I live in farm country and see no true farmhouses with “low brick skirting”. That skirting was traditionally done on one story ranch houses. Here a farmhouse is either two story all brick ( all sides, not just on the front) or all siding, usually white, never with black windows. As far as brick. As far as brick color for your fireplace, local brick will be best, made from local clay, the color won’t jar the eye, but relate to the earth around you. I hope you will research true farmhouse style so your new home ( how exciting!) will be a classic.

Modern farmhouse is an oxymoron.

I like traditional red brick with black and white.

I agree typically a farmhouse does not have brick on it, Houzz did a parade of homes feature with a Modern Farmhouse with just that

https://www.houzz.in/photos/modern-farmhouse-parade-of-homes-model-home-phvw-vp~19545321

I would go with something like this based on what you have selected so far.

Gable accents, posts and mantel should be warm colors and make nice accents.

If you do a brick skirt, do not use a lighter (white) brick. The mud splashes up and stains everything and there is a huge amount of waste due to mud on the jobsite before it even gets laid. Also, when looking, ask if the brick can be pressure washed, because a lot of the new textures cannot.

It looks like the storm was a blessing in disguise.

Yes, @Mark Bischak, Architect, it was! Not a fun process but the end result is far better 😊

Shead..very nice! Lovely setting.