New This Week: 6 Modern Farmhouse-Style Kitchens
See how designers mix subtle old-world details with new finishes and features for a modern-day look with timeless charm
In a previous article, we looked at kitchens that embraced a classic farmhouse style. Here, we showcase beautiful kitchens that feature a more modern-day spin on a farmhouse look. Wood details, apron-front sinks, lantern-style lighting nod to the farmhouse aesthetic, while fashionable finishes and contemporary appliances and storage features anchor the spaces firmly in the present.
2. Knotty and Nice
Designer: Shalmai Keim of Shalmai Interiors and Designs
Location: Granger, Indiana
Size: 528 square feet (49 square meters); 22 by 24 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a classic farmhouse look with a very large, curved island to fit many guests while hosting,” designer Shalmai Keim says. “They wanted rustic-looking wood throughout the home.”
Farmhouse details. “Knotty hickory was the wood chosen to give this home a farmhouse feel,” Keim says. “The island and hood were custom knotty hickory with a custom stain.”
Other special features. Marble-look quartz countertops. White cabinets and trim (White Dove by Benjamin Moore). Gray walls (Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore). Leather accent stools. Oversize pendants.
Designer tip. “Select the wood floor first,” Keim says. “Once that is selected, keep the same wood type on other elements. Incorporate a stain that pulls from the tones on the floor to add to other wood elements. This will create a more smooth transition and it won’t be overwhelming with different types of woods or stain colors.”
Pendants: Lenyx, Z-Lite
Shop for kitchen island lighting
Designer: Shalmai Keim of Shalmai Interiors and Designs
Location: Granger, Indiana
Size: 528 square feet (49 square meters); 22 by 24 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a classic farmhouse look with a very large, curved island to fit many guests while hosting,” designer Shalmai Keim says. “They wanted rustic-looking wood throughout the home.”
Farmhouse details. “Knotty hickory was the wood chosen to give this home a farmhouse feel,” Keim says. “The island and hood were custom knotty hickory with a custom stain.”
Other special features. Marble-look quartz countertops. White cabinets and trim (White Dove by Benjamin Moore). Gray walls (Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore). Leather accent stools. Oversize pendants.
Designer tip. “Select the wood floor first,” Keim says. “Once that is selected, keep the same wood type on other elements. Incorporate a stain that pulls from the tones on the floor to add to other wood elements. This will create a more smooth transition and it won’t be overwhelming with different types of woods or stain colors.”
Pendants: Lenyx, Z-Lite
Shop for kitchen island lighting
3. Blue-Green Beauty
Designer: Courtney Kizer of Architectural Squared and Ignacia Carreño (interior designer and homeowner)
Location: Moab, Utah
Size: 216 square feet (20 square meters); 13½ by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. This home belongs to Nico and Ignacia Carreño, who handled the interior design for the project. “Igna is from South America and Nico is from here in Utah,” says architect Courtney Kizer, who collaborated with her clients through Houzz ideabooks. “They have traveled the world with their young children and have a very eclectic, worldly aesthetic that shines through in the design of this kitchen. Their sense of family and the desire to be together informed many decisions and resulted in multifunctional spaces. This island, for example, is food prep, storage, bookshelf, dining and homework area all in one. Flow to the outdoors, a corner window and lots of storage were other important requests.”
Farmhouse details. “The exposed column and beams supporting an overhanging pass-through window coupled with a deep farmhouse sink create a rustic flavor to an otherwise crisp, clean architecture,” Kizer says. “Brass hardware is another warm touch that has a strong effect on the overall feel of the room.”
Other special features. Patterned backsplash tile. “The pass-through window is a critical piece of the kitchen that allows the owners to lay out food and drink to be enjoyed on the expansive outdoor patio,” Kizer says. “From the very beginning of schematic design, we knew this was a critical request that would help shape the rest of the floor plan. The element is also overhanging, so bar stools can be pulled up to the window for a true indoor-outdoor experience.”
Designer tip. “The most surprising and successful choices that Igna made in this space, in my opinion, are the fun patterned ceramic tile, brass hardware and the perfect shade of blue-green of the cabinets,” Kizer says. “They really made the design and layout of the kitchen pop. I believe that these kinds of bold design choices, when made in harmony with one another, push a room from good to great.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The owners didn’t really catch on to the fact that there would be exposed beams at the corner of the kitchen next to the sink and range,” Kizer says. “However, once we made the decision to really celebrate these structural elements with carefully detailed wood, it became one of the more important features of the space.”
