5 Surprisingly Contemporary Country Homes
There's a certain charm to country homes that easily translates into
modern and contemporary architecture. Out on the farm, form always had
to follow function. Thus simple, well-proportioned, unadorned
utilitarian structures arose across the agrarian landscape. As
architects and designers rediscovered the power of meaning, intention
and function in design during the International style/midcentury modern
movements, they returned to a stripped-down aesthetic that farmers had
been using for many years. Today the combination of traditional design
elements, modern technology and design features for contemporary
lifestyles results in harmonious homes in the pastoral landscape.
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1. Banner Elk, North Carolina
Designer Autumn Simmons of Christopher Kellie Design sums up this house as "an experiment in creating the best of both worlds: mountain rustic and minimalist modern." |
One of the biggest gestures the house makes to the local vernacular is the use of traditional bark shingles.
Elements like board and batten siding and minimalist, rustic wood furniture bring a farmhouse feeling to the interiors.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
2. Rhode Island
ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) used traditional agrarian aesthetics for inspiration and passive technologies in the execution of this charming and contemporary country home.
ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) used traditional agrarian aesthetics for inspiration and passive technologies in the execution of this charming and contemporary country home.
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The modern take on barn red
continues inside the house as a strong accent color. Otherwise, the
white walls and ceilings put the focus on the relaxing views.
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3. Chester, South Carolina
Architect Ken Pursley of Pursley-Dixon Architecture looked to historic buildings when designing a farmhouse that would fit in with the rural surroundings. |
Rope railings are a good example
of the straightforward rustic materials Pursley used indoors and out;
others include lots of wood, stone and metal.
The property even yielded unique light fixtures; these were crafted from catfish traps found in the woods.
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See the rest of this home
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by Wright-Built
by Wright-Built
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4. Hawkins, Texas
Builder Erin Wright had the freedom to use all sorts of original and unorthodox techniques and materials on this house, because it's her own. |
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by Wright-Built
by Wright-Built
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In the kitchen she combined
concrete floors and countertops, a copper bar top and sink, egg basket
light fixtures and a rusted-tin-roof ceiling. The result is a wide-open
contemporary space that's full of farm materials.
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by Wright-Built
by Wright-Built
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A modern cedar hot tub has the look of something straight out of Little House on the Prairie but is much more luxurious. The finishing touch is a red water pump-like faucet.
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5. Iowa City
This smart cabin has some shapes and materials swiped from traditional farm buildings combined in a minimalist house. |
A galvanized steel shower surround brings the look of utilitarian farm buildings indoors.
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The home takes full advantage of its vast pastoral views from every room in the house.
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