Perhaps you’ve noticed a proliferation of Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse elevations. I was recently asked why I thought that’s the case. Could it be all because of a popular TV show? Perhaps there is more to the popularity.
THE PERFECT BLEND
I believe the farmhouse style is the perfect blend of nostalgia and modern-day vibe. It is nostalgic with its iconic gable forms. Ask any first grader to draw a house and nine times out of ten, you’ll get a house with a gable. The style also has a current vibe that we see throughout the design – both inside and out. Simple clean lines and not overly ornate. These clean lines are also evident in kitchen cabinets, appliances – even fabrics.
WELCOMING
Not all, but most farmhouse elevations have a front porch – which makes them very welcoming. Whether the home has roughhewn columns or ones painted white, the depth of the porch on a farmhouse is important and generally ample. A minimum of 6′ in depth is considered usable.
NOT BEIGE
I believe another contributing factor to its popularity is that these homes are not typically painted “builder beige.” Picture an entire street of earth tone in various shades of beige. Hey – I get it. Beige was safe. No one wanted to go out on a limb and pick an outrageous color for a home. It was also a byproduct of the popularity of the craftsman style – which the farmhouse will quickly replace as the most preferred style. However, an entire street of white farmhouse elevations is just as lifeless as an all-beige streetscape and will also not stand the test of time.
ROOM FOR EXPRESSION
Perhaps the biggest reason for the style’s popularity is its ability to be either traditional or modern and everything in between. Furthermore, what is considered modern in one location may be considered moderate in another location. We see a lot of white paired with black window frames. Note how the elevation below uses black to accentuate the board and batten, allowing the white stucco to also stand out and highlight the entry. Intentionality matters!
WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS?
For me, as previously stated, it all starts with a prominent gable element. Mind you, this is not the nineties where the house with the most gables wins. Think simple, clean lines. Then add board and batten siding. Or for a more modern interpretation, the vertical siding could be metal. To complement the verticality of the siding, I like a two over two window grid pattern. A steeper roof pitch for the front facing gable will further accentuate the verticality of the style.
So how long before we get tired of the farmhouse? In some regions, that has already happened, but I think the farmhouse is here to stay. With that said, we need to see more variety in the style and explore more possibilities. To me, the first step in keeping any style fresh is to add color! I believe we will be seeing various forms of farmhouse elevations for some time to come.
Are you ready to take FARMHOUSE to the next level?
Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog