Popularized by HGTV’s show “Fixer Upper,” the white-washed modern farmhouse is sweeping the home building and designing industry. Many of the homes in the HBA Parade of Homes featured rustic wooden beams, sliding barn doors, and refurbished antique décor.
Dave Dusendang, owner of Dave Dusendang Custom Homes, has built his new million-dollar home incorporating every part of an 1800s barn. “The siding of the barn was used for the vaulted ceilings and some of the walls,” Dusendang explained. “The rafters were turned into beams and shelves.” The movement of the modern farmhouse not only encourages simplicity and the use of natural elements, it has spurred on the recycling and reclaiming of many materials to promote sustainability. This home, Dusendang says, “shows that we can do anything the client wants.” This home is one of many houses in the Fall Parade of Homes with farmhouse-inspired elements.
In the design aspect, creator of the blog and website, Farm Fresh Homestead, Jolia Willis reclaims and refurbishes different furniture and décor pieces. Finding most of her items at garage sales and flea markets, she saves money and encourages sustainability. Many of her projects are an easy DIY with a little bit of time and a good eye for design. Her furnishings are often a blend of rustic wood and metal. She says you can also incorporate many of the farmhouse designs into your fall décor this season. “I love the coziness that fall brings,” Willis gushes. “I wanted to cozy up our entryway for the season so I grabbed a blanket, a [plaid] pillow and some pumpkins and I got my cozy fall farmhouse entryway.” Choosing white and distressing furniture pulls a neutral room together.
Janel Joppie and Dana Rickers of Room Candy explain that the trend is fading as we go into 2018, “we’ve had many clients specifically say, ‘no ship lap’. The farmhouse trend flooded the market and is softening due to over-saturation.” With the shift away from white kitchens, there will also be a warming of neutral tones. “Gray is still strong as a base color, but the warm grays are what customers are asking for on walls, floors and countertops,” say Joppie and Rickers. “We also have seen a lot of emphasis on soft blues, seaglass tones, deep navy, as well as soft corals and tone on tone with the reliance of textures to create layers of interest.” With the movement toward healthy living, green is making more of an appearance. “Greenery should remain a go to pop of color for any room,” decribes Julie Wynalda of True Vine Creations. “The love for gray is a relationship not easily broken and the ties between green and gray will cultivate and grow.”
