10 Charming Farmhouses We Adore

No matter the architectural style a farmhouse embraces, the essence behind one is always the same: an inviting atmosphere with an easygoing sensibility. Practical living with the down-home attitude is why people feel instant comfort walking into a farmhouse.

By: Chelsey Bowen

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Restrained Style at Its Best

Simplicity reigns supreme in a lot of farmhouses. This newly constructed home looks as if it has housed generations behind its classic board-and-batten siding. Black window frames make a striking contrast against the white frame house, while barn door inspiration is used on the garage doors and porch railing. A metal roof over the 40-foot-long front porch not only adds visual country appeal but will ensure the always-desired melody that only rain on a tin roof can guarantee.

From: Linc Thelen Design

Standing the Test of Time

The classic Dutch Colonial farmhouse originates from Dutch settlers in the New England area, where they built homes similar to the ones they left behind in Europe. Dutch Colonial's major distinction to other Colonial styles is the gambrel roof, which gives the home a barn-like look. In addition, gambrel-roof homes weren't technically two-story homes (actually considered one-and-a-half stories), which meant they didn't cost as much to build and weren't taxed as a two-story home. Those savvy settlers saved big while also increasing their livable space.

A Twist of the Traditional

Dutch Colonial style may have originated in the 1600s, but it continues to be a part of our American architecture. Fresh color schemes, like this apple green-and-marigold combination, bring the past to the present by giving the home a modern edge. Flared eaves over the porch and a decorative hood over the front entryway are other hallmarks of the style.

From: HGTV Magazine

Coastal Meets Farmhouse

From the gambrel roof and dormer windows to the clapboard siding and round windows in the gable end, this New England home embraces all the favorite aspects of a Dutch Colonial Revival. Column-lined porches and expansive balconies make for comfortable outdoor living spaces that add to the relaxed, inviting atmosphere of the home.

The Ultimate Farmhouse Hues

Forgoing the barn shape, but embracing the traditional color scheme, this farmhouse mixes a deep red board-and-batten exterior with a black shingle roof and crisp white trim work. Borrowing a favorite trademark from Colonial and Dutch Colonial architecture, the house features a trio of dormer windows.

Country Living on the Luxe

And sometimes you just opt to live in an actual barn — refurbished, of course. Once part of a working dairy farm, this historic barn with its quintessential gambrel roof was restored to its original glory but with a new purpose. The interiors were completely restructured to serve as a modern weekend retreat, while the exteriors of the barn and the silo maintain the overall traditional look of the farm and its other buildings.

From: Specht Architects

Made for Sitting and Sipping

One necessity for farm living is a porch (preferably wraparound!), serving as a transitional and relaxing space. Not only is it the place to slip off muddy boots after working or exploring the land, but it's also the ideal gathering spot to get out of the sun. Grownups can chat and drink while keeping an eye on kids running around in the yard.

Updated Style Rooted in History

An asymmetrical plan and tall windows are other noteworthy elements of a farmhouse. This farmhouse mixes shingle siding (a beloved choice of farm and coastal homes) with the ever-present board and batten and then tops off the whole facade with a modern metal roof. Cool gray and white tones allow the textures to be the real star of this exterior.

From: Tongue & Groove

Embracing Natural Surroundings

Stacked stone walls, board-and-batten and a metal roof — sounds like the perfect ingredients for creating a rustic farmhouse retreat. When farmhouses were originally being built in rural areas, they didn't have our modern amenities of running water and electricity. Windows played an important role in getting air flow and plenty of natural light into the home, and that architectural element has continued to be a significant part of farmhouse design today with dormer windows that pour light into upper spaces and picturesque windows that provide stunning views as well as illumination.

Graceful Nod to the Victorian

The beauty of farmhouses is they're not tied not a specific style. A farmhouse was just that: a house on a farm, and the design of the home varied depending on the time period in which it was built. This sky-blue house combines all the telltale signs of a Victorian home: multifaceted rooflines, asymmetrical shape and ornate trim. Its grand-estate-meets-relaxed-abode look makes it feel right at home out in the country.