Hi, I’m Angie and I write about design and decor, DIY, and all things home over on my blog, Postcards from the Ridge where our mantra is “There’s no place like home”. Today I’ll be sharing some tips for incorporating the popular farmhouse style into your home with various home decor and design elements.
When you think of a farmhouse, what comes to mind? Probably a comfortable place that’s full of character and warmth. The hallmarks of this cozy style are functional, timeworn items, rustic finishes, and a casual, welcoming feeling. How do you get the look for your own home? It’s really not that hard at all. With just a few elements and a couple of tweaks, you can create the farmhouse look of your dreams! Here’s some inspiration for a fresh farmhouse kitchen.
Affiliate links provided below for your convenience to recreate this look!
The white cabinets give the kitchen that farmhouse fresh look. Add in some bead board and just the right touches and the look is complete. The cage pendant light fixture is reminiscent of a chicken cage and definitely has a farmhouse vibe. Having a white apron sink like the one above reinforces the farmhouse theme even more, while the oil rubbed bronze faucet and cabinet hardware give it an updated look for the 21st century. And the white wooden rolling island is the perfect prep space in any farmhouse kitchen.
Let’s not forget about the flooring! The warm wood-toned floors really set the tone for the space. You can see how great this Quick-Step Dominion Barrel Chestnut flooring looks paired with country accents!
Farmhouse Styling:
One of the easiest ways to add farmhouse style throughout the house is with white dishes. They’re easy to find in various shapes and sizes at yard sales and thrift shops. Platters add a nice variety to the grouping and are great to use as serving trays. Transferware and pieces of colorful pottery give a punch of color and pattern to the nice white foundation.
Fresh flowers from the garden or the grocery store in a farmhouse style white pitcher are a wonderful way to add charm and say welcome.
The open shelves, white shiplap walls, wood floors and white dishes from I Am A Homemaker all work together to give this fresh dining room a farmhouse feel. And don’t you love the pop of color from the orange chair?
An old ladder is perfect for towel storage in a farmhouse bathroom. Add a wood planked ceiling and a board and batten wall to complete the look. This entire space at Funky Junk Interiors has the farmhouse vibe.
Since farmhouse style has a heavy emphasis on practicality and items with old style charm, repurposing a dresser as a bathroom vanity is ideal for the look. The beadboard, repurposed sewing drawers an other elements of this space all reinforce the farmhouse theme going on over at Prodigal Pieces. Catch her farmhouse DIY’s right here on the Bestlaminate blog, too!
In the bedroom, using simple fabrics and prints like checks and toiles give a farmhouse feel. Painted old school desks repurposed as night stands and a bench from reclaimed wood add to the cozy farmhouse style.
Don’t forget about the front porch! Colorful flowers in a little red wagon are such a nice greeting. You could also use old wooden crates or a wheelbarrow full of flowers for a farmhouse welcome on your front porch. Hopefully you’ve gotten a few ideas on how to add farmhouse charm to your home. Which farmhouse style tips do you want to incorporate into your home? For more decorating and design tips, hop over to my blog. I’d love to have you for a visit!
Feed your love for country farmhouse looks and check out more inspiration:
As we’ve shared many times in the past, sustainability is very important to us at San Jose Hardwood Floors. As you begin a remodel, here are a few ways to reduce your carbon footprint and upgrade to an eco-friendly home.
5 Ways to Remodel with Sustainability
1. Hire green contractors. From your flooring to your electricity, make sure you select contractors that focus on sustainability. Not only can eco-friendly products they provide give your home a stunning design element, such as reclaimed hardwood flooring, they can contribute to the overall wellbeing of your family and community as well as the planet. Various sustainability certifications, such as FSC and LEED, let the homeowner rest assured that their home isn’t emitting dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is keeping the environment intact. Check out this blog post to see how San Jose Hardwood Floors focuses on sustainability as a green contractor.
2. Choose eco-friendly materials. During a remodel, you have a lot of decisions to make. Let sustainability be a guiding factor. Choose hardwood flooring that’s reclaimed or harvested in an environmentally-friendly way (look for the FSC label); opt for energy- and water-saving appliances; install tankless water heaters and high-performance windows; use LED lightbulbs. Green contractors will be able to guide you in making eco-friendly choices for your home as well.
3. Don't overlook demolished materials. What do you plan to do with your old materials? Think about ways you can reuse them in your remodeled home or look for ways to resell or donate any materials that can be used again.
4. Embrace technology. From a thermostat you can program to a system that allows you to control climate, lighting, electronics and energy from a tablet, opting for modern tools can help you invest in sustainability.
5. Make recycling easy. You’re probably too busy to walk your recyclables all the way out to the bin multiple times a day. Instead, create an in-home recycling center that’s easy to use and conveniently tucks into your kitchen. By making sustainability a simple part of your everyday life, you’re much more likely to keep it up.
