Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Modern Farmhouse With Pops of Bold Color
In Pennsylvania, a decorator designs her family’s dream house with an open-plan layout to fit their lifestyle
Just inside the front door, guests are greeted by a staircase full of cheery hues. “I am a huge fan of Dash & Albert rugs, and I thought, ‘Why not? As many times as we walk up and down stairs, shouldn’t they be something other than beige?’” Brant says. “This particular stripe fit so perfectly with the other colors in the house — it was just meant to be.”
The Open Plan Is Family-Friendly
The family planned to use every inch of space in their new home’s 2,099-square-foot design. The living, dining and kitchen spaces are open to one another, making the first floor feel large and airy.
“I knew that I wanted the kitchen to overlook the living area, so that we could still interact with the boys while preparing meals, and I could pack lunches while Fischer did his homework,” Brant says. “I love how the open plan enables us all to stay connected and together even when we are doing different things.”
The family planned to use every inch of space in their new home’s 2,099-square-foot design. The living, dining and kitchen spaces are open to one another, making the first floor feel large and airy.
“I knew that I wanted the kitchen to overlook the living area, so that we could still interact with the boys while preparing meals, and I could pack lunches while Fischer did his homework,” Brant says. “I love how the open plan enables us all to stay connected and together even when we are doing different things.”
A plaid rug anchors the living room and the fireplace wall, and built-ins provide a focal point. Brant designed the simple white fireplace surround, inspired by photos she’d tucked away from various sources, including photos on Houzz. “I wanted something very clean and simple — no tile or stone,” she says. She specified that the surrounding built-ins be crafted from inexpensive melamine board and lumber. “They are proof that you can have things that aren’t expensive look nice and be functional,” she says. The Brants’ contractor, Robert W. Strausser & Son, was willing to roll with their ideas. “They were amazing. Even though many of my requests were unusual, they went with it,” she says.
The floors throughout the house are maple wood with a low-gloss finish. The white paint on the walls is White Flour by Sherwin-Williams.
Find a local homebuilder on Houzz
The floors throughout the house are maple wood with a low-gloss finish. The white paint on the walls is White Flour by Sherwin-Williams.
Find a local homebuilder on Houzz
Furnishing With Things They Love
Brant knows it’s not easy, but she recommends being patient when collecting special pieces for your home. “I think sometimes we feel so rushed to have our spaces feel finished that this part of decorating gets lost,” she says. Her dining room furniture is a good example of waiting for the right things. She and Keith had the table made from reclaimed barn flooring after purchasing their first home together. Her father had the chairs made for her mother as a wedding gift, and later they were passed down. And the sideboard was a gift from Keith’s parents. The paint on it is her favorite Farrow & Ball color, Blue Ground. “I have to remind myself to slow down and allow the time and space to collect these objects that can hold so much meaning and memory,” she says.
The placement of the dining table allows it to take in views from windows on two sides of the house. A simple drum shade pendant light is a modern farmhouse touch.
Shop for drum pendants with fabric shades
Brant knows it’s not easy, but she recommends being patient when collecting special pieces for your home. “I think sometimes we feel so rushed to have our spaces feel finished that this part of decorating gets lost,” she says. Her dining room furniture is a good example of waiting for the right things. She and Keith had the table made from reclaimed barn flooring after purchasing their first home together. Her father had the chairs made for her mother as a wedding gift, and later they were passed down. And the sideboard was a gift from Keith’s parents. The paint on it is her favorite Farrow & Ball color, Blue Ground. “I have to remind myself to slow down and allow the time and space to collect these objects that can hold so much meaning and memory,” she says.
The placement of the dining table allows it to take in views from windows on two sides of the house. A simple drum shade pendant light is a modern farmhouse touch.
Shop for drum pendants with fabric shades
In the kitchen, Brant used white as a crisp backdrop and layered in color with accessories. Rather than going with farmhouse modern style’s expected barn lights and subway tile, she selected light blue pendant lights and a hexagonal-tile backsplash. Brushed-brass hardware warms up all the white.
Shop for farmhouse-style counter stools
Shop for farmhouse-style counter stools
Here’s the view of the living room and dining room from behind the kitchen island. “I love that the dining area is close to the kitchen but far enough away that when we are eating, we aren’t staring at any mess that has been created by meal prep,” Brant says.
The couple chose warm white solid-surface countertops for their look and relative budget-friendliness.
The couple chose warm white solid-surface countertops for their look and relative budget-friendliness.
“The kitchen has been a dream so far. The refrigerator, stove and sink are very efficiently spaced, and the island provides a great hub for our family,” Brant says. For storage, she opted for drawers over doors wherever she could for easier access and more efficient storage.
