Charm of the farm
The farmhouse style reflects its rural roots in big, functional spaces and treasures collected over time. Caroline Botting and Sally Butters report.
Making the best of what you’ve got, what you can afford, what’s practical and hard-wearing – these rural realities were the roots of original farmhouse style. Today’s farmhouse interiors incorporate antiques, collectables and salvaged items that remind us of working days in the past, along with design and decor features that became common in early rural homes.
These include big, solid furniture (think comfy armchairs, butcher’s blocks and chunky kitchen tables), natural materials and rough-hewn finishes, durable fabrics such as burlap and linen, tongue-and-groove panelling, over-size or apron-front kitchen sinks, and open shelving.
Cambridge interior designer Harriet Di Maio is an expert in farmhouse style, and it’s reflected throughout her home.
‘‘I love the sense of history, of well-loved family pieces, where nothing is perfect and everything has a use or a sentimental value. The look celebrates the imperfection of pieces of furniture and elements of the house, walls don’t need to be straight, weathered wooden beams are on display, and quirky corners and different roof lines all add to the overall look,’’ Di Maio says.
Old meets new
Lauren and Matt Wells’ house, essentially a new build, has been decorated in farmhouse style. Their Waikato cottage was too far gone for restoration, so they took it apart and rebuilt it on the old foundations. They also kept the original flooring, doors, an original stud, and a traditional beamed ceiling in the open plan kitchen and living area, which became a key feature of the space.
‘‘We wanted a house that really felt relaxed, where you didn’t feel afraid to touch things, and the kids could run around through the house,’’ Lauren says. ‘‘We have a mix of modern things and vintage that had meaning.
‘‘It connects to what we like to do outside. We have a massive vegetable garden, we raise our own animals, the kids go to country schools and I wanted the interior to reflect the kind of lifestyle we live,’’ Wells continues. ‘‘It’s about balancing modern, aged and things you love and how you tie this together.’’
Country kitchen
Nothing says farmhouse kitchen like a big, generous sink. Wooden benchtops and floors, open shelves stacked with crockery or preserves, baskets of flowers, wicker accessories and rustic barnyard accents are other hallmarks of farmhouse kitchens. Any visible signs of wear and tear only add to the charm.
‘‘It’s recreating a feeling of the old country farmhouses where everything happened around the kitchen table. Families would gather around the table to eat, to entertain, to do their accounts, kids’ homework, hang flowers, pickle fruit, store homegrown veges, have a cup of tea. It’s a style where homes are a celebration of family history and with a focus on comfort and warmth,’’ Di Maio says.
The kitchen is the most important room in the house and usually features a large, weathered farmhouse table key. ‘‘They’ll usually have a large freestanding range cooker, and other freestanding storage pieces, such as old dressers, sideboards, butcher’s blocks or islands, and plenty of open shelves to display treasured pieces and produce,’’ she says.
Floors are in slate, flagstones, or weathered wood and a comfy chair will be by the fire.
‘‘My own kitchen has all the elements of farmhouse style, from the original 100-year-old floorboards, to the large, weathered pine table, Falcon range and vintage sofa by the woodburner.’’
Welcoming living
In the living space, antique elements can give any room a welcoming farmhouse vibe. Mix and match styles, finishes, textures and patterns to create a comfortable, eclectic and lived-in feel that’s reminiscent of the hand-me-down, make-do days of our forebears.
‘‘Living rooms are crammed with squashy, comfy sofas, with faded vintage cushions and throws. The living room is centred around the
‘‘Families would gather around the table to eat, to entertain, to do their accounts, hang flowers, pickle fruit, store homegrown veges, have a cup of tea.’’
Harriet Di Maio