11 Modern Farmhouses That Could Make You Want to Change Your Life
Simple forms, cutting-edge materials and casual yet refined good looks characterize homes in this timeless style
Mitchell Parker
21 July 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
This article is from our Most Popular stories file.
Surprisingly, there’s a lot you can do with a farmhouse. The basic form and laid-back attitude lend itself to a variety of architectural and interior liberties, which is why it continues to be a popular style even today. But most of all, a simple farmhouse informs a simple lifestyle, and that’s something many homeowners look for in a sanctuary: a place where they can feel relaxed, open and unplugged — but not too unplugged. The old way of life still needs to conform to the new one. Here, 11 farmhouses show what the style — and current lifestyle — are all about.
Surprisingly, there’s a lot you can do with a farmhouse. The basic form and laid-back attitude lend itself to a variety of architectural and interior liberties, which is why it continues to be a popular style even today. But most of all, a simple farmhouse informs a simple lifestyle, and that’s something many homeowners look for in a sanctuary: a place where they can feel relaxed, open and unplugged — but not too unplugged. The old way of life still needs to conform to the new one. Here, 11 farmhouses show what the style — and current lifestyle — are all about.
1. Bridging Old and New
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Scott and Karen Benezra and their sons, Emmett, 9, and Orie, 6
Location: Kennebunk, Maine
Timber rafters, ties and beams from a deconstructed farmhouse and barn became a modern farmhouse with two main structures linked by a glass entryway.
A cable-lined catwalk runs beneath recycled beams to the master bedroom.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Scott and Karen Benezra and their sons, Emmett, 9, and Orie, 6
Location: Kennebunk, Maine
Timber rafters, ties and beams from a deconstructed farmhouse and barn became a modern farmhouse with two main structures linked by a glass entryway.
A cable-lined catwalk runs beneath recycled beams to the master bedroom.
Raw materials, such as unfinished reclaimed wood, raw steel and polished concrete, fill the rest of the interiors.
A local metalworker created the new take on a cable railing staircase in the airy entry.
See more of this farmhouse | Find a design-build firm near you on Houzz
A local metalworker created the new take on a cable railing staircase in the airy entry.
See more of this farmhouse | Find a design-build firm near you on Houzz
2. Country Classic
Houze at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Menlo Park, California
Size: 6,052 square feet (562 square meters), including a full finished basement; four bedrooms, 6½ bathrooms
A suburban home in Menlo Park captures country style without imitating. A preweathered Galvalume roof looks like zinc and will become more matte over time.
Houze at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Menlo Park, California
Size: 6,052 square feet (562 square meters), including a full finished basement; four bedrooms, 6½ bathrooms
A suburban home in Menlo Park captures country style without imitating. A preweathered Galvalume roof looks like zinc and will become more matte over time.
Honed Calacatta Oro marble countertops set up the kitchen for success.
Range: Wolf; pendants: &Tradition; stools: Tolix
Range: Wolf; pendants: &Tradition; stools: Tolix
Benjamin Moore’s White Dove embraces the modern-meets-country living room.
Coffee table: custom; sofa: A. Rudin; wing chair: Ironies
See more of this farmhouse
Coffee table: custom; sofa: A. Rudin; wing chair: Ironies
See more of this farmhouse
3. A DIY Dream in Austin
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Who lives here: Shane and Holly Pavonetti, and their dog, Ripley
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Cost: $165,000 (not including the cost to design the home and manage the construction)
Homeowner Shane Pavonetti acted as architect, general contractor and steel fabricator for this Texas home, while his wife, Holly, took on the interior design duties, allowing them to save tons of money — but not time.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Who lives here: Shane and Holly Pavonetti, and their dog, Ripley
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Cost: $165,000 (not including the cost to design the home and manage the construction)
Homeowner Shane Pavonetti acted as architect, general contractor and steel fabricator for this Texas home, while his wife, Holly, took on the interior design duties, allowing them to save tons of money — but not time.
The wooden doors are temple doors from China. To the right, a stereo sits on a big slab of monkey pod wood. Holly and Shane bought the chandelier for $85 in Mexico; the moose antlers they picked up in Michigan.
Blue chair and rug: Ikea
Blue chair and rug: Ikea
Holly, seen here, placed the sink beneath an extra-large window, and the cooktop on the peninsula so she could face guests while cooking.
A two-by-four frame on the ground raises the counters to nearly 38 inches (36 inches is standard) to make kitchen work easier for Holly, who’s 5 foot 10.
Cabinets: Ikea
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A two-by-four frame on the ground raises the counters to nearly 38 inches (36 inches is standard) to make kitchen work easier for Holly, who’s 5 foot 10.
Cabinets: Ikea
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4. Brightness on the Edge of Town
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Sharon, Connecticut
Size: 4,500 square feet (418 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ baths
The classic children’s story One Morning in Maine inspired this simple country house, which includes modern sustainability features such as solar panels on a metal roof.