Clever Budget-Stretching
By the time they were choosing finishes for spaces like this mudroom entry off the garage, the Brants were in the last stretch of their budget. For the mudroom entry off the garage, Brant got creative, and Strausser was a big help. She designed these built-ins around ready-made cabinetry, and the contractor gave them the look of custom built-ins.
For the countertop, Brant knew if she looked hard enough she’d find something colorful and inexpensive that would make her happy. She tracked down Formica in the kind of bold color she loves — this one is called Vivid Green. It met her two most important requirements — it was inexpensive and it makes her happy.
By the time they were choosing finishes for spaces like this mudroom entry off the garage, the Brants were in the last stretch of their budget. For the mudroom entry off the garage, Brant got creative, and Strausser was a big help. She designed these built-ins around ready-made cabinetry, and the contractor gave them the look of custom built-ins.
For the countertop, Brant knew if she looked hard enough she’d find something colorful and inexpensive that would make her happy. She tracked down Formica in the kind of bold color she loves — this one is called Vivid Green. It met her two most important requirements — it was inexpensive and it makes her happy.
Private Family Space Upstairs
On the second floor are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a family room-playroom. There’s also a laundry room with the same green countertops as in the mudroom. “It’s not a large space, but it’s very functional — there’s no lugging laundry up and down stairs anymore,” Brant says.
On the second floor are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a family room-playroom. There’s also a laundry room with the same green countertops as in the mudroom. “It’s not a large space, but it’s very functional — there’s no lugging laundry up and down stairs anymore,” Brant says.
This room on the second level serves as the family room and playroom. It prevents the toys from taking over the first floor and provides a more private and comfy spot for watching movies, working on art projects and reading together.
“We wanted a flexible space that could serve various purposes over the years,” Brant says. “Right now it is a playroom, but will likely become a guest bedroom when the boys are a little older and we are able to finish the basement.”
This room is also adjacent to the laundry room. She likes to hang out with the boys or watch a movie while she folds in here.
This room is also adjacent to the laundry room. She likes to hang out with the boys or watch a movie while she folds in here.
Bringing Color Into the Boys’ Rooms
While the walls and carpeting in Ford’s bedroom are neutral, the space is another great example of how Brant layers in color. There’s plenty of color thanks to a painted nightstand, artwork, bedding, an area rug, books and toys.
While the walls and carpeting in Ford’s bedroom are neutral, the space is another great example of how Brant layers in color. There’s plenty of color thanks to a painted nightstand, artwork, bedding, an area rug, books and toys.
An extensive shelving unit gives Ford plenty of room to keep all of his favorite things corralled and handy.
The house sits on 4 lovely acres, and the next phase of the project will be landscaping.
“It was such a privilege to be able to design a house that truly meets the needs of our family. While there are things I would have done differently had we had unlimited resources, I love how functional the space is without being extravagant or bigger than we need,” Clayton says.
Takeaways
More on Houzz
Tour and read about other farmhouses
Find a home pro to help with your project
Shop for home products
“It was such a privilege to be able to design a house that truly meets the needs of our family. While there are things I would have done differently had we had unlimited resources, I love how functional the space is without being extravagant or bigger than we need,” Clayton says.
Takeaways
- You can have a versatile neutral backdrop and still bring in plenty of color through furniture and accessories.
- Add color and drama to your staircase with a bold runner.
- When interviewing contractors, get specific about your ideas and ask if they are willing to work with you on the design and installation of elements like the Brants’ mudroom shelves.
- Create flexible spaces that can change with your family.
More on Houzz
Tour and read about other farmhouses
Find a home pro to help with your project
Shop for home products
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Clayton Brant; her husband, Keith; and sons Fischer, 7, and Ford, 4
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Size: 2,099 square feet (195 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Artist and interior decorator Clayton Brant and her husband, Keith, found a beautiful 4-acre property in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they built their forever home. They wanted to keep their footprint relatively small to create a comfortable and efficient design for themselves and their two boys. They opted for a modern farmhouse with an open floor plan, and sized their spaces to fit their lifestyle and their existing furniture. Working within a strict budget, they chose their splurges carefully while saving wherever they could. “We splurged in areas that mattered to us, like the kitchen, and saved in areas that weren’t as important,” Brant says.
Big Pops of Color
The welcoming entry gives some insight into Brant’s style, which she describes as eclectic yet uncluttered and “very clean and simple.” She loves color but prefers to layer pops of bright hues atop a neutral base. The front door is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Anderson Blue.