OMG!! There was a long and somewhat contentious thread on just this topic a couple of weeks ago. Maybe reading that will help to clarify - or not - for you :-)

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5072851/the-modern-farmhouse-why?n=102

Cawaps - do a Google search for "Fixer Upper". It's an HGTV makeover show with a very popular and distinct style. I think modern farm house and fixer upper style are interchangeable.

Neutral color scheme, weathered wood, natural accessories and SHIP LAP!

Here is the designer's own kitchen.

gardengal, that thread makes my head hurt :)

*aaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyahhhhhhhhjeeeeeeeeeee*

NO ONE can describe what one is - it's a trendy term that means many different things to many different people.

I think the people who want one and use the term know what they have in mind.

The term makes me so sad as that is always how I described my house. 20 years ago! My house is a traditional gambrel style, Dutch Colonial, on acreage in an agricultural community. I had chickens, a tractor, a huge vegetable garden, etc. We made our living off of the property. I decorated the house with some inherited stuff, some antique finds and some modern pieces. To me, that is modern farmhouse! Not the contrived crap on tv.

It’s not my style, but when people say it, I think of fixer upper.

When I first posted about my kitchen renovation it was 2011 or 2012, I said my style was farmhouse modern (not modern farmhouse). I just checked and fixer upper first aired in 2013.

I did not mean shiplap.

I do not have white cabinets.

I do have wood elements. My house is post and beam, the corners of my kitchen are flanked by structural posts.

My kitchen feels 'intended', it looks and is worked in. It has clean lines. Easy to clean surfaces. A bit earthy, organic, rustic.

I googled it and found these, which may help.

Understanding Modern Farmhouse Style

What is modern farmhouse style?

Cultivate Your Love for Modern Farmhouse Decor

So this article is very old, but 'modern farmhouse' makes me think of American Gothic trying to be hipsters.

I think the problem is that a real "farmhouse" is what it is based upon location, and that varies a lot. So people who don't care for the term argue that it's too vague on that account alone.

But I think of certain pejorative terms used to describe people--particularly d----ebag (pardon my French, but it's a common term where I live).

Anyway a d-bag is a guy who may have almost any physical appearance, but most people recognize one by their habitual facial expression, their behavior, and their opinion of themselves. They may look quite a bit different physically, but on the other hand you can often tell who they are by seeing a picture or two.

It's like resting b---h face. The woman's facial features may be quite different, but the common expression really ties them in a group that is recognized.

Sorry, but this is the best analogy I could come up with. On the one hand, people can't agree on the physical appearance because there are so many variations, but on the other hand somehow it's recognizable to a lot of people nonetheless.

This is my thought on a real working farm house kitchen. White cabinets or a color...they have been painted many times. A regular height dining table in the middle that doubles as a pastry, baking, canning or casual dining table. Utilitarian dining chairs. A large doored walk around pantry with a cellar off to the end. This area often had its own exterior entry for bringing things in from the garden and orchard. Free standing cabinetry along one kitchen wall for specialty dishes, bowls or passed down china. No attempt at matching. Utilitarian lighting (not always good). A big white sink (no apron) but with a drainboard. A gas range often without ventilation. Some sort of inexpensive countertop. A window at sink usually with the garden somewhat in view. Normally the window had some sort of frilly treatment and there are usually plants and herbs on ledge.

Modern Farmhouse... white cabinets or light painted, big fancy range hood, expensive apron sink, a nod to modern industrial style lighting. A center island with expensive marble or wood. A small pantry. Barstools instead of chairs. A matching mix using highend materials.

In short, modern farmhouse is a grand copy of a never achievable real farmhouse kitchen dream ....a farm house on steroids done in a way to look effortless and upscale casual.

It’s as real as shag carpet, a Preway fireplace, and a lucite table made a Kansas family farm into a London Mod crashpad.

It’s as real as painted grapevines over faux plaster walls and heavy glazing made a 90’s Jersey tract home into a Tuscan villa.

It’s as real as the slavish reproduction of details of the SGTG kitchen made that NeoEclecctic McMansion into a Hamptons beach house.

Hay forks mounted above your black iron pipe and reclaimed wood shelving and white marble look counters is only the latest form of lemming insanity. This too shall pass. And look equally silly in retrospect.

The surprising bit about this is that it seems that the pseudo nostalgia that the marketers have sprinkled into this trend seems to cause people to engage only their unhinged emotions and adopt a cult like adherance to uniformity as spoken by the Prophet Joanna.

Although, I would rather have it named "Modern Farmhouse" than "The Joanna Gaines" or "Magnolia Look" in the design history books.

I think it evokes a false nostalgia, it's a world that never really existed except for maybe a very small group of people.

