The kitchen remains the heart of the home. It’s where we gather over breakfast with kids before school or roommates before work, where we end the day with a glass of wine, and where guests inevitably hover over hors d’oeuvres at a party. While we admire the sleek lines of industrial-themed kitchens and ogle over interesting or surprising designs, we’re often drawn to a kitchen’s warmth. The farmhouse kitchen has been growing in popularity for years, and according to Houzz, it’s nearly caught up with contemporary style for second most popular (transitional remains at the top!).
The coziness of a farmhouse kitchen makes it feel casual yet polished; elevated yet approachable. There is character and depth that complement the beloved clean, neutral palette. We asked some of Nashville’s most talented designers, builders, handymen and architects to share some of their favorite farmhouse kitchen projects — to provide both inspiration and a little eye candy for you today. See how they vary by designer and how many different directions a farmhouse kitchen can go!
10 Farmhouse Kitchens We Love – and the Design Gurus Behind Them
Marcelle Guilbeau Interior Design
This new build in Sylvan Park was completed by Marcelle Guilbeau in partnership with David Baird of Building Ideas, who is also Marcelle’s talented husband. The owners wanted a large kitchen, one where they could really spread out and use it for everything from meal prep to working. Marcelle shares, “The counter is soapstone, which has a refined rusticity to it, which is accentuated by the otherwise white-white kitchen. In addition, the wooden counter stools are artisan made, lending a hand-wrought craftsmanship.” Those touches add both utility – you can take something straight out of the oven and place it directly on the counter without staining – and a warmth that spreads through the French doors into the family room.
Ridley Wills, owner of The Wills Company, reminds us, “‘Farmhouse’ doesn’t have to mean covering your space with gingham, mason jars and barn wood. You can bring inspired rustic elements into your kitchen and create a sophisticated look. The trick is to do so without overwhelming the space.” In this image below, he shows us his knack for incorporating elements of a farmhouse kitchen “without the butter churn.” The center wooden table is a farmhouse staple, and the black painted hood above a range oven is a classic touch in any home. Ridley explains, “Interestingly, depending on how it is installed, it can evoke the look of a French country kitchen, “Downton Abbey” or, like here, the Waltons’ family farmhouse.”
Check out this dreamy, classic farmhouse kitchen a Lake Martin home designed by Pfeffer Torode Architecture and interior design by Nan Jackson and Page Mullins. Jonathan Torode, the architect of the space, shares, “A farmhouse kitchen wants to be used without apology for not being kept pristine. Natural materials like pecky cypress, soft wood and copper age with the passing of time, quietly telling you about the people who live here.” It’s these touches that invite guests to linger a little longer.
Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes, shares two of his farmhouse kitchen projects, each with its own unique twist. Both, he tells us, start with the class shaker-style cabinet fronts and large islands, as well as layouts that maintain an efficient work triangle – both functional and aesthetically pleasing. “Built-in storage with a combination of glass and painted wood fronts emulates the look of furniture. The appliances are also seamless with the paint color continuing onto the wood fronts,” explains Alan.
“The 2013 Southern Living Idea House focal point is the large working island with a triple-basin sink, a reclaimed black walnut countertop that provides warmth and a nice work surface for everyday usage,” he tells us. These three island features classify this gorgeous green kitchen under “farmhouse.”
In the second home, a large, beautiful 48-inch range, which is common in farmhouse kitchens, anchors the room. A totally different color scheme and style, this kitchen is equally as inviting as the last. It goes to show that farmhouse kitchens know no limits!
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Beth Haley of Beth Haley Design shared this bright kitchen from one of her recent kitchen remodels. She shares, “Great farmhouse kitchens focus on family life and should include a great stove for cooking big meals, an enormous island pulling double duty as a prep area and providing plenty of seating space for friends and family, a giant sink for easy cleanup, hardwood floors for a warm and homey feel, and vintage elements such as the lighting and the reclaimed wood trim around the door opening.” And there’s no doubt that this kitchen checks all of those boxes.
One of Beth’s must-have farmhouse kitchen features: an enormous island. Image: Andrea Behrends
Those aiming for a farmhouse look often use the Ironware International‘s Navarre pendant light fixture. The team at Ironware tells us, “The shape of the pendant evokes a triangle typically rung as a dinner bell, and the square twisted iron seems harmonious with all the metal tools used in and around the farm.”
In the first kitchen, the pendant hangs atop a huge dark wood surface, reminiscent of old farm materials, and you’ll also find a standard farmhouse porcelain sink surrounded by traditional painted cabinetry. Wood floors complete the traditional, homey look.
In the second kitchen, the Navarre pendant is used in a decidedly more modern farmhouse look. Accents of steel and stone are punctuated by touches of warm wood, hardwood floors and a beamed ceiling. Ironware explains, “Our Navarre pendant is another traditional aesthetic element that anchors the look and, along with the other cozy choices, combines with the contemporary design elements to create a fresh take on the country living inspired style.”
Originally a farmer from Missouri, the owner of this home in Belle Meade Courts worked with Merrill Construction Group to transform his 1950s ranch-style home into a contemporary farmhouse. Combining reclaimed lumber with modern tile and fixtures, the team provided thoughtful contrast in the design. MCG tells us, “Some personal and custom elements included flooring that was milled out of lumber from the owner’s farm. The milling technique we used allowed for the original saw marks to show through the new finish.” Additionally, a giant farmhouse sink and subway tile backsplash add to the farmhouse feel the client envisioned.
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The team at Trace Ventures, a construction and remodeling company, is no stranger to the farmhouse kitchen. The welcoming style, they tell us, has become more popular as people look for more peace in their homes. They explain, “This style utilizes natural materials and calming colors to create an inviting atmosphere and a refuge from the distractions of everyday life.” Seen below, the natural textures, like exposed wood shelving, provide a comfortable yet interesting touch to the room. “The farmhouse kitchen has seen a rise in popularity in recent years partly due to the fact that you can mix the style with more modern elements,” they tell us. Personal touches, like a cookbook or collected glassware on display, are cozy additions.
Happy farmhouse daydreaming!
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