Bright yellow adds a sense of sunshine to the north-facing kitchen. Plaster walls yield a more authentic look to the new home.
Exterior paint: Yellow Oxide, Benjamin Moore; lights: PW Vintage Lighting; cabinet paint: Babouche, Farrow & Ball; appliances: Frigidaire Professional Series
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Sharon, Connecticut
Size: 4,500 square feet (418 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ baths
The classic children’s story One Morning in Maine inspired this simple country house, which includes modern sustainability features such as solar panels on a metal roof.
Bright yellow adds a sense of sunshine to the north-facing kitchen. Plaster walls yield a more authentic look to the new home.
Exterior paint: Yellow Oxide, Benjamin Moore; lights: PW Vintage Lighting; cabinet paint: Babouche, Farrow & Ball; appliances: Frigidaire Professional Series
While it looks like a cozy reading area, this is actually a mudroom, left with an unfinished look to create the feeling of it being a later addition.
Window molding paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
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Window molding paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
See more of this farmhouse
5. Low-Tech in Texas
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two toddlers
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: Less than 3,500 square feet (325 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
These tech workers wanted a calm, comfortable home in which to unplug. A modern farmhouse suited their demands perfectly, and architect Tim Cuppett responded with this one-room-wide design that gets plenty of sunshine and breezes.
The kitchen has the best view in the house, nestled under live oak trees and facing a pasture.
Lower cabinet paint: Dolphin, Benjamin Moore; countertops: 3-centimeter Absolute Black granite; backsplash tile: 6-by-10-inch Studio Moderne in Blonde Gloss, Walker Zanger; sconces: Schoolhouse Electric; light fixture: vintage; bar stools: West Elm
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two toddlers
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: Less than 3,500 square feet (325 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
These tech workers wanted a calm, comfortable home in which to unplug. A modern farmhouse suited their demands perfectly, and architect Tim Cuppett responded with this one-room-wide design that gets plenty of sunshine and breezes.
The kitchen has the best view in the house, nestled under live oak trees and facing a pasture.
Lower cabinet paint: Dolphin, Benjamin Moore; countertops: 3-centimeter Absolute Black granite; backsplash tile: 6-by-10-inch Studio Moderne in Blonde Gloss, Walker Zanger; sconces: Schoolhouse Electric; light fixture: vintage; bar stools: West Elm
A steel shelf lets the family keep things that they use frequently within easy reach but doesn’t take too much of the view away. Drawers beneath the banquette seats hold placemats and linens. The table is custom made and has a plastic laminate top on a pedestal base.
See more of this farmhouse
See more of this farmhouse
6. California Compound
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: John Lindsay and Leslie Ward
Location: Near Arroyo Grande, California
Size: 3,277 square feet (304 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
A modern take on a farm compound features a series of gabled board and batten buildings joined together by lower structures with flat roofs.
Siding: CertainTeed
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: John Lindsay and Leslie Ward
Location: Near Arroyo Grande, California
Size: 3,277 square feet (304 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
A modern take on a farm compound features a series of gabled board and batten buildings joined together by lower structures with flat roofs.
Siding: CertainTeed
An open-plan living room showcases vintage midcentury furnishings.
The airy great room lends a casual feel to the single-story home and allows the homeowners accessibility later in life.
Dining room table: Restoration Hardware; pendant lights: Caravaggio Opal by Cecilie Manz for Lightyears; chairs: raffia seat, Pottery Barn
See more of this farmhouse
Dining room table: Restoration Hardware; pendant lights: Caravaggio Opal by Cecilie Manz for Lightyears; chairs: raffia seat, Pottery Barn
See more of this farmhouse
7. Fake It to Make It
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Glen and Paula Foore, organic farmers
Location: Springdale Farm, Austin, Texas
Size: 1,800 square feet (167 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, 800-square-foot (74-square-meter) porch
Conceived add-ons allow this new farmhouse to mimic a home that was put together over time. Fiber cement panels on the exterior give the look of wood. An 800-square-foot wraparound porch adds shade and a breezeway.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Glen and Paula Foore, organic farmers
Location: Springdale Farm, Austin, Texas
Size: 1,800 square feet (167 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, 800-square-foot (74-square-meter) porch
Conceived add-ons allow this new farmhouse to mimic a home that was put together over time. Fiber cement panels on the exterior give the look of wood. An 800-square-foot wraparound porch adds shade and a breezeway.
The front door of the house opens into the expansive kitchen, a concept commonly found in historic farmhouses in the area.
All the floors, handrails and stair treads are hundred-year-old reclaimed loblolly pine.
An Austinite made the master bathroom’s reproduction square claw-foot tub.
