Use modern farmhouse look to your advantage
Blend components, such as wood, metal, clean lines and neutral colours
Modern farmhouse style has been hugely popular — in magazines, on design TV shows and in homes. The style is a mix of classic and contemporary, and is known for blending old and new. It can be overdone.
The style incorporates traditional farmhouse components, such as wood, metal and distressed surfaces, along with clean lines, neutral colours and contemporary touches.
Modern farmhouse was especially popular in the pandemic because of the use of older furniture. Upcycling and thrifting for older pieces and giving them new life is on trend right now. The key is to use is judiciously.
It not about decorating “with every single element of the style in one room, so that style becomes a caricature of itself,” advises Sharon McCormick, of Connecticut-based Sharon McCormick Designs. “Like any style, it is most successful when the structure and architecture of the home are congruent with the decor. For example, a mid-century modern home doesn’t lend itself to shiplap walls.”
When modern farmhouse first came out, many people rushed to add to their home plaid and signs with sayings or farm symbols on them. However, there are better ways to incorporate the style. You don’t want to feel as though you’re living in a barn, after all.
“Clients who have specifically requested to have their interiors designed in modern farmhouse style are attracted to it for many reasons,” McCormick says. “It is uncluttered, yet cosy. It’s traditional, but not fussy.”
The neutral colour palette — whites, beiges and greys — are easy to live with, and they are calming and soothing. Materials — the furniture, flooring and more — are natural and sometimes imperfect.
Some of the things that make up the style include reclaimed flooring, stone, brick, granite and soapstone. These materials all add texture without a lot of pattern.
“The mix of vintage, with more contemporary pieces, is interesting and personal,” McCormick says. “Comfortable, upholstered furniture pieces in casual fabrics are family friendly. Function is as important as esthetics, with storage as concealed as possible. Furniture is arranged to be conducive to socializing.”
An offshoot of your typical modern farmhouse is industrial modern farmhouse. This brings an edgier style into the mix.
“It incorporates the same elements, but without the rusticity,” McCormick says. “A greater proportion of metals are used, including copper, brass, iron, stainless steel, brushed nickel and tin.”
She suggested homeowners use up to three different metals in a room, so that it feels more eclectic, less overly matched.
Metals can be used in lighting, appliances, furniture and building supplies. Metals and wood, used together, are particularly appealing, and work well for a modern farmhouse kitchen.
“Copper is a warm metal, which stands out and adds personality, because it’s not used as frequently as others,” McCormick says.
As for cabinets, Shaker-style is often used for its simplicity in modern farmhouse. White feels clean for them and can be paired with honed black granite countertops to impart a sense of the casual.
Signs make a frequent appearance in modern farmhouse style, but McCormick advises using them thoughtfully and with purpose. “I like to keep it to one per house … to keep it from becoming a cliché. It’s best if it’s a personal sign that has meaning.”
Using barn doors is a popular modern farmhouse move. It adds that cosy, barn feel that shows off the wood and rustic style. But homeowners should be sure not to overuse barn doors, McCormick advises.