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Collins Builders Blog

TOP 5 WAYS TO CREATE A MODERN FARMHOUSE DESIGN

The modern farmhouse design is one of the most popular requests our clients bring to us in today’s market when we are designing their new home. This style is a mix of industrial and rustic with clean and simple lines. Classic textures and colors keep this design scheme from being trendy and dated, and because of its eclectic nature, no two homes look alike. Here are our top 5 ways to create a modern farmhouse of your own.

  1. White Exterior
    Board & Batten or painted brick are the two best ways to achieve a modern farmhouse on the exterior. Both create a texture on the elevations but the white body color with a white trim keep it from being busy. To increase the modern look, add a sharp pitch to the front roof gables. Metal roof accents add interest to the front elevation and give a nod to the traditional farmhouse design.

For a bright white exterior, we recommend Sherwin Williams 7005 Pure White. 7004 Snowbound provides a softer white without any gray. When you want to bring a hint of gray into the white 6000 Snowfall is a beautiful color, or try 7008 Alabaster for a warmer white.

  1. Black Windows
    Black vinyl windows contrasted against a light exterior make a dramatic statement. A 4 lite window pattern is the most popular style, either in just the top sash or in the top and bottom. If your home has a sliding glass door, that can be done in the black finish as well to tie it all together. These windows are available with a black exterior and white interior, or a black interior finish allowing you the flexibility to choose how much impact you want the windows to have on your interior styling. The white interior will blend in with the trim, while the black interior will add an additional modern element.
  1. Plank Flooring
    Whether you choose hardwood, plank tile, or luxury vinyl plank flooring, no farmhouse is complete without the main floors in a wood or wood-look product. Many of these products are available with a matte or muted sheen, which increases the “lived in” look of the farmhouse style. Feel free to go as rustic or as monochromatic as you prefer, as the wood is the star of the show in a farmhouse design. The rest of the interior design will be whites, blacks, and muted jewel tones all of which look good with almost any floor. Wide planks of 7″ or random widths are a good choice for this style, as they mimic the look of reclaimed flooring.
  2. Black Faucets and Lighting
    Just like the black windows, matte black fixtures pop against whites and woods. The black faucets often have a modern line to them, which enhances the feel of the space when paired with rustic wood floors and a white kitchen. Some of our favorites are the Align or Waterhill faucets for the kitchen, and Align, Weymouth, or Genta for the baths.

Black finishes in the lighting and fans of your home really add a custom look and create a memory point in every room. These range from the industrial to the rustic, so they easily blend into a modern farmhouse design. Adding Edison bulbs is a fun way to increase the wow factor, and they have an old-fashioned look to them even when the light is not on. The Blakely, Gulliver, Elevate, and Spatial are popular choices for interior lights, while Englewood, Brookside, and Santee work very well as exterior options.

  1. A Pop of Fun
    The idea behind the modern farmhouse is a collection of items that look well used and “found” like any old warehouse or farm might have. This includes finding a space for a unique pop of color or texture. A dark blue cabinet paired with a clean white quartz makes a bathroom immediately interesting. Brick tile in the mudroom area adds to the lived in feel, or a fun patterned floor in the laundry or bathroom instantly adds character to your home. These small areas carry big impact to your design, and are a great way to complete your modern farmhouse design.