Modern farmhouses blend rustic farmhouse charm with contemporary design and amenities. While technically these newly built homes are "contemporary" (since they're being built today), the style is universally known as "modern farmhouse" in the real estate and design world.
The modern farmhouse aesthetic emerged in the 2010's and was really popularized by Joanna Gaines on HGTV's show
Fixer Upper. (So. Much. Shiplap!) In a way it feels like a compromise between ultra-minimalist contemporary design and overly ornate traditional homes. It takes that welcoming "lived-in" feel of classic American farmhouses and pairs it with the open floor plans, clean lines, and updated materials that today's homeowners expect. The result is a style that feels both timeless and fresh, and sophisticated but still relaxed and welcoming.
What Defines Modern Farmhouse Style
Exterior Characteristics:
Modern farmhouse homes typically feature board and batten or vertical siding (often painted white, gray, or black), mixed with natural wood accents or stone. Gabled roofs - often with metal roofing - give a nod to traditional barn architecture, while large black-framed windows provide a contemporary contrast. Front porches are almost always part of the design, offering that quintessential farmhouse welcome.
Interior Elements: Inside, you'll find the open floor plans and abundant natural light that define contemporary living, but with warmer, more textured finishes than you'd see in purely contemporary homes. Shiplap walls, exposed wood beams, farmhouse sinks and sliding barn doors are typical elements. The color palette tends toward whites, grays, and natural wood tones, with black metal accents in fixtures and hardware.
The Key Difference:
What separates the modern farmhouse from other contemporary styles is its embrace of rustic, traditional elements that add some extra warmth. While a purely contemporary home might have stark white walls and minimal decoration, a modern farmhouse will bring more texture through wood planking,
board and batten, and decorative elements like barn lights or vintage fixtures. It's a contemporary design that invites you to get comfortable, rather than making you worry about touching or breaking anything.
