Achieving the Look - Modern Farmhouse

Modern-Farmhouse is definitely a trend we’re seeing a lot of right now, but something we always emphasize to our clients is how to achieve a “modern farmhouse” that is timeless. Achieving a timeless look starts by walking the line between rustic and modern farmhouse while not dipping too far on the rustic side of things.

Please be advised that none of these rules are concrete. As with all design, there’s always an exception to a rule. We advise that in order to achieve the look is to break a rule intentionally, in a way where that choice becomes a focal point.

Here’s our guide below for designing your perfect modern farmhouse that doesn’t read TOO farmhouse.

INCLUDE:
● Focal Points of Shiplap

○ Be Intentional about where the shiplap goes. Your home doesn’t need to be drenched in shiplap. Great options for shiplap accent walls are: stairwells, fireplace walls, powder baths (in a fun accent color), and ONE wall in a bedroom (in a fun neutral color...We love charcoal grey!)

● Focal Points of Board and Batten

○ It is important to do this sparingly as it can read TOO formal in some settings. If you have a nice large accent wall, or a fireplace wall, this is the place to do it. Be sure to map this out ahead of time to get the proper proportions for your room.

● Industrial Lighting
○ We LOVE matte black! Black lighting with a 2700K-3000K bulb color is our jam!

Make sure to not go with too white of a bulb color or your room will feel washed out.

● Light colored wood or wood look flooring

○ We chose to go with an engineered hardwood light oak flooring. If your home is large, go with a wider plank!

● A neutral color palette
○ Whites, greys, and muted colors will create a soft, relaxed vibe!

●  Tall simple mitered-edge baseboards

●  Hand-made Subway Tile

○ Look for a handmade tile where each piece has a little special variation. This element makes the design look more high end and keeps the design from “falling flat”

AVOID:
● Rich colors

○ Extremely saturated colors pull more “farmhouse” than “modern farmhouse”. When in doubt, go with a muted version of a color for a more subtle way to bring in color.

● Too thin of shiplap planks
○ Make sure to make sure they are wider than your baseboards and proportionate to your wood flooring.

● Low baseboards

○ Nothing below 3 3⁄4” H

● Ultra-rustic lighting

○ Lighting is the key to creating a vibe! Create a lighting plan for your entire home so each room feels cohesive.

● Warm colored wood flooring
○ Avoid wood floors that feel too red. The key to a modern farmhouse is creating a subtle warmth without it feeling disconnected from the rest of the tones in the house.
● Dated prints and patterns