And honestly I think if any individual person should get credit for design that creates nostalgia for a world that never really existed it should be Martha Stewart, who grew up in northern Jersey in a house with a chain link fence, but created an empire based upon an "effortless" cultured and moneyed casual lifestyle evocative of someplace like Fairfield County Connecticut and The Hamptons mixed together.

Stewart created and encapsulated a "look" pretty much in it's natural environment with the real raw materials of that location. There's still a lot of fantasy involved, but it's drawn from a real, if rarefied environment. It was genius in many ways, she created an autobiography of sorts, and a lifestyle, and also in marketing and self-promotion--but I think there is some talent underneath it all.

Gaines is more or less the HomeGoods version shoehorned into all sorts of contexts...the natural environment doesn't really matter. It's a genius of marketing and self-promotion, if not so much of design.

In the Gaines' defense, they DO live on a farm. Now, is it a good idea for her to redo a 1970s ranch like her modern farmhouse? Probably not.

Thanks, all. I did post this in a genuine search for understanding. So many people have used the term when asking for advice and I've been at a loss to understand the look they are going for., and therefore been unable to give any useful advice. Obviously when they said modern farmhouse, it was supposed to convey something but it was like they were speaking a foreign language.

Gardengal, I'm not sure how I missed the Jan 14 thread. Apparently I'm not the only one confused by the term; but I didn't realize how polarizing the term was when I posted my question.

My3dogs, those links were particularly helpful in understanding the look.

D_gw, thanks, I had a hunch that the reason the term had taken off was attributable to some particular show, but I don't have cable so TV-driven trends seem to come out of thin air at first.

Annette, if a house is on a farm, that is farmhouse to me. So a modern house, on a farm, that's my idea of a modern farmhouse. And it sounds like that's exactly what you have.

Pal, I love the d-bag analogy. It does help explain how modern farmhouse can mean so many different things.

It definitely seems heavy on the black and white and greys color scheme, which is fairly neutral and somewhat easy to pull off as far as then blending your furniture into that. I have a lot of white ware, cream ware and depression glass stuff, which is very adaptable to a lot of situations. A few choice show pieces with color and texture because that is all you can afford. As for using old junk as furniture and ornaments, that was "in" during the 90's too. So Gaines style to me is just a black and white version of shabby chic with industrial touches thrown in. Not my style, but I can see how some people might find it restful. Some of her stuff is great but some of it makes me shudder as far as being practical. I don't mind words as art if it is poetry, inspirational quotes, or great calligraphy or even an old advertising poster. But random huge words just to take up space, not so much. But then I love art too much and have too many bookshelves, so I am never at a loss for what to put on a wall! So I too, have a hard time understanding what people want. Do you want a cool color scheme emphasizing black, grey and white? Do you want a mix of industrial and shabby chic reclaimed pieces or the look of that, maybe mixed in with some more traditional pieces to give an eclectic look? Plain Jane background with texture in your art and furniture and accessories?

I think the definition of a farm house has changed pretty drastically over the years. No wonder it's confusing. A farm, farm house used to be a means of livelihood. The exceptions were that if a home had once been a working farm it was still referred to as the ole farm house down the road. These days it can mean someone who has land, a tomato patch and few animals. Or, someone who has no animals and no tomatos but has the money to build a fancier version of a farm house look. They think a hoe is something found on a side street.

You're all wrong. "Modern Farmhouse" refers to Lisa Douglas in an evening gown and jewels serving Oliver coffee that looks like chocolate syrup.

I think that Green Acres is Ramshackle Glam, as the farmhouse is certainly not modern. But the leopard print sofa, gold bed, and ostrich plume adorned negligees certainly are a level of glam above Hollywood Regency. They approach Persian Prince in opulence.

well, as a decor style (since it can't be architectural term-every farmhouse will be different depending on where it stands. My great great parents also lived in farmhouses..I even saw the photos..)).. so, back to our sheep-as a decor style, I'd also associate it with Joanna Gaines and Fixer Upper..

and I'd say main elements are:

-open floor plan, with a great stress on entertaining, being together, etc. If the floor plan is not open-would be made into one.

-lots or rustic and industrial elements, new but made look like old, or repurposed and refurbished old..combined with high end materials, finishes, and appliances

-texture added usually by shiplap treatment(wall), reclaimed wood, woven baskets, nubby fabrics, etc

-the pallette is not strictly monochromatic, yet is very neutral usually.

-word art is big..lots of inspirational quotes and such. Also a lot of sentimental instructions such as "Gather", "Eat", "Have a cup of joe"..whatever folks might forget if not reminded, you know:)

My grandparents inherited my great grandparent’s working farm. When they moved in, my grandmother brought all her MCM furniture and got rid of all the “farm junk” (her words). So, I guess that could be considered a modern farm house.

How about this