BY JIM WINNDERMAN
Many are familiar with interior decorating styles known as mid-century modern, contemporary or simply modern. Less familiar may be a more recent approach known as “modern farmhouse,” a trend in home decor and design evoking a feeling of warmth and comfort.
The origin of the farmhouse can be traced to Germany and Scandinavia, where they were built to house farm workers. Then, it was not a style but a necessary shelter for a way of life. Farmhouse architecture arrived in the U.S. in the 1700s. Since then, farmhouses have undergone various iterations, from being purely functional as they were in Europe to slowly morphing into various styles of interior and exterior design adopted by everyday families.
Today’s popular modern farmhouse version grew out of the show “Fixer Upper,” hosted by Chip and Joanna Gaines from Waco, Texas. It aired for five seasons on HGTV (Home and Garden Television), a network focusing on reality programming based on home improvement and real estate.
Their show premiered with each episode featuring a home they were renovating. As their engaging personalities and decorating style aired featuring one home after another, their personal appeal and approach to interior design gained popularity.
Prominent features included architectural elements, like the use of natural materials, such as wood and stone, and an open and airy floor plan conducive to a comfortable lifestyle. The decor was an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories. Color choices were warm and neutral hues that did not overwhelm a room.
Because it was an approach that could be used inside a home of any architectural style, it had immediate and widespread public appeal. They ventured away from the pure countryside approach of simplicity, function and nostalgia characteristic of earlier farmhouse decor and introduced a more relaxed way of living and entertaining. The design features smooth, clean lines and materials while retaining the rustic charm of historic farms. By 2016, the Gaines had unexpectedly created a new trend that soon had its own name – modern farmhouse.
Designs based on personal interpretation
Modern farmhouse design can incorporate a traditional wooden kitchen table set in a large kitchen with vaulted ceilings and wooden accent beams, while the overall design is sleek, functional and bright.
Farmhouse style is a combination of the best of old and new. It remains rustic, yet it is chic, contemporary, country and modern at the same time.
The practical part of modern farmhouse design is frequently expressed through open shelves in living spaces. In family rooms, shelves contain family heirlooms and collectibles. In the kitchen, clear glass cabinet doors display everyday functional utensils, like dishes, textiles and other practical objects, as well as rustic cooking decor.
Early farmhouses did not have walls made from drywall like those found in most new and existing homes. Walls were shiplap, beadboard or tongue-and-groove boards, and using the same material today is an important part of modern farmhouse decor. Painted in shades of white and installed vertically or horizontally, either approach delivers the coziness found in the charm of historic farms.
The most important room in the house
Although stainless-steel kitchen appliances would not seem to fit the modern farmhouse approach to decor, they are easily incorporated into a kitchen that features the clean, straight lines of Shaker cabinets, shiplap walls and other natural elements like soapstone sinks.
Similarly, modern farmhouse design does not usually incorporate busy, repetitive patterns on furniture, walls or draperies; however, kitchens can again be an exception. It is not unusual for a subtly patterned tile backsplash to be used above the oven, where a geometric design works well and does not compete with white subway tile installed nearby.
A kitchen island styled as a table with rustic turned legs beneath its countertop, copper drawer knobs and pulls, and a butcher block surface all work anywhere in a modern farmhouse kitchen.
When looking for basic design materials, look for historical pieces or items that could be found in nature. Examples include wood, slate, marble, soapstone, brick, aged brass, cast iron and tin. Most importantly, both comfort and function are goals in modern farmhouse decor, versus aesthetics, trends or a consistent sense of design.
Modern farmhouse exterior
While interior decor for a modern farmhouse design is popular when existing homes are remodeled, builders, architects and contractors of new homes have been quick to add a modern farmhouse exterior aesthetic to their portfolios.
Considerations for an exterior design include the siding and color, roof, lighting and the entrance that greets guests from the curb to the front door.
As for color, the same approach applies outside as it does inside. Neutral hues, such as whites, creams and beiges, are commonly used for a clean and fresh exterior. That palette provides a background that easily incorporates elements such as natural stone on a portion of the facade, wooden shutters and wooden porch railings and posts that evoke a rustic, familiar feel.
A combination of vertical or horizontal siding is often blended with cedar shingles under the roof peaks to add interest and texture. Vintage barn-style lantern light fixtures or industrial lighting are popular near the front door. Nothing exudes a modern farmhouse exterior like a welcoming, comfortable front porch.
A front door can be contrary to an overall paint scheme. Pale colors work, but almost any color can add texture and interest to the entrance. Having a door in a pleasant shade of red, yellow or blue is more welcoming, which conveys a happy vibe to arriving guests.
Finally, incorporating the true meaning of modern farmhouse design into the exterior means using metal barn-style roofing to create additional color and texture contrast. However, traditional shingles can also be used with metal shed roof accents above window overhangs or for just the porch roof.
Top it all with a wooden sliding barn door replacing a traditional front door, add a picket fence in the front yard, and turn that house into a modern farmhouse home.
Jim Winnerman is a guest contributor for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