Designer: Courtney Kizer of Architectural Squared and Ignacia Carreño (interior designer and homeowner)
Location: Moab, Utah
Size: 216 square feet (20 square meters); 13½ by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. This home belongs to Nico and Ignacia Carreño, who handled the interior design for the project. “Igna is from South America and Nico is from here in Utah,” says architect Courtney Kizer, who collaborated with her clients through Houzz ideabooks. “They have traveled the world with their young children and have a very eclectic, worldly aesthetic that shines through in the design of this kitchen. Their sense of family and the desire to be together informed many decisions and resulted in multifunctional spaces. This island, for example, is food prep, storage, bookshelf, dining and homework area all in one. Flow to the outdoors, a corner window and lots of storage were other important requests.”
Farmhouse details. “The exposed column and beams supporting an overhanging pass-through window coupled with a deep farmhouse sink create a rustic flavor to an otherwise crisp, clean architecture,” Kizer says. “Brass hardware is another warm touch that has a strong effect on the overall feel of the room.”
Other special features. Patterned backsplash tile. “The pass-through window is a critical piece of the kitchen that allows the owners to lay out food and drink to be enjoyed on the expansive outdoor patio,” Kizer says. “From the very beginning of schematic design, we knew this was a critical request that would help shape the rest of the floor plan. The element is also overhanging, so bar stools can be pulled up to the window for a true indoor-outdoor experience.”
Designer tip. “The most surprising and successful choices that Igna made in this space, in my opinion, are the fun patterned ceramic tile, brass hardware and the perfect shade of blue-green of the cabinets,” Kizer says. “They really made the design and layout of the kitchen pop. I believe that these kinds of bold design choices, when made in harmony with one another, push a room from good to great.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The owners didn’t really catch on to the fact that there would be exposed beams at the corner of the kitchen next to the sink and range,” Kizer says. “However, once we made the decision to really celebrate these structural elements with carefully detailed wood, it became one of the more important features of the space.”

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4. Welcoming White Oak
Designer: Kendra Feeney of Brick House Designs
Location: Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Size: 391 square feet (36 square meters); 17 by 23 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision was for a mixture of modern farmhouse and her love of everything chinoiserie,” designer Kendra Feeney says. “The whole kitchen needed to be light, bright, beautiful and functional. She had dated cherry cabinets that were in good shape but not aesthetically pleasing. We kept the footprint of the kitchen but elongated the island to 11 feet, painted the existing base cabinets a soft pale blue (Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball) and had custom cabinets made out of white oak for the island, upper cabinets, range hood, refrigerator cabinet, oven cabinet and pantry.”
Farmhouse details. “The white oak cabinets and tumbled marble backsplash are definitely a nod to the modern farmhouse feel,” Feeney says. “However, added touches like the Chippendale-back counter stools and Thibaut wallpaper in the wet bar and Thibaut fabric for the Roman shades elevate the space beyond the typical monochromatic farmhouse look to blend the use of color and pattern that she loves in everything chinoiserie.”
Other special features. Lantern-style island lights painted in Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball. Sugar White marble countertops. Polished nickel hardware. “One thing that was something she had always dreamed of was a ladder system, such as an old-fashioned library ladder — another nod to the farmhouse feel,” Feeney says. “So we added that to the wall with wine storage above the pantry and oven cabinets.
Designer tip. “Create a space with what you love, not with what you think it should have,” Feeney says. “Although functionality is essential in a kitchen, you also need to fall in love with the space all over again every time you are in it. Do not settle for what is available just to get the project finished. If it takes an extra six weeks to get the tile you want, wait. Otherwise every time you walk in the room you will wish you had waited.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our big ‘uh-oh’ moment was COVID and the supply chain,” Feeney says. “We had purchased the appliances early on in COVID, but our large refrigerator and freezer, as well as our double ovens, were on back order forever. As in 10 months to get the fridge and freezer. This goes back to my tip from above: Wait for what you want. Luckily we hadn’t gotten rid of the old refrigerator and were able to use that until the new one came in.”