Want to know more about ways to invest in sustainability during your home remodel? Come to our showroom to see the variety of eco-friendly flooring options and to find out more about our green contractors! Remember to contact us for a free in-home estimate, too.
I’m making a few improvements to my home this fall, in addition to the fireplace project, I’m readying the studio above our garage for a multitude of guests arriving through September and October, also a house sitter will be living there when we take our big trip abroad in November. My stepdaughter moved out last week, she occupied the space for over a year after college while she worked two local jobs, she just moved to San Francisco, so again the space is vacant.
Four years ago we installed Billy bookcases as built ins along one wall to add storage, I have plans to extend them up and also add lights, I’ll share that improvement when complete. Again I get to style them with books and collectibles, I have a lot of accessories I’ve collected over the years, but I’ve been on the hunt for a few new ones too.
I love to look at images of well styled bookcases and analyze why they look so appealing. There are mixed opinions on how to style bookcases, designers loving to use them as opportunities for chic displays with cleverly placed books and objets d’art.
There is no one formula or way to do it, I prefer a mix of sculptural objects and books, I find that the most visually appealing, but after all they are bookcases so as a practical matter, stacks of books just make sense.
In formal spaces, shelves themselves can be the focal points rather than used solely for the purpose of practical storage. With étagère shelving units like these, avoiding overcrowding and using a minimal amount of objects shows off the beauty of the shelves.
The best objects for styling bookcases are the ones discovered as a diamond in the rough on a flea market or thrift store treasure hunt, or mementos handed down from family or picked up from traveling. But I also keep my eye open for objects with textural or sculptural interest, a metallic sheen or a pretty pattern, one I’ll love for years to come.
If buying objects for the sole purpose of filling a space, I’m not one to spend a bundle of cash since there are several sources for affordable finds from Etsy (for vintage) or HomeGoods and Target. I rounded up some favorites for positioning around the house in vignettes, on a mantel or bookcases, all under $50.
Tomorrow I’ll be sharing all the pictures of the Las Vegas kitchen remodel so come on back in the afternoon, it’s a fabulous transformation, you’ll love it! …
I’ve been through the process of purchasing a sofa many times in the past decade, for myself, for family, and with friends, it can be agonizing since it’s a major purchase, like buying a car or a mattress, a sofa is something you’ll live with for 5-10 years. The process is worthy of attention to detail so today I’ve assembled five sofa buying considerations and also sharing a few favorite sofa styles from furniture company Interior Define.
1) Scale. I learned a great designer trick many years ago, I even heard Nate Berkus repeat it when I designed a family room space and appeared on his show in 2011. The tip is to map out the perfect width and depth of your new sofa with painter’s tape on the floor. When you’re choosing a sofa, you must make sure it’s the proper size and scale. It doesn’t matter if you love a sofa you see online or in a showroom, if it doesn’t fit when you get it in your house, you’ll regret the purchase.
When you lay down your tape, allow enough space for end tables or a coffee table or accent chairs, however you envision the layout so that people can move around freely and comfortably. A sofa that’s too large will overwhelm and crowd a space, a sofa that’s too small will feel puny and look disproportionate. The first sofa and loveseat I purchased when I was first married I bought on impulse because I liked them in the store. When I got them home they were waaaaay too big. It was a HUGE costly mistake. I couldn’t return them, I had to sell them and took a financial hit of several hundred dollars. I never made that mistake again! It’s so important to buy the proper size, think like Goldilocks, your sofa or sectional should not be too big, not too small, it should be juuuuust right.
2) Style If you’ve ever thumbed through the warehouse furniture store ads you know that there are still companies producing oversized puffy sofas in ugly fabrics. #pleasestop A sofa should have a classic shape. It doesn’t matter if the arms are rolled, curved, or square, if their backs are tufted or not, those choices vary by taste and style. What’s important is the cleaner the lines the more stylish the sofa, you don’t want yours looking dated from the day it arrives in your home.
3) Quality. Sofas like mattresses get daily use and must be good quality. The frame and cushions need to stand up to the plopping down of people, the jumping up of toddlers and pets, TV viewing, stolen naps, and other daily activities. Educate yourself on the construction, are the frames hardwood? Are the cushions designed to be resilient and durable?
4) Material. Fabric is everything! Sofas are an investment and so you’ve got to love that fabric forever (or for at least 5-10 years). Neutrals are always a safe bet since everyone knows the power of the decorative pillow or be bold and select a sofa in your favorite color, will it be teal velvet? Seafoam chenille? Also ask yourself since you’ll be sitting on that sofa everyday what you want it to feel like. Nubby and textured? Soft and velvety? Fabric swatches are key! You’ve got to touch the fabric, feeeeel the fabric, hold it up around your room with squinty eyes and make sure it complements the space in different lights at different times of day.
