Farmhouse style is BIG these days. Notable for its welcoming warmth and homey charm, this vintage inspired look is all the rage in designer magazines and on home improvement shows. Think of pitched roofs, reclaimed barn wood, weathered finishes and claw foot tubs. Imagine open kitchens with butcher block counters, farm sinks with funky faucets, and walls lined in subway tile. Or old-fashioned bathrooms with exposed plumbing and white porcelain everything. 

Like a grown-up version of cottage style, the farmhouse motif marries nostalgia with modern practicality. It’s about a return to a simpler time when life is relaxed and there’s time to linger by the fireplace in a comfy slipcovered chair. Today’s version of farmhouse style mixes the old and new to create a look that is sophisticated and stylish with minimal clutter. 

Real estate agents are reporting that this look is in hot demand.  Many are investing in older homes with farmhouse bones and remodeling them back to their glory but with modern day improvements. There are also new homes designed to look like a farmhouse, appropriately called “new old homes.” 

Details are important when it comes to creating modern farmhouse style, from exquisite hardware and luxurious linens to plumbing fixtures and accessories that add style without kitsch. Here are a few ideas to help inspire your own farmhouse flair.

Milk Glass Rediscovered

Nostalgic Warehouse brings vintage-inspired milk glass back to the fashion forefront as the latest addition to its beautiful line of Waldorf knobs. This translucent glass was popular during the early 1900s as dishware and lighting fixtures. By pairing the milky glass with an octagonal shape, the company has redefined a classic look and added a fresh vibe. 

The look is perfect for modern farmhouse decors, with seven finishes options that include Antique Pewter and Oil-Rubbed Bronze. Customers can also choose from eight different bases to create a custom look, including traditional long backplates, intricate rosettes, and short backplates with geometric shapes. Measuring 2-1/4 inches in diameter, White Milk Glass Knobs are mounted on a solid forged brass base for exceptional durability. www.nostalgicwarehouse.com

Fabulous and Functional Fire Clay Sink

The classic farmhouse sink is a great way to add instant character to a kitchen. Lenova takes things up a notch with its Fire Clay Farm Sink that includes two design styles in one. The reversible sink features one side that is elegantly sculpted while the other is sleek and simple. Featuring fine Italian craftsmanship, the fire clay sinks are fired at extremely high temperatures to produce a non-porous surface that is exceptionally durable with a glossy finish that can easily withstand heavy use for years to come. 

Measuring a generous 30 inches by 20 inches by 10 inches, the sink is available in Black, Bisque and White and comes with a stainless steel strainer and protective grid. www.lenovasinks.com

A New Look for a Beautiful Bath

The new Trivento tub by Victoria + Albert is a modern iteration of the classic claw foot tub. Known as a bateau bath or “boat bath,” this elegant design offers clean lines and a timeless appeal that is perfect for today’s farmhouse style. The tub features a fine rim and a deep double-ended bathing well, along with graceful curves and a sleek silhouette that create a vintage-inspired look with a modern sensibility. 

Measuring a comfortable 22-7/8 inches high by 27-7/8 inches wide and 65 inches long, the Trivento provides a luxurious bathing experience. The tub is crafted from the brand’s signature ENGLISHCAST composition – a naturally white material rich in Volcanic Limestone that is beautifully warm to the touch and hand finished by craftsmen to create a glossy finish that is highly durable and easy to clean. The Trivento tub is available in seven distinctive external finishes, including Matte White, Gloss Black and Stone Grey. www.vandabaths.com

Plumbing on Display

Exposed plumbing is very much on trend with modern farmhouse style. Barber Wilsons helps achieve this look with their new Exposed Thermostatic Shower. This type of design was originally created for the RMS Lusitania, a renowned British ocean liner that was considered the height of luxury in early 1900s. 

Today’s version keeps the vintage style but adds modern conveniences such as an optional tub spout and hand sprayer. With perfectly proportioned volume controls and the adjustable shower riser and shower arm, bathers can modify the configurations to suit themselves perfectly. This exceptional shower is available in seven beautiful finishes, including Weathered Bronze and Brushed Nickel and Un-Lacquered Brass. www.sterlingham.co.uk

Vintage Vanity

We love this look for a farmhouse-inspired bath. MTI Baths has teamed up with Palmer Industries to create a new bath vanity collection that offers the vintage charm of a classic open-framework vanity with the benefits of modern fixtures. 

The integrated sink top is made from MTI’s highly durable SculptureStone material, and the leg system is fabricated from solid brass tubing with precision machined fittings and then polished to perfection. The Boutique Collection Tops with Palmer Legs come in a variety of styles with traditional or modern detailing available in the shape of the sink or the tapering of the legs. The overall look is very retro-chic with a hint of simplicity that is clean and sophisticated. www.mtibaths.com

Industrial Hardware

Atlas Homewares brings a touch of Americana to its Campaign Collection that is very much at home in a farmhouse décor. Reminiscent of classic army trunks, these knobs and pulls have a clean industrial style that is equal parts modern and retro influences. They’re perfect in a farm-style kitchen or to add character to a refinished hutch or armoire. 

The collection’s mix-and-match assemblage allows consumers to put together their own custom look. Choose a traditional rope or screw backplate and pair it with a coordinating round or rectangular knob or pull. The collection also includes drop pulls, cup pulls and bar pulls, all available in Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome and Vintage Brass.  www.atlastothetrade.com

Stylish Solutions for Retrofit Toilets

ICERA makes bathroom updates a little bit easier with its new Malibu II Back-Outlet and 10-inch rough-in toilets. The new models bring smart design to compact bathrooms and renovations or additions where a standard size, bottom outlet is not readily available. Both models offer a compact-elongated bowl and fully skirted profile create a sleek exterior, while their inner workings represent the latest in plumbing technology. 

With siphon-jetted, 2-1/8-inch trapways, clogging is virtually eliminated while antimicrobial MicroGlaze finishes make for exceptionally clean bowls. Rated 1.28gpf high-efficiency toilets, both Malibu II models are cUPC and WaterSense-compliant. The new toilets are the perfect balance between simplicity and space-saving style with the high-performance standards that are hallmarks of the ICERA brand. www.icerausa.com

Creating a modern farmhouse home is about creating a space where you feel happy and relaxed. Its unexpected style is modern and paired down but captures the comforts of an old home with a good soul. Mixing vintage and new elements together and adding interesting architectural elements and textures develops a singular space that speaks to individual history and style.