See more of this farmhouse
All the floors, handrails and stair treads are hundred-year-old reclaimed loblolly pine.
An Austinite made the master bathroom’s reproduction square claw-foot tub.
See more of this farmhouse
8. A Dreamy Neofarmhouse
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Healdsburg, California
Who lives here: Andrew and Geri Biehl and their two daughters
Size: 3,677 square feet (342 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
These homeowners ditched the city life to build this dreamy modern farmhouse in northern California that consists of three gable farmhouses situated around a courtyard.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Healdsburg, California
Who lives here: Andrew and Geri Biehl and their two daughters
Size: 3,677 square feet (342 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
These homeowners ditched the city life to build this dreamy modern farmhouse in northern California that consists of three gable farmhouses situated around a courtyard.
Alfresco dining happens year-round in the courtyard, which stays shielded from the wind thanks to the surrounding structures.
See more of this farmhouse
See more of this farmhouse
9. History and Art Inform a Simple Form
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The Butcher family
Location: Nixon, Texas
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
A simple stucco house sits on this ranch outside San Antonio.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The Butcher family
Location: Nixon, Texas
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
A simple stucco house sits on this ranch outside San Antonio.
In the living room, longleaf pine lines the ceiling, while stone forms the floor. Early American furniture and Native American rugs populate many of the spaces.
Painted green cabinetry and staircase get close to pigments that might have been used in historic farmhouses in the area.
See more of this farmhouse
See more of this farmhouse
10. Cultivated in California
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Healdsburg, California
Size: 2,063 square feet (192 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
A new addition helps this California couple enjoy their surrounding garden of oranges, lemons, persimmons and more. The new structure on the left is clad in V-groove cedar siding, the main structure in painted Hardie board.
An artist created the live-edge bench in the entryway from the only tree that was taken down during construction. The ceiling slats are Douglas fir.
White paint color: Plateau, Ralph Lauren
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Healdsburg, California
Size: 2,063 square feet (192 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
A new addition helps this California couple enjoy their surrounding garden of oranges, lemons, persimmons and more. The new structure on the left is clad in V-groove cedar siding, the main structure in painted Hardie board.
An artist created the live-edge bench in the entryway from the only tree that was taken down during construction. The ceiling slats are Douglas fir.
White paint color: Plateau, Ralph Lauren
Original framing from the previous kitchen now covers the ceiling in the new kitchen. The countertops are stained concrete. The flooring is salvaged Douglas fir.
Countertops: Bohemian Stoneworks
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Countertops: Bohemian Stoneworks
See more of this farmhouse
11. A Long Shot Hits Its Mark
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Who lives here: Royce Flournoy, owner of Texas Construction Company, and Anthony Hopkins, a baker
Size: 2,200 square feet (204 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
For a long, narrow lot, simple farmhouse style made sense for this new modern home. White 6-inch Hardie planks painted in Gypsum White by PPG Pittsburgh Paints and the window placement reinforce the style, while a bronze piping detail on the outside corners modernizes it.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Who lives here: Royce Flournoy, owner of Texas Construction Company, and Anthony Hopkins, a baker
Size: 2,200 square feet (204 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
For a long, narrow lot, simple farmhouse style made sense for this new modern home. White 6-inch Hardie planks painted in Gypsum White by PPG Pittsburgh Paints and the window placement reinforce the style, while a bronze piping detail on the outside corners modernizes it.
The kitchen table is an 1890s mill table topped with black honed granite. Beneath is a wheel that can adjust the height to counter level so the homeowners can roll out dough for pies and pastries.
The cabinets are from Ikea and topped with marble. Floating pine shelves were sanded and sealed to look like the floor, then affixed on black gas pipe.
The cabinets are from Ikea and topped with marble. Floating pine shelves were sanded and sealed to look like the floor, then affixed on black gas pipe.
The homeowners thought they would eventually paint the pine flooring, but as time went on, they decided they liked it natural and left it alone.
Wall paint: Gypsum White, PPG Pittsburgh Paints; sofa: Scott & Cooner; rug: West Elm; coffee table: Williams-Sonoma Home
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Wall paint: Gypsum White, PPG Pittsburgh Paints; sofa: Scott & Cooner; rug: West Elm; coffee table: Williams-Sonoma Home
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My Grandmother had a farm and lived in a farm house...none of these houses has a screen door..none have a huge table with fresh eggs on the counter in a years old woven basket. And unlike My Granny's..none have a ugly goose waiting to pinch you as you come out of that screen door.
These homes do have the things I want in my farm house look though....as I do not have a farm..just allot of animals in the country. The homes are beautiful and look so livable for families.
Granny had her mud room on the front porch..a basin and a pitcher and a place to put muddy boots. She had a dairy farm and raised chickens..their was always fresh milk and colorful eggs on that counter.
I love no. 8. Are we being invited for a visit?