Design trends may come and go, but classic Farmhouse design lives forever. The cozy nostalgia of a bygone era is as welcoming as a warm plate of cookies—we just can’t resist! ‘Modern Farmhouse’ came into our collective consciousness thanks to the charmingly creative design of Johanna Gaines’ HGTV show and subsequent Magnolia magazine. Johanna came on the scene at the tail end of the Provincial French revival and reminded us just how much we missed Grandma’s house and the simple life it represented. Before ‘Cottage Core’, there were shiplap walls, bright white-on-white palettes, and plenty of natural fabrics, twigs in jars, and candles.
The Updated Farmhouse Kitchen
Today, Farmhouse continues to evolve; there’s no one way to do it right. That being said, there are a few design rules to the Farmhouse esthetic. Nail these, and you’ll find yourself with a timeless kitchen that might just inspire a baking spree. You’ve been warned!
1. Start with a Neutral Palette
White, beige, greige, or cream—the key isn’t the color, but the hue. Keep your walls and cabinets light and layered and you’ll add both volume and depth to your kitchen space. When you do add another color, keep it soft. Wood is the traditional ‘third’ color—and its use here only adds to the bespoke nature of the design.
2. Wood Counters and Floors
You really cannot separate wood from the Farmhouse esthetic. It IS the primary element that should marry the entirety of your design choices together. In this case, you’ll find a butcher block countertop on the island. It’s a fantastic statement piece; retro in style, useful in nature, and so much warmer than stone.
Wood floors can also add warmth to your Farmhouse kitchen. This can be achieved by laying solid wood floors down—or, if you’re looking for a modern, versatile, easy-to-clean option: Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP). Today’s selection of LVP flooring is simply staggering. No matter if you’re looking to recreate white oak, maple, or knotty pine—you can find a spot-on replica in vinyl. The upsides are many—they are waterproof, easy to clean, and shrug off scratches and dents like a champ. If you’re looking for a family-friendly option to real wood, LVP is your MVP.
3. The Backsplash
For an old-school Farmhouse look, choose a solid or simple patterned tile and run it from your countertop to the base of your cabinets. If you choose a mosaic tile, look for patterns with lots of white space for an ultra-stylish look. Floral motifs will tend to look more feminine and nostalgic while repeating angular designs will add a modern twist to your Farmhouse vision.
4. Open Space
In a traditional Farmhouse, you’d find the kitchen at the center of the home. This is where you’d bake the bread, make the pie, and peel the potatoes. It was where the family gathered three times (or more!) a day. As a result, the kitchen was large and inviting. Often the eaves were open, vaulting the ceilings. If you’re building a custom home, you have the opportunity to either choose a plan with high ceilings or create a kitchen with vaulted ceilings. Think about how you’ll move through this room—where the chef works, the friends gather, and the family eats.
In the kitchen above, the warm wood tones, white tile backsplash, white stone counters, airy space, vaulted ceilings, and neutral color palette contains all the hallmarks of a Scandinavian-inspired Farmhouse kitchen—one that’s easily replicated on any sized budget.
5. Dedicated Hood & Industrial Touches
For the ultimate nod to Farmhouse design, be sure to incorporate a dedicated hood above your stove. You can buy a pre-made all-in-one hood, or purchase an insert (see Ventahood) and build a box around it. Hoods can become as ornate or simple as you desire—and feature any kind of texture or finish you can dream up! Keeping with the Farmhouse vibe, however, is key. Notice how this home has mushroom-colored cabinets and a white hood. The contrasting colors help the hood stand out as a key feature in this clean, crisp kitchen.
In order to keep your design feeling current, add industrial design touches to modernize and elevate the more traditional elements in a Farmhouse kitchen. Here, metal pendant lights and a modern aluminum espresso machine contrast nicely with the ornate antique-looking hood—adding flavor and buzz to this fun Farmhouse kitchen.
6. Open Shelving & a Walk-Through Service Pantry
Nothing says Farmhouse like open shelving! While nay-sayers continue to warn that this HGTV staple is merely a trend, we disagree. Open shelving is simply too handy. Frequently used items are easy to find and easy to put away. Open shelving also creates a lovely space in which to show off precious memories and key pieces that authenticate the home. Not only that, but they open up the room, physically making more space.
Small kitchens can really benefit from open shelving. Used sparingly or in full effect, this is one design element that isn’t going to fade away any time soon.
7. Matte Black Fixtures, Faucets, and Hardwear
Fixtures, faucets, and hardware—the finished custom home triumvirate. Often described as the jewelry of a house, these elements should coordinate and create a through-line of style in your home. While brass and copper fixtures are certainly call-backs to early Americana, matte black has become the Farmhouse signature finish.
Used everywhere from light fixtures to door hinges, it is an easy design decision that will create harmony from the bedroom to the kitchen, bathroom to the back porch.
Today's Farmhouse Style
Thanks to Adair Home’s long working relationships with some of the best craftspeople and suppliers in the West, you’ll find everything you need to create the Farmhouse kitchen of your dreams at one of our Design Centers, including Emser tile, Shaw flooring, Kholer fixtures, and RidgeCrest Cabinets.
Bring your ideas and we’ll bring the passion and know-how to building your custom home on your lot.
Adair Homes + You = The Perfect Home
With over 50 customizable floorplans and an entire Pro Team at your disposal, building a custom home with Adair has never been easier. Choose to personalize one of our plans, or draw your own from scratch. Either way, you’ll benefit from our decades of building experience and the cost-saving relationships we’ve built through Interpak Supply.
Contact an Adair team member today and begin the journey. We’ll walk you through every step, from budgeting and property site plans to interior design.
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At Adair Homes, our mission states: it is our privilege to build our customers the home they have always dreamed of. We believe in providing the greatest value for our customer’s dollar and finding innovative ways to value engineer homes. We believe that we can offer an outstanding customer experience that is both enjoyable and rewarding—and offer this one-of-a-kind customer experience as the largest on-your-lot builder in the West. For more info, get in touch with us here or call 1-844-518-7072.