Island lights: Darlana lantern in gilded iron, painted in Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball, Visual Comfort; painter: She Paints Philly
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Designer: Kendra Feeney of Brick House Designs
Location: Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Size: 391 square feet (36 square meters); 17 by 23 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision was for a mixture of modern farmhouse and her love of everything chinoiserie,” designer Kendra Feeney says. “The whole kitchen needed to be light, bright, beautiful and functional. She had dated cherry cabinets that were in good shape but not aesthetically pleasing. We kept the footprint of the kitchen but elongated the island to 11 feet, painted the existing base cabinets a soft pale blue (Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball) and had custom cabinets made out of white oak for the island, upper cabinets, range hood, refrigerator cabinet, oven cabinet and pantry.”
Farmhouse details. “The white oak cabinets and tumbled marble backsplash are definitely a nod to the modern farmhouse feel,” Feeney says. “However, added touches like the Chippendale-back counter stools and Thibaut wallpaper in the wet bar and Thibaut fabric for the Roman shades elevate the space beyond the typical monochromatic farmhouse look to blend the use of color and pattern that she loves in everything chinoiserie.”
Other special features. Lantern-style island lights painted in Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball. Sugar White marble countertops. Polished nickel hardware. “One thing that was something she had always dreamed of was a ladder system, such as an old-fashioned library ladder — another nod to the farmhouse feel,” Feeney says. “So we added that to the wall with wine storage above the pantry and oven cabinets.
Designer tip. “Create a space with what you love, not with what you think it should have,” Feeney says. “Although functionality is essential in a kitchen, you also need to fall in love with the space all over again every time you are in it. Do not settle for what is available just to get the project finished. If it takes an extra six weeks to get the tile you want, wait. Otherwise every time you walk in the room you will wish you had waited.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our big ‘uh-oh’ moment was COVID and the supply chain,” Feeney says. “We had purchased the appliances early on in COVID, but our large refrigerator and freezer, as well as our double ovens, were on back order forever. As in 10 months to get the fridge and freezer. This goes back to my tip from above: Wait for what you want. Luckily we hadn’t gotten rid of the old refrigerator and were able to use that until the new one came in.”
Island lights: Darlana lantern in gilded iron, painted in Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball, Visual Comfort; painter: She Paints Philly
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
5. Cabin Fever
Designer: Kimball Starr Interior Design
Location: Belmont, California
Size: 165 square feet (15 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted a light, airy and modern look, which was a challenge if we were to keep the heavy cedar walls,” designer Kimball Starr says. “We landed on an overall light and airy organic look using curved, smooth shapes juxtaposed against the rough wood.”
Farmhouse details. Apron-front sink. Rough hewn knotty cedar walls. “This was a unique home in the hills of San Mateo, California, where it had elements of a ski cabin,” Starr says. “The knotty cedar walls were essential to this home’s structural integrity. All the wood walls were constructed like a log cabin, where the wood was stacked to create the structural exterior walls. Instead of covering up the walls with sheetrock, we decided to highlight this feature and update the overall look from log cabin to modern farmhouse.”
Other special features. Blue backsplash tile, blue island base and blue glass pendants.
Designer tip. Using oversize transparent glass light fixtures allows them to be a focal design point, while the transparency allows sunlight to pass through them so they don’t overwhelm the space.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The kitchen cedar wall is 6 inches thick, so you can’t run power through it, but code required us to have receptacle outlets on that wall. The electrician wanted to mount the receptacle box smack on top of the wall with exposed conduit pipe. Instead, I came up with a solution where we boxed out the quartz backsplash to run the conduit inside and the receptacle plugs sat flush with the top of the quartz ‘box.’ ”
Sink: Whitehaven, Kohler; countertops: Frosty Carrina quartz, Caesarstone
Shop for farmhouse-style kitchen sinks
Designer: Kimball Starr Interior Design
Location: Belmont, California
Size: 165 square feet (15 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted a light, airy and modern look, which was a challenge if we were to keep the heavy cedar walls,” designer Kimball Starr says. “We landed on an overall light and airy organic look using curved, smooth shapes juxtaposed against the rough wood.”
