What Is a Modern Farmhouse Home?
The style's defining elements, why it works in Northeast Ohio, and how to keep it from looking dated.
Modern farmhouse takes the shapes of a traditional American farmhouse and strips out the fuss. Simple gabled forms, a generous porch, high-contrast exterior, and an interior that's open and light rather than compartmentalized.
Defining exterior elements
- Simple gable rooflines, often steeply pitched
- Board and batten, lap siding, or a mix of both
- High contrast, commonly a light body with dark windows, roof and accents
- A covered front porch, usually with substantial columns
- Black or dark window frames
- Metal roof accents over porches, bays or dormers
- Mixed materials, with stone or brick used as an accent rather than everywhere
Defining interior elements
- Open main living areas with clear sight lines
- Light walls, natural wood tones, black hardware and fixtures
- Shaker cabinetry, often with an island in a contrasting color
- Exposed or faux beams, shiplap used selectively
- Large windows and an emphasis on natural light
- A mudroom and drop zone that's actually planned rather than an afterthought
Why it works here
Northeast Ohio has genuine agricultural roots, so the form doesn't look imported. Steep gables shed snow well. Deep porches work in both a July evening and a rainy October one. And the style sits comfortably next to older housing stock in a way that a very contemporary design sometimes doesn't. See building in Stark County.
Keeping it from looking dated
The style has been popular long enough that some of its more specific gestures read as of-a-moment. The durable version is the restrained one:
- Lean on form and proportion rather than trend details
- Use shiplap sparingly, in one or two places, not throughout
- Choose quality materials over decorative flourishes
- Keep the palette simple and let wood tones do the warming
- Remember that a good roofline outlasts every finish decision in the house
Our plans
All six of our house plans are modern farmhouse, each offered in four exterior styles. And they're starting points; if you want a different direction entirely, we design that too. See modifying a plan.