ELEMENTS OF Modern-Vintage Style

• MODERN ARCHITECTURE. Mindy suggests keeping the core architecture modern. It helps the home to age gracefully as different décor styles come and go. Plus, it’s easier to swap out baubles and knickknacks than to do a renovation every 10 years. That’s why Mindy keeps certain elements like lighting, kitchen cabinets and big-statement furniture, like the master bed and living room furniture, contemporary. Then complement this base with vintage accessories.

• VINTAGE DÉCOR. Does everything have to be authentically vintage? No! Mindy says it’s perfectly fine to use vintageinspired pieces, assuming they look the part. “I think it’s fine to have some things that are new, made to look old,” Mindy says. “But I think there has to be a level of authenticity or everything ends up looking sort of disingenuous.” Pick pieces that accurately reflect the era from which they’re copied, like Mindy did here with the 1970s.

• THE BOTTOM LINE. Keep the core structure of your house clean and simple. You never know when a new variation of farmhouse style will strike your fancy, and it’s fun to switch things up every so often. Spend a day or two treasure hunting at local flea markets and antiques shops for authentic accessories, and then fill in the gaps with vintage-inspired goods. Your farmhouse will look fresh, creative and classic.

Balance your modern farmhouse with vintage accessories.

Mindy feels inspired by décor styles pulled from the early 1970s. Here, she incorporated a brass desk with wooden shelving and a light fixture that’s a modern industrial take on a midcentury starburst chandelier.