5 Design Ideas for a Modern Farmhouse Style Kitchen

One of the trendiest approaches to interior design remains the modern farmhouse look. As popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines of the TV series Fixer Upper, this decorating style continues to be a popular choice for kitchens.

Bringing together rustic and industrial elements with lots of whitewash, the modern farmhouse style is bright, airy, and comfortable in a way that feels contemporary with a nod to nostalgia.

Interestingly, the phrase “modern farmhouse” was only first used by The New York Times in 2016 in a piece describing the Jersey Ice Cream Co. and its design preference for reclaimed wood and farm sinks. The trend seems to have risen with the flipper/restoration mentality that started to grow after the 2008 financial crash, when more people than ever developed an interest in home renovation.

So, if you’re ready to start putting up some shiplap, here are 5 tips to help you complete that perfect modern farmhouse look for your kitchen:

1) Farm Sink

Perhaps the pièce de résistance of any true farmhouse kitchen is the farm sink.

A farm sink can be a functional, practical addition to your kitchen, providing you with a larger sink to wash up every day. However, you might want to add a farm sink to your décor (perhaps one not even hooked up to plumbing) for a purely aesthetic touch. For example, it could be a place to arrange and display flowers.

2) Metallic Accents

The modern farmhouse look can incorporate a variety of metallic accents.

Maybe you’ll be drawn to wrought-iron hardware for your cabinets or a burnished sink faucet. Or try hanging copper pots and pans from a ceiling rack. A metallic bucket filled with wildflowers will convey an instant farmhouse vibe.

If your modern farmhouse design layout has the kitchen as part of an open floor plan in a home with tall ceilings, then in addition to wooden beam accents, you should also add a pendant light.

A long-hanging pendant light will accentuate the ceilings. Plus, the metallic fixture will be the perfect complement to the rustic wood. It’s that classic industrial/country pairing that will make your kitchen feel both approachable and modern.

4) Bright Color

While whitewash and white paint jobs are what’s most associated with the farmhouse style, you could give your kitchen an even more contemporary spin by adding bright accent colors.

The modern farmhouse look is meant to feel cheery and spacious, so consider a bright yellow backsplash or a cool sky-blue accent wall to add extra vibrancy to your overall kitchen design.

5) Wooden Countertops, Backsplashes, and Cabinets

It can’t be the modern farmhouse style without wood!

One way to accent the presence of wood in your design is to incorporate the material in unusual places. For example, maybe you’ll have a backsplash constructed of vertical wooden boards. Or you could try all wood countertops.

A staple of the farmhouse kitchen is wooden cabinets. Whether you prefer white shaker cabinets that function as the backdrop for the overall design, or dark wood cabinets that serve as an accent, the wooden texture is essential to creating that warm, rustic feel throughout the kitchen.

If you want to learn more about kitchen cabinet options, reach out to our team of Kitchen Designers here at RTA Wood Cabinets for a FREE kitchen design! You can get the process started by giving us a call at: 800-788-7575.