might need to comply with neighborhood styles. A brick entry sidewalk would accent the entryway and provide extra color and texture to augment the view.
Porch Shutters
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This colonial brick farmhouse is why limewashing is popular among restoration experts. The porch windows feature olive-colored three batten four board closed vinyl shutters that accent the lime wash hue.
The twin chimneys offer balance and control and were a popular farmhouse feature before the advent of the oven. One fireplace was for heating, while the other was for cooking.
Throughout its two story frame and foundry, you’ll find traces of Greek Revival, Federal and Victorian home architecture.
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The shutters light green hue porch shutters accent the cream-color entryway and mahogany French double-doors. Most farmhouses have them. For decorative purposes, there is something to be said for functional shutters.
Front Porch Charm
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With older farmhouses, the front porch was a vital component, and would stretch across most of a home. Don’t be afraid to turn part of that space into indoor space instead. A small porch can be just as useful as a large one.
Front Porch Decor
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Siding isn’t limited. Just because your house is made of it doesn’t mean you can’t decorate with it too. Strip the porch beams and stain them to stand out against the white siding. Exchange your front doors for something wood and paned.
These accents will bring just enough rustic charm to your farmhouse to give it personality.
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Nothing says traditional living like a white picket fence. It might be fencing in your front yard or maybe it’s protecting your garden. Either way, the picket fence provides double the space for landscaping and gives your home’s exterior a distinct charm.
Modern Farmhouse Living Room
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While the old homes might have had low ceilings, that’s not the case with farmhouses today. Many times you’ll find that someone took the vastness and space from outside and brought it in with a vaulted ceiling.
Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
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When you have more headspace in your home than the traditional farmhouse, it’s only natural that you would style that space too. Wooden beams, whether real or practical, can be a lovely addition above your head as well as some pretty farmhouse hanging lighting.
Living Room Design
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Barn doors are popular eye-catchers in modern farmhouse homes. They might be their natural wood or painted, but either way, they make a statement. Plus installing them is an easy DIY project.
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When your style leaves clean and simple but you live in an old farmhouse, you have to find ways to bring the two together in a way that won’t clash. Small traditional touches like a painting in a gold frame, or heavy carved furniture will give weight to your living area while not taking up too much space.
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What about the shiplap walls. You can find those beautiful white lines in farmhouses old and new. It’s a reliable way to master the white walls technique in older spaces.
Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Furniture
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Open floor plans are one of the top coveted home elements today. For a farmhouse, that requires knocking out a few walls to join the formal and informal areas of the home. But once you do that, you’ll have an open floor plan that everyone will envy.
Modern Kitchen Windows
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While we’re talking about light and airy, you have to give a nod to the farmhouse windows. Most of them take advantage of natural light. If you want more light, switch a window to a French door on a patio or outdoor area. You can also add a dormer or two on your roof.
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Kitchens with farmhouse kitchen furniture have a reputation for being spacious, due to the amount of work and activity that happens in them. It’s rather surprising to find a lack of cabinets in one of these kitchens but the traditional farmhouse didn’t provide them.
Farmhouse Kitchen Cabinets
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If you need more storage space, open kitchen shelving offers a solution. Lucky for you that the open shelving is still on trend so you can use it all you like in your kitchen. You might consider replacing your upper cabinet doors with paned doors that will make everything open to the eye.
Farmhouse Kitchen Island
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Don’t think that all that floor space is going to waste. If you’re looking for farmhouse kitchen island decor ideas, don’t be afraid to use them as a color accent. A kitchen island provides extra workspace and storage. It provides an inviting place for friends and family to socialize while you cook.
In any house, storage is important, but many farmhouses are dwellings for families which means storage is essential. You can’t underestimate a good entry area for shoes and coats between adventures.
Rustic Kitchen Decor
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A wood table provides bottom storage space and a place to prepare food. Wood is a sure-fire way to infuse rustic accents into your farmhouse. An old wooden coffee table will look against a velvet sofa. Kitchen wood cutting boards are practical and stylish.
Open Shelving
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Open kitchen shelving is widespread among modern farmhouse kitchens. Kitchen decor is how you turn the most important space in your home into a reflection of your personality. A modern round farmhouse kitchen table set should blend with the room’s theme. Older homes often do not to have enough cabinet storage space, which explains why open shelving is a staple feature.
