Farmhouse Style: Get the Look with Mouldings & Millwork

Farmhouse style has been popular with consumers in recent years and it is still a top choice for homeowners renovating their Kitchens.

The 2021 Houzz Kitchen Trends study shows 12% of respondents chose Farmhouse as the style for their new Kitchen, behind Contemporary (14%), Modern (15%), and Transitional (21%).

My research shows the best way to get the Farmhouse look is to employ mouldings and millwork effectively.

Let’s have a look at how you, the Professional Kitchen Designer, can bring the Farmhouse look to your client’s projects.

Farmhouse Attributes

Every decor style has some unique attributes that identify it.

These are the attributes that define Farmhouse Style:

• Simple lines
• Functional and sturdy pieces
• Shiplap and bead board elements
• Organic materials
• Primarily painted finishes
• Natural wood accents (Rustic for Classic, more refined for Modern)
• Exposed ceiling beams

Farmhouse Style can lean Classic or Modern, which continues to keep it popular with homeowners.

Wall Treatments

Wall treatments are the perfect way to get the Farmhouse look in your client’s home.

Bead board and shiplap are both appropriate materials to use in a Farmhouse Kitchen.

These wall treatments are also appropriate for other areas of the home.

They are durable and add texture to a space.

Experiment with both horizontal and vertical installations to get different looks for your client’s dream home.

Wainscoting is a great application for Farmhouse styled homes and perfect for bathrooms.

Ideally paint these treatments with a scrubable paint specifically designed for Kitchens and Bathrooms.

Ceiling Treatments

Farmhouse style isn’t complete without a ceiling treatment.

Installing shiplap or bead board in a tray ceiling or between beams is the appropriate approach.

Trim & Mouldings

Trim around doors, windows and openings are simple in Farmhouse styled spaces.

Clean, straight lines with minimal details is the way to go.

White painted trim is the most popular finish for trim and mouldings in Farmhouse styled design.

Kitchen Elements

Additional places to focus to get the Farmhouse look with mouldings & millwork, is the Kitchen hood and island.

A simple square hood clad with shiplap and accented with wood or even metal is an ideal focal point in a Farmhouse Kitchen.

The backside of the Kitchen island is the perfect place to add Farmhouse style detail.

Bead board or shiplap installed horizontally or vertically will produce that look.

Experiment with paints and stains to get the perfect look for your client’s unique space.

Whole Home in Farmhouse Style

The following example showcases a home that employed Farmhouse design throughout.

Let’s explore it.

This home’s great room gets its Farmhouse style through the use of exposed wood stained beams, bead board between the beams, bead board in the tray ceiling, simple painted trim and natural wood floors.

A neutral color scheme and simple sturdy furniture complete the space.

Additional Farmhouse elements in this home included wall treatments in multiple rooms.

Just off the entrance is a small seating area made cozy with vertical bead board installed at a tall wainscot height.

The stairwell is very dramatic with two story horizontal shiplap covering all the walls setting highlighted with a dark railing.

The upper hallway continues the horizontal shiplap for a cohesive look.

The Farmhouse look was extended into the bunk room and the games room with more horizontal bead board.

The angled ceiling in the games room was also clad with shiplap for an authentic Farmhouse vibe.

I think you can see why Farmhouse design style is still popular with homeowners.

I also hope this blog post inspires you to bring Farmhouse design elements to your client’s spaces.

Are you designing Farmhouse styled Kitchens? Leave me a comment below.