Farmhouse house plans are a strange search for people who live in urban and suburban locations, but recently the style has taken off. You expect to find farmhouses in places like Kansas and Oklahoma, with their broad, sweeping fields and sites to locate massive storage barns.
In recent years, the aesthetic of the classic farmhouse has been turned on its head. Of course, the aesthetic is still there, but it's been "spruced up" for modern living. These new modern farmhouse house plans serve as a reminder that a style isn't dead once it's no longer popular.
Classic farmhouses were a staple of the countryside in America for decades. They weren't designed to be aesthetically pleasing, but rather practical. However, the side effect of having these charming designs that work well together led to people adopting the style without the accents.
You don't need a tractor or a barn to own a farmhouse style house plan after all. In recent years, programs such as "Fixer Upper" on HGTV popularized the style, and now the layout is making a comeback in a big way. Today's modern farmhouses have elements of their past, but they are a different house design type altogether.
The old construction details of farmhouses relied on getting materials they could find and throwing up a house as fast as possible. They wanted tall windows to look out over their fields, and massive kitchens so that everyone on the house had a spot.
Today's design trends may be different, but these elements resonate deeply with modern homebuyers. Large windows for picturesque views and large kitchens with a hint of industrial accents to give it a modern feel are perfect for many contemporary families. Here, we'll delve into why these elements are such a draw for the modern homebuyer.
1. Vertical Accents on a White Exterior
In the elements of design, certain things seize an observer's attention. Vertical accents usually developed by strategically placed board-and-batten siding tend to draw the viewers' eyes inextricably towards the roof. The stately gabled that accentuate the metal roofing makes your onlooker sit back in awe at how perfectly the elements combine.
Those vertical accents are a holdover from when farmhouse house plans relied on scavenged material from collapsed barns for their construction. The happy accident leads to the unmistakable style of the modern farmhouse.
Today's farmhouses don't need to scavenge material anymore, and these accents are usually used as rustic covers over more modern materials. Black barn-lighting elements tie the white exterior to agricultural structures on the farm. Black-bordered windows and doors add a brilliant counterpoint and create the vision of a stately farmhouse that any rural holding would be proud to have.
2. The Metal Roof
Classic farmhouse designs relied on thatched, clay tiled, or metal sheet roofing. The modern version opts for metal, adorning a gable roof. These metal roofs conform to green construction specs and are easy to retrofit with solar panels if you so desire. The massive windows accentuate the roofline and give it that traditional feel that farmhouse house plans tend to evoke.
Most of these houses have multiple awnings on their plans, shading tall windows and probably accented by planter boxes. These small grow boxes serve as a great way to keep cool in summertime, with the shady plans blocking some sun from entering the windows.
The modern farmhouse also comes with carriage doors. This design choice is a holdover from when a horse-drawn buggy was the typical form of transportation. We've upgraded our transport methods, but we love how those old-school accents look on a modern frame.
3. The Massive Kitchen
Most farmhouses had families that ranged between nine and fourteen people. To cater to such a massive amount of mouths to feed, they used to have spacious kitchens that enabled multiple dishes to be prepared simultaneously. Family gatherings used to take place in the kitchen, and it became the heart of the house.
Modern farmhouse house plans are built with particular emphasis on the kitchen. Accents within these rural, rustic kitchens were usually not showy and sometimes existed as an afterthought. Higher-end kitchens of the time demonstrated metal or antique wooden fixtures and accents. Functional elements such as kitchen islands became so ubiquitous and useful that they've carried over to the modern design.
These spacious kitchens also leave ample space for storage. Cabinets usually line walls with each access to every single one of them. Barn lighting, a gooseneck faucet, and an apron sink all reinforce that feeling of the old farmhouse. Most classic farmhouses demonstrated pantries, and they have proven their usefulness in this version of modern design as well.
4. A Sizeable Front Porch
One of the first things that you'd notice about modern farmhouse floor plans is the massive front porch that most of them demonstrate. These porches are usually deep and covered, allowing for families to gather on them for evening relaxation. There's enough room for rocking chairs and a porch swing if you prefer that.
These houses were designed in places where some evenings would be sweltering. In a time before regular electricity, the front porch was the only place you could get some relief from the breeze. The modern version of the farmhouse keeps this design as a stylistic choice.
Back patios are sometimes entirely enclosed, or have a single or double layer of mosquito netting. Again, these considerations were done to allow the residents to sleep outside if inside their homes because too hot. They still provide great stylistic choices, and in some places, are still practical.
5. Functional Interior Spaces
Farmhouses were expected to provide a functional space for family members. On the interior, black-on-white was the usual color scheme, although modern farmhouses switch it up and go for more earthy color accents.
Hardwood flooring tends to fit the interior decor perfectly and has the added benefit of being easy to clean up. An additional bonus of installing hardwood floors is that they don't trap allergens like pollen and dust.
Modern farmhouse house plans typically use drywall. However, to keep the rustic feeling of the original, builders use a few obscure tricks. By applying banding to the interior, a designer could turn drywall into something resembling a wooden interior.
The ceiling accentuates this choice by its bare, wooden beams and slats. These design choices reinforce the rustic look and the simple design - hallmarks of the modern farmhouse.
Tying everything together are either artisanal or antique furniture. The wood from furniture like these fits seamlessly with the house's design, and it never feels out of place. The juxtaposition of the varnished, antique wooden furniture and fixtures against the black-and-white walls and accents make for a stunning combination of the old and the new.
Designing Your Own Farmhouse
You don't have to have acres of wheat, nor own several heads of cattle to want a farmhouse. House Plan Gallery gives you a simple starting point that you can customize to your heart's content.
Expertly trained drafters will take your suggestions and craft a design that reflects your taste and design style. What are you waiting for? The best time to start designing your very own farmhouse house plans is right now!
