What do you do when the heat index registers 113° on a hot and humid Louisiana summer day?
You pour yourself a glass of Southern sweet ice tea, you stay indoors in the air conditioning, and you spend quality time updating this farmhouse style post to better show and tell a personal style journey.
Mixing decorating styles piques not only my interest but engages my eye.
Take the modernization of farmhouse style.
Building upon the design and decorating cornerstones of farmhouse style, modern farmhouse accents the mix and mingle of decorating styles, finding the curated look to be an expression of personal style, taste and interpretation through balance, harmony, layers, and visual engagement.
Polsky Perlstein Architects ~ Michael Hospelt Photography
Inspiration is everywhere, especially in forgotten photo file folders that evoke the thoughts and memories of past that shape my present personal interpretation of modern farmhouse style.
On a recent save and purge photo scroll and purge, I came across a fall folder packed with pics from a staging session.
Farmhouse is in my DNA, so to speak.
I come from a long line of farmhouse admirers as you will learn from the abbreviated backstory a few paragraphs down.
Abandoned, inhabited, primitive, pristine and historic- I’ve never met a farmhouse I haven’t loved, or at the very least appreciated.
Condition proves irrelevant to the enamored.
A good eye sees past the past straight to the innate beauty found in intricate millwork, stately embellishments, and architectural details.
Design Sponge ~ Photo by Maxwell Tielman
These treasure-troves of design and decorating leave a lasting and inspiring impression.
Texas Farm Bureau ~ Julie Vrazel Tomascik
Throughout my childhood my mother and grandmother would decide on a whim to load up the Lincoln and point the hood emblem west to Texas.
No trip to Texas was complete without an adventure on the way to my great-grandparents house.
Over the Louisiana bayous and down the Texas farm-to-market roads, to great-grandmother’s house we go with a Glen Campbell 8-track in the Philco ever gentle on our minds and nary a seat belt fastened or care in the world.
Now Bryan! Now Cameron! Now Heidenheimer and Temple!
On, Belton! On, Killeen! On, Hewitt and Waco, too!
My grandmother could scope out a farmhouse among Texas Bluebonnets like nobody’s business.
She was farmhouse when farmhouse wasn’t cool.
Her antiques shops radar was fine-tuned to treasures ahead and a skill I’ve proudly inherited.
To protest was pointless.
I learned at an early age to never question the motives of a native Texan whose eyes have seen the glory of a Texas farmhouse, a hole-in-the-wall junk shop or Bluebonnet field.
Looking back over our adventures, I find an obvious correlation between my personal style interpretation of modern farmhouse design and the farmhouses, antiques shops and the fields of Bluebonnet dreams waltzed across Texas all those years ago.
To put show to tell, I’ve sourced a collection of images, accessories and curiosities in the manner of modern farmhouse style.
Carved Walnut Library Table
Antique pieces are well represented in many of the photos as it is what I consider the standard decorating accessory that beautifully complements and stunningly creates visual contrast to define modern farmhouse style.
Marinette 33 in. Clear Glass Table Lamp
Cement Wavy Grey Large Decorative Vase
“The home should be the treasure chest of living.”
— Le Corbusier
Wood Inlay Trinket Jewelry Box
Blur the hard lines of a design style by stepping away from convention.
This 1920s painted pine table is farmhouse kitchen ready to work, but I see a stunning foundation piece for the modern farmhouse foyer.
Industrial Island / Centre Table
Athena Ivory 6 ft. x 9 ft. Area Rug
Hand Painted Italian Decorative Box
Alfresco Home Delfina Urn Planter
Hitting the Magnolia Jackpot Right Outside the Front Door
1980s Portraiture Framed Oil Painting of Greyhound Whippet by Dawne Hill
Now more than ever I am convinced the nouns of our lives, the people, places and things that leave a lasting impression play a significant role in our personal style choices.
When Dave the Builder asked me what I wanted for a Christmas present, I put in my order for one of these beam beauties.
It arrived Christmas Eve with a big red bow on it, and will soon be added a modern farmhouse style decoration to the Places In The Home kitchen.
When the tornado hit, the roof over the kitchen took the brunt of the force from tree branches and debris. Add to that the water leaks and you get a taped and floated seam that is slowly exposing itself for the eyesore to eventually come.
Necessity comes together with attention to detail to welcome home a touch of modern farmhouse style.
Warmth through color, texture and pattern exemplifies the cozy nature of of farmhouse style.
Uttermost Treneece Distressed Antique Grey 1-light Table Lamps
My Texas House by Orian Indoor Outdoor Lady Bird Natural Gray Area Rug
Rustic 8-Light Crystal Candle Style Chandelier
Muestera Weathered Grey Dining Chair
Years ago when by decorating happenstance I discovered just how aesthetically striking the pairing two styles together there was no turning back.
My future kitchen redesign (always a project in play) involves the marriage of a yet purchased antique farm or harvest table with the Chippendale dining chairs currently round the dining room table.
New upholstery.
New space.
New look.
Edit from within and be amazed by the transformation of space and style.
Similarities in Style
What do you get when you cross modern farmhouse style with French country style?
A marriage of clean lines, stunning character and classic sophistication.
Cabinet, Glass Front, Pine, Antique White
Andillac China Cabinet
The tops and shelves of farmhouse and modern farmhouse style sideboards and accent cabinets are made for housing distinctive wares and decorative accessories such as…
Transferware.
Antique French Ironstone Transferware Tureen H.B.& Cie.CHOISY-le-Roi
Ironstone.
Ironstone Bowl with Pink Flowers
Mix and mingle styles and unique finds and additions with the accent mark placed over gorgeous.
Left Corner Carved Cabinet Salvaged Architectural
Late 19th Century Country French Provincial Oak Kitchen Hutch Cabinet
Distressed Grey Wood Grandfather Style Wall Clock
Curtis & Windham Architects
Madison Park Davisina Silver Counter Stool
Copper Grove Carcassonne Bar Height Swivel Stool
Throw the eye a curveball.
Oro Polished Silver Counter Stool
Let’s continue on with the classic farmhouse to modern farmhouse style accents and accessories that make the gotta have it list.
Stephens Design Group
Cow and/or bull head wall décor.
Vintage pitchers and creamers never go out of style.
Framed and unframed art.
Personal interpretation of interior styles is often subject to life influences.
Decorating outside the traditional norms of a design style is an excellent way to further emphasize your personal style and taste preferences.
