First: What is the Modern Farmhouse Look?
Marked by its tactful combination of rustic pieces and sleek accents, the modern farmhouse look is an incredibly warm, welcoming aesthetic. It is an indicator of tailored, designer taste, but it is also lived-in. It’s not stuffy or off-putting, as overly-embellished or overly-edited rooms can sometimes be. 
You know it when you see it: The modern farmhouse has increased in popularity due to the demand for the ‘Restoration Hardware’ look. But actually achieving the style is as much about the architectural details of the home as it is about the furnishings, accessories, and textiles. Read on for the elements you need to achieve the look in your home:
1. Attractive Opposites
The modern farmhouse style marries a number of design opposites together: new and old, black and white, heavy and light. The style’s popularity is due in part to it’s appeal to both traditionalists’ and minimalists’ aesthetics, because unlike many other interior styles, the modern farmhouse doesn’t have to be one or the other necessarily. Let us explain…
2. Personalizing
The modern farmhouse is an open look, both literally and metaphorically speaking: There is an emphasis on great rooms, high ceilings, wide-open plains. Within that space there is room for multiple styles to play. There are many ‘sub-genres’ of the modern farmhouse, if you will: some spaces allow more of the modern, industrial elements to take center stage, some evoke a more chintz-centric Americana feel, and other’s are reminiscent of a tasting room at a Sonoma wine vineyard. Within this wide range are a few specific common threads:
3. Clean Lines for a Contemporary Flair
Often, the rustic elements shine through in the architecture of the space and in stream-lined furnishings: reclaimed wood, exposed beams and brick, barn doors, sectional sofas, metal bed frames, ship lap. The modern farmhouse aesthetic is one that is respectful of architecture: The furnishings directly compliment or deliberately call attention to how they contrast the structure they are in. 
4. Neutral Color Palettes
There are, of course, exceptions to this rule but oftentimes mastering the modern farmhouse is best with an earthy palette. Natural woods, beiges, greys, and high-contrast black and white. On the occasion that a modern farmhouse includes pops of color, they’re generally blues and greens or yellows that fit comfortably within the naturalistic palette. You’re also more likely to find color used in a farmhouse styled space that is closer to the beach. You probably won’t find much neon or jewel-tones in these spaces! 
5. Family Centric Spaces
The Modern Farmhouse is all about celebrating family. Spaces are laid out for optimal entertaining: porches and patios have ample, comfy seating; great rooms flow seamlessly into spacious kitchens with deep farmhouse sinks. Combining industrial and rustic elements with a traditionally homespun aesthetic makes the modern farmhouse a truly timeless style.