This layout uses mixed-level open kitchen shelving. If you want to cover open shelves, install sliding doors to protect your tableware and glasses. Another DIY solution is to hang curtains in front of your open kitchen shelves.
If you have a bone china dinnerware set you want to display, you can hang a rustic plate rack on a wall and keep the set there, just like the one in the photo. Wall shelves instead of a bookshelf, plate rack instead of a cabinet, your options are endless and allow you to create more space for your favorite kitchen items.
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With thisi example, the exterior and interior celebrates modern farmhouse design. The corner open kitchen shelving helps illuminate the kitchen when light passes through the widows and then the glassware.. The backsplash behind the open shelving is Twill Chevron in cotton and knit.
Sleek marble against warm wood is the epitome of this lesson as it works in the modern farmhouse kitchen.
Minimalist Kitchen Design
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Modern farmhouses feature Scandinavian furniture. Black linear designs make a bold and subtle statement against a hardwood floor backdrop.
Farmhouse Bathroom
The stone Japanese freestanding soaking tub adds Far East flare to modern farmhouse living. When remodeling, one must consider texture for depth and purpose. In a farmhouse, you want to optimize natural light and allow open spaces to breathe when working with tile designs.
A subtle tile bathroom pattern offers an intuitive grace and stylish touch.
Farmhouse Bedroom Furniture
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Wood beams and a rustic French country chandelier accent this master bedroom. Wood is one texture you should consider when finishing your farmhouse. Metal brings an industrial vibe to a space while woven blankets add coziness.
Velvet from the furniture is chic and linen is rustic. Mix and match based on how you want to design your space.
Vintage Bedroom Furniture
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What do you do when your furniture and decor are neutral? It’s time to embrace texture. Opt for gray shades of wood instead of brown and layer on the pillows in all the beiges you like.
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Even a farmhouse can kill it with wallpaper. Stick to a classic pattern that will compliment the age of the home and you’ll create a winning room you’ll never want to leave, even if it’s a kid’s bedroom.
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Classic farmhouse decor has built-in color. How can you resist adding yellow to the bedroom that the sun brightens first thing in the morning? Quilts are a must as well as some chippy furniture.
Reading Nook
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A modern reading nook fits well with farmhouse design styles. Everyone needs a place to read, a modern reading nook offers solace and respite in a busy home. You might add a window seat for a reading nook or a desk for your home office.
When you use these extra home spaces, you’ll discover your home’s full potential.
Modern Farmhouse Entryway
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The modern farmhouse entryway is vital feature of each home. The layout above has a modern entryway bench that extends the entire length on the space. Underneath are shoe hand woven shoe storage baskets. An entryway storage cabinet sits above the bench where other personal items.
You can farmhouse entry is more than a place to remove your shoes. Take advantage of the space and use it for storage. It can be a mini-locker room for your family and guests.
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Decorating your dining area is a fun home DIY project. The first thing you can do is get a long farmhouse table and design the room around it. The homes are centered on family unity and having space that can accommodate large groups. Eating and congregating together promote healthy living.
With this notion in mind, a farmhouse home serves as a platform to bond and grow together, values the Puritans brought with them in the 1600s.
Modern Farmhouse Style
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Painting your traditional brick house white can provide all kinds of opportunities to give you the farmhouse you always wanted without having to move. After that major change, the other elements are rather simple like shutters and lighting.
View in galleryFeldman Architecture
The Grange modern farmhouse in Palo Alto, California is an example of what clean lines look like. The layout provides structure and balance to its backyard space. Do not underestimate the power of windows. The dormer window in the middle accents the home’s outdoor appeal.
This modern farmhouse in Dallas, Texas mimics Napa Valley sensibilities. Its board and batten gabled design provides balance and harmony amid a modern rustic setting.
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Modern Farmhouse Backyard
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As designers are redefining the classic old farmhouse, it’s easy to find inspiration with a modern farmhouse. The home in this example features dual tones with vertical white siding and black lined windows. Metal roofs are common, giving the exterior a modern look.
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Backyard spaces for entertainment and BBQs are a hallmark of the modern farmhouse. Outdoor living spaces, pools, and playgrounds adhere to the family-friendly aesthetic.