Farmhouse details. Apron-front sink. Rough hewn knotty cedar walls. “This was a unique home in the hills of San Mateo, California, where it had elements of a ski cabin,” Starr says. “The knotty cedar walls were essential to this home’s structural integrity. All the wood walls were constructed like a log cabin, where the wood was stacked to create the structural exterior walls. Instead of covering up the walls with sheetrock, we decided to highlight this feature and update the overall look from log cabin to modern farmhouse.”
Other special features. Blue backsplash tile, blue island base and blue glass pendants.
Designer tip. Using oversize transparent glass light fixtures allows them to be a focal design point, while the transparency allows sunlight to pass through them so they don’t overwhelm the space.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The kitchen cedar wall is 6 inches thick, so you can’t run power through it, but code required us to have receptacle outlets on that wall. The electrician wanted to mount the receptacle box smack on top of the wall with exposed conduit pipe. Instead, I came up with a solution where we boxed out the quartz backsplash to run the conduit inside and the receptacle plugs sat flush with the top of the quartz ‘box.’ ”
Sink: Whitehaven, Kohler; countertops: Frosty Carrina quartz, Caesarstone
Shop for farmhouse-style kitchen sinks
6. Party in Front, Business in Back
Designers: Studio M and Deb Vanderheyden (designer and homeowner)
Builder: Black Dog Homes
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota
Homeowners’ request. Designer and homeowner Deb Vanderheyden wanted to modernize the kitchen in her 100-year-old house while preserving some of the historic elements. She wanted an open concept with clean lines, lots of functionality and a butler’s pantry baking area that could get messy while the main kitchen area stayed clean.
Farmhouse details. Soapstone-look quartz perimeter countertops. Wide-plank shiplap backsplash walls. Reclaimed-wood shelves next to the cooktop. Brass faucet, hardware and lantern-style light fixtures.
Designer tip. Design a kitchen to reflect the things you like. For example, Vanderheyden loves to bake, and the walk-in butler’s pantry has all her supplies and baking ingredients. She also likes tea and has a hot water spigot specifically for that, along with a tea drawer near the water spigot.
More on Houzz
Your Guide to a Farmhouse-Style Kitchen
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Designers: Studio M and Deb Vanderheyden (designer and homeowner)
Builder: Black Dog Homes
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota
Homeowners’ request. Designer and homeowner Deb Vanderheyden wanted to modernize the kitchen in her 100-year-old house while preserving some of the historic elements. She wanted an open concept with clean lines, lots of functionality and a butler’s pantry baking area that could get messy while the main kitchen area stayed clean.
Farmhouse details. Soapstone-look quartz perimeter countertops. Wide-plank shiplap backsplash walls. Reclaimed-wood shelves next to the cooktop. Brass faucet, hardware and lantern-style light fixtures.
Designer tip. Design a kitchen to reflect the things you like. For example, Vanderheyden loves to bake, and the walk-in butler’s pantry has all her supplies and baking ingredients. She also likes tea and has a hot water spigot specifically for that, along with a tea drawer near the water spigot.
More on Houzz
Your Guide to a Farmhouse-Style Kitchen
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Designer: Sindhu Peruri of Peruri Design
Location: Palo Alto, California
Size: 234 square feet (22 square meters); 13 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. The homeowners are of Italian origin and worked with designer Sindhu Peruri on creating a home that felt like a Tuscan villa with modern sensibilities. “In the kitchen, the plaster around the range and the artisan-made custom hood really lend themselves well to evoke that feeling,” Peruri says.
Farmhouse details. Wood beams. Embossed backsplash tiles. Copper hood. Farmhouse-style copper sink. Subway tile. “The crisp white cabinets (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore) and the glass pendants above the island play up the contrast,” Peruri says. “The copper element is also repeated in the copper sink to keep things cohesive. The kitchen is a blend of old and new, with cabinetry that conceals all the appliances.”
Other special features. “The open shelves in a contrasting finish, similar to the island, is a nice touch,” Peruri says. “It draws more attention in the darker tone. Mixing up the tiles is fun and interesting too. And the hardware is also mixed, with doors getting knobs and drawers getting pulls.”
Designer tip. “Building cabinetry to the ceiling draws your eye up and looks seamless,” Peruri says.
Wall paint: Shoreline, Benjamin Moore
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