The farmhouse trend, especially modern farmhouse design, has mushroomed in recent years. Even if you’re not familiar with the latest in interior design trends, it may still be the most recognizable to you, thanks to one television star.
“Has anyone been more closely associated with the farmhouse style than Joanna Gaines?” says interior designer Lindsay Boudreaux, proprietor and creative director at Shotgun Double.
Gaines is the interior designer who rose to fame with her husband Chip when their HGTV show Fixer Upper blew up, most notably for bringing the word “shiplap” into the everyday lexicon. (Shiplap is wood paneling installed horizontally rather than vertically.)
“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this style is white-painted, shiplap wood wall paneling,” Boudreaux says. “But other markers of the ‘modern’ farmhouse style are reclaimed wood, a mix of light and dark neutral colors in varying textures, and handmade textiles, like quilts and knitted blankets.”
About The Experts
Lindsay Boudreaux is the proprietor and creative director at Shotgun Double, an interior design studio in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Artem Kropovinsky is an interior designer and founder of Arsight in New York City.
Ariana Lovato is the owner and principal designer at Honeycomb Home Design in Arroyo Grande, California.
What Is Farmhouse Interior Design?
“Farmhouse interior design is a style that draws inspiration from the traditional, rustic charm of farmhouses and rural homes,” says Ariana Lovato, owner and principal designer at Honeycomb Home Design. “It combines elements of simplicity, warmth and functionality to create a comfortable and inviting living space.”
Lovato says the signature style came from functional roots; farmers needed enough space to house farmhands. And Gaines isn’t the only one currently doing it well. Lovato points to Studio McGee and Becky Shea Design Farmhouses, who also use elements of farmhouse in their designs.
Lovato says her favorite place to draw inspiration is old British farmhouses. “They have that truly rustic element that is hard to emulate in newer homes,” she says.
Even if farmhouse design has reached peak saturation, some of its elements will always be timeless considerations for a home whose residents prefer a balance between rustic design and the comforts of modern life.
Artem Kropovinsky, an interior designer and founder of Arsight, says the combination “mak[es] them warmly inviting spaces that lack pretense while being undeniably elegant.”