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For backyard environments, you want modern farmhouse outdoor furniture that will make the space accessible and welcoming. Many homes have large doorways, so walking indoors and outdoors is a unique experience.
Contemporary Farmhouse Style
Not all farmhouse style homes are the same although many share similar traits. The home can be customized and complemented by other styles to create a unique aesthetic. Here are a few inspiring projects that showcase this idea:
North Carolina Traditional Farmhouse
View in galleryPlatt Architecture
This North Carolina traditional farmhouse has been updated with a hint of modern flair. The home is a collaboration between studios Platt Architecture and Gary Daniel Builders. Exterior rustic colors help it blend with its surrounding environment while cedar siding adds to its organic charm.
The interior design is from Alchemy Design Studio and focuses on traditional furnishings and natural and pure materials and finishes. The wooden support beams, the stone and wood floors, the stone-clad fireplace and in a way which everything has been put together helps it come to life.
The layout design is pragmatic. It optimizes natural light and ceiling space, two characteristics of contemporary home architecture.
Massachusetts Modern Farmhouse
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Rustic and pastoral is the way. This modern ranch farmhouse is a combination of the past and future.
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An industrial kitchen with stainless steel features and antique trim are kitchen favorites with modern farmhouse design.
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Large picture windows frame the idyllic scenery. The surrounding fields augment the beauty of a dairy farm. The color palettes, materials ,and finishes are defined by raw elements like the solid beams across the ceilings.
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If you’re curious what a modern farmhouse study looks like, you’ll like this design by studio Kathleen Welsh Interiors. The room features a wood t-square desk. You can select the decor and mind a modern farmhouse office chair that’s right for you.
The two-person built-in desk faces west so the room can take full advantage of natural sunlight. It retains the warmth and charm of traditional farmhouses by utilizing simplified and refined methods. Tiny details and accents give the space charm. Each space has a unique character and is different and unique but in the end, they fit together.
Napa County Farmhouse
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This modern farmhouse in St. Helena, California showcases a dark aesthetic design. From studio A.D.D. Concept + Design, this cutting-edge structure is a mix of board-formed concrete, blackened timber, and glass. The exterior layered elevations define each space while conjuring a Napa Valley vibe.
Bonelli custom commercial grade anodized aluminum black exterior windows and doors run throughout. The windows include casement and awning screens.
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The outside finish includes clear-cut cedar siding with a transparent stain. Aged patina vertical exterior cedar planks are the result of fine wood treatment. The visible wood grain accentuates the dark colors. A black composition and corrugated steel roof offer a sharp industrial appeal.
Patio Furniture
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The outdoor lounge area has a Malm wood-burning fireplace in a Zen-like garden setting.
The mid-century outdoor patio furniture is ideal for a neutral tone chaise lounge and Japanese-style greenery.
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The living room space features an open-floor layout with polished concrete flooring. The ceiling height is a homage to industrial loft living. White gallery walls make it easy to achieve an art-deco vibe.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Limewash And German Schmear?
Limewash is made with crushed limestone. It protects and adds texture to brick surfaces. It’s also cheap and eco-friendly. It works best on vintage homes with a matte finish.
German schmear otherwise known as smear has mortar in it. Instead of brick, the smear covers the mortar. The advantage of smear is that it uses cement. After it’s applied to a home exterior, it’s permanent.
Smear doesn’t require maintenance, nor will it erode. It’s the go-to product among modern farmhouse renovators who want to add European flair to their home’s exterior.
How Do I Apply For Safe Room Funding?
For those living in regions where harsh weather conditions are an annual threat, a safe room might be necessary. If you want to build a safe house to protect you and your family from hurricanes, for example, government funding is available.
When applying for safe room funding, you need to contact Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA). You can find out if your state is eligible. For those who are eligible, funding to local governments to assist in reducing risk to people and property is available.
How To Choose A Porch Light?
When choosing a porch light, you need to determine what their function. With modern farmhouse styles, the front porch is the center stage of your exterior home. Your front porch fixtures will depend on the weather conditions of where you live.
For harsh weather conditions, brass and aluminum light fixtures are the best. You’ll also want 60-watt lightbulbs.
Modern Farmhouse Style Conclusion
The modern farmhouse style is moving at the speed of advanced technology. Even though designs continue to evolve, the homes function the way they did centuries ago.