The Classic Farmhouse
I’ve done extensive research on the topic of farmhouses recently and while there isn’t a consensus on what the opposite of modern farmhouse is, I’m going to call it the classic farmhouse. The classic farmhouse is timeless. It sits in elegant splendor and commands respect and reverence. It’s stately and white without much fuss. It’s calming in it’s simplistic charm. It’s warm white with earthy tones and varied textures both old and new. It might be white with brick or stone, shingles or long strips of siding.
While the modern farmhouse might have seen it’s peak in recent years, I’m putting my money on the classic farmhouse that might be able to outlast the onslaught of backlash beginning to take aim for anything thought of as too farmhousey. The classic farmhouse has withstood the test of time and can be seen across the United States in varied locations that are as different as the subtleties that the classic farmhouse exemplifies. When I think of a classic farmhouse I think about tradition. A way of life that might be harder to find these days and one many of us yearn for. A simplicity that comes with connecting with the land, being focused on each action and how it affects nature and the surrounding land and making use of what’s available. Since my grandparents were raised on farms in Nebraska, I have always had a connection to these homes and had a need to protect their elegant history.
Modern farmhouses are new and polished, while they use some of the same architectural elements of the classic farmhouse they are most often new builds or remodels. They feature stark crisp white paint with black trim and accents. They often feature wood details like front doors, garages, shutters and more. They usually have black metal window frames and black iron details. Roofs are often black metal or a mix of metal and tile.
Classic farmhouses are warm white. They often feature brick chimneys, large porches and minimal trim and accent colors. They usually feature tone on tone windows in the same warm white as the home. They have minimal offset details and are crafted for a simplistic calming aesthetic that lulls the visitor into being brought into the home like a long lost friend. The roof of the classic farmhouse is in a natural tone, shingled or sometimes metal.
While modern farmhouses might be dated, I don’t know that the classic farmhouse is ever going to go out of style. It’s a classic timeless piece of our history that can be woven into new homes and remodels for years to come.
