DREAM HOUSE IN THE MAKING
Contemporary and rustic styles meet in this striking, new Indiana farmhouse.
Contemporary and rustic styles meet in this striking new Indiana farmhouse.
When you picture your dream home, what do you see? For this family of five, it was a modern-style farmhouse in a suburban neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana. Although the home sits in a suburban, rather than rural, area, the neighborhood is quiet and within view of a picturesque horse pasture. This makes it a perfect location for a contemporary farmhouse. Designer Whittney Parkinson of Whittney Parkinson Design drew from both a modern lifestyle and traditional farmhouse environment when designing this family’s dream home.
DREAMS IN PLANNING
The design process for new builds has drastically changed in recent years. “We live in this beautiful age of design influence we never had before, ”Whittney says. With unlimited access to inspiring ideas from online sources such as Pinterest, Houzz and social media, clients have more creative options to bring to the table. For Whittney, the process starts with her clients presenting a mood board and other collected ideas. Then Whittney and her design team will come back with their own contributions. These early brainstorm sessions play a large role in the architecture of the home. “Mood boards allow us to get a good idea of what architectural detail to do,” she says. “It creates the architectural narrative.” In this way, the home’s function is part of the design from the very beginning.
In an open concept area, use seating to designate separate spaces, such as the dining room, living room and kitchen.
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
For this build, Whittney focused on using the architecture and soft cost items, such as furniture and accessories, to create a balance between modern and rustic aesthetics. In the kitchen, the hard lines of the island and stainless steel finish on the appliances provide a contemporary base, while smaller details like the drawer pulls and bar stools add rustic charm. She also kept classic farmhouse details, such as the white shaker-style cabinets, to provide a timeless background.
In this home, Whittney focused specifically on the lighting to help drive the aesthetic. The house faces north and south and doesn’t get much natural light. To counteract this, she added several light fixtures. Most of them are streamlined iron pieces paired with lots of black and whites to create a cohesive modern look throughout the home. To tie in a rustic feel, she integrated wood elements. Beams in the kitchen, a lighter white oak floor and rustic accessories throughout each space create a cohesive and contemporary farmhouse atmosphere.
MODERN OR TRENDY
In a new build such as this, Whittney advises perspective homeowners to use the architecture to your advantage with elements such as shiplap, wooden beams and natural lighting. To create a home that feels pleasantly rustic and modern, her biggest tip is to “stay away from trendy. Anything that actually says ‘modern farmhouse’ in the title should be avoided.” Instead, stick with classic items that will work for a contemporary lifestyle.
“We’ve completely kept the integrity of our home.”