Unsurprisingly, the modern farmhouse is one of the most popular trends that we see these days at Schumacher Homes. While our customers come to us for custom homes designed to fit their modern lifestyles, there is something timeless, rustic, and charming about the farmhouse style house that draws people towards it. Perhaps in a world of traffic and touch screens, there is something welcoming about coming home to a modern classic with it’s clean lines and sharp contrasts that are steeped in tradition. If the modern farmhouse look is something that appeals to you, there are myriad ways to achieve your vision be it an A-frame roof element, board and batten siding, black trim windows, or outfitting your kitchen with an apron sink complemented by black hardware.
BOARD AND BATTEN SIDING
Let’s begin with the exterior of the home and the elements that can not only lend themselves to this sleek, classic style, but give your home fantastic curb appeal. For many of us, the farmhouse look starts with the A-frame roof, which you should certainly speak to your New Home Consultant about, but what can really push the style to the next level is the incorporation of board and batten siding. You’ve likely seen this look many times, but may not have known that this classic exterior element had a name. The way it plays out is that the boards, or wider pieces of wood, are laid on the exterior with alternating battens, or narrower wooden strips. The battens are set in a relief style, protruding an inch or so from the boards, creating a wonderful three dimensional layering effect. Installed vertically, this siding can help make your home appear taller, making it a true standout in the neighborhood. Luckily, the board and batten siding doesn’t just look great, but it is very low maintenance and it’s quite durable in tough weather conditions.
BLACK TRIM WINDOWS
Basic exterior elements covered, the next step is to create a custom, sophisticated look with black trim windows to contrast a white exterior. This is a simple and highly effective way to bring a bit of modern flair to the classic farmhouse features while adding a bit of pop and texture to your home. Not only does this contrast add dimension to the exterior of the home, it complements the interior, generating a polished, sophisticated space.
“I was a bit skeptical when the idea of black trim was recommended by my New Home Consultant for the windows on my home, but the moment that I saw a real life example, I was sold. I love the contrast both inside and out and somehow the black trim almost makes everything else seem brighter, more spacious, and quite contemporary!” - Vivian G. Raleigh, NC
WHITE CROWN MOLDING
To help balance the black trim windows within the interior of your home, try using 7-inch white painted crown molding to help create a crisp line finish. Cleaner, more refined lines with minimal detail can help merge contemporary styling with rustic charm, creating a look that adds texture and modernity without taking away from the simplicity of the modern farmhouse design. If you want to go even further, consider a black, or other bold colored front door and add larger door casings and baseboards throughout your home to really accentuate this refined look.
BLACK HARDWARE
There has never been a better time to explore some adventurous touches when designing your home, and black hardware is more popular now than ever before. Everything from light fixtures to door knobs and cabinet pulls are an ideal way to accent your black window frames with subtle touches around your home. Using a matte black finish on these accoutrements can add big style in a small way, helping put the finishing touches on your new custom built home. Adding the modern to a farmhouse style can often be dwindled down to these small touches that reinforce a bit of charisma in your home through the use of stark contrast and clean boundaries between light and dark.
APRON SINK
There are plenty of choices when it comes to choosing the perfect kitchen sink for your custom home, but if your aim is the atmosphere of a modern farmhouse then look no further than a white enameled cast iron farm sink. From the broad, familiar lines and solid durability to the functional design, it’s no wonder that apron-front sinks are more popular than ever in the farmhouse design. The large single apron can accommodate large pots and pans, making cleanup after holiday dinners a breeze, and the enameled cast iron resists chipping, cracking, and burning for years of beauty and reliable performance.
OTHER ACCENTS
The joy of designing a modern farmhouse style home is sifting through the various accents available that can bring the entire picture into focus. The key, like with the black windows and hardware set against white moldings or board and batten siding, is contrast. That contrast can mean anything from hanging modern, circular mirrors above a classic, farmhouse sink or using something old in a new way, like a sliding barn door to divide a large room. To help you in the process, Schumacher Homes homeowners love the FrontDoor™ pricing system as it helps you not only understand all of the options available, but see your budget change in real time. Our FrontDoorTM pricing system was awarded the 2019 Gold Award for "Best Digital Sales Tool/Use of Technology" from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
If you’re looking to model your new custom home in a modern farmhouse style, be sure to incorporate a number of these elements to create a casual, functional home that meets all of the design aesthetics that you love.
We have farmhouse model homes all around the country. Visit our model homes page to find a farmhouse model to tour near you.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.