5) Price. Sofa prices are all over the map, you can buy cheap mass produced sofas from many discount websites or you can go the fancy shmancy route and order a custom piece for thousands of dollars. The ideal is the medley of the two, high quality and customizable but at an affordable price.
Interior Define scores high in all five considerations in the sofa purchasing process, plus they offer a 365 day return policy. Their sofas designs are customizable, choose the size, material, cushion fill, legs, etc. whatever floats your boat! Most sofas and chairs are available in over 40 fabric options, and swatches are free. Their prices are at an exceptional price point compared to similar sofas on the market since they bypass unnecessary middlemen to offer well-crafted quality pieces at affordable prices.
3) Pick your favorite Interior Define product and Pin its image on Pinterest
4) Comment back on this post with the link to your Pin of the piece you’d buy with the credit if you won!
This giveaway is open to US residents only, credit to be used toward chair or sofa, entrant must have registered via email. Giveaway ends 8/31/15, one winner chosen at random from comments. Credit must be used in a single purchase by 12/31/15. Any returns will be refunded store credit minus any applicable restocking fee. Giveaway also governed by this site’s giveaway policy and Official Rules of Entry.
Interior Define is offering any of you a $100 discount for any purchase over $1,000 with the code CG100 (expires on 9/8/15).
*This giveaway is sponsored by Interior Define, all experiences and opinions expressed are my own!
As of last week, we now have the art installed in a project we have been putting together for a young woman’s office.
I’ve already shared a few pics on Instagram, but I now have a few more I’d like you to see. (Sorry, they were taken with my iPhone. There’s nothing professional about my photos you'll see here. ;-)
Design Plan:
This client has a light, bright aesthetic and wanted to create a professional but nonetheless softer business environment.
We went white with some gorgeous white-washed oak floors and a contrasting paint color to provide a little drama.
The soft, light upholstery keeps the space unstuffy with a little bit of gleam and sparkle in the hallway to her office. Crystal lamps with linen shades, a console and mirror with a rubbed metallic finish, and the linen upholstered chairs translate that look perfectly.
Back in her office...
The glass top desk floats in the room, with some custom built storage behind. That Herman Miller high-back white leather desk chair is all about comfort, with its sleek beauty that’s so on target for this space.
The gray upholstered chairs were former dining chairs and look so much better reupholstered as guest chairs. She added the rug for a bit of flare.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
All in all...
It’s the perfect spot for a young woman’s business to grow! :-)
A few months ago we first revealed our newly plastered and painted fourth bedroom. We’re really happy with how it’s turning out and have now finally started to add a few finishing touches. Whilst I’m in general happy with how the room ist turning out and with the ceiling being the same colour as the...
If shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that we love HGTV. We could (and have!) spend hours binge watching every show on that channel. One show we particularly love is The Property Brothers.
Identical twins Jonathan and Drew Scott are the perfect combination of humor, manners, and knowhow, which they applied to their own home renovation of their Las Vegas family compound.
Although both brothers are licensed real estate agents, on the show Drew is the real estate agent who helps couples find and purchase a home while Jonathan is the licensed contractor who manages the renovation. The dynamic duo also opened their own company, Scott Real Estate, Inc, in 2004 that does sales and construction for residential and commercial products and is based out of Vancouver (their hometown), Calgary, and Las Vegas.
Photo Credit: HGTV
When in Vegas, the handsome pair needed a home away from home. Here’s a look at our favorite parts of the Property Brother’s Las Vegas home built for themselves and their family.
Kitchen Remodel
Our favorite part of their gorgeous home is the remodel they did in the kitchen. They practiced what they teach on their shows by finding ways to cut costs and reuse. They kept the kitchen primarily how it was by using the existing cabinet boxes and staining affordable laminate doors with a glaze that looks like wood, but at a portion of the price! They classed it up by using crown molding and stainless steal handles and appliances, as well as splurging on granite countertops.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Backyard Turned Water Park
While they may have stuck to a budget on the inside remodel, they went all out on the backyard. They essentially built a mini water park that includes a pool big enough for volleyball, hot tub, swim up bar, and water slide. How cool is that?
Photo Credit: HGTV
Photo Credit: HGTV
The Guesthouse
The guys are very family-oriented, which we love, so they built a guesthouse for the parents and brothers to stay in when visiting. It’s alongside their newly remodeled home as well as the putting green and basketball court!
Photo Credit: HGTV
They were able to make the small guesthouse feel spacious in the living room with the high ceilings and several pairs of glass doors on the main wall that lets in tons of light. We also love the inviting and calming feel of the guestroom with the use of plush bedding in gray and purple tones.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Photo Credit: HGTV
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A few months ago we first revealed our newly plastered and painted fourth bedroom. We’re really happy with how it’s turning out and have now finally started to add a few finishing touches. Whilst I’m in general happy with how the room ist turning out and with the ceiling being the same colour as the...
