Houzz Tour: A Made-to-Order Modern Farmhouse in Massachusetts
Architectural salvage, barn doors, shiplap and industrial touches contribute to this historic-looking new home
We throw around the term “modern farmhouse” a lot, but it means different things to different people. That was true for this couple who were moving from a small home in Boston to a new four-bedroom house on the nearby North Shore. “They both loved the concept of ‘modern farmhouse,’ but I needed to nail down what that really meant to them,” says interior designer Kristina Crestin.
This small powder room off the mudroom is a great example of the collaboration between the designer and her clients. The couple had already chosen the shiplap and plumbing fixtures for the room, and Crestin came in with paint colors, the idea to use exterior barn light fixtures, the soft patterned Roman shade and then cooked up a little something for the ceiling.
One of the reasons the homeowners were drawn to Crestin was her skill at incorporating architectural salvage. She went straight to her favorite source, Tom Joyal of Old House Parts Co. in Kennebunk, Maine. He set her up with great reclaimed lumber, among other things, that she used around the house. Here, she decided that the ceiling was a good opportunity to add the warmth of the wood. Joyal precut the wood to fit, sanded it and gave it a gray wash. He also made the coordinating frame for the medicine cabinet.
Window treatment fabric: Duralee; lighting: Restoration Hardware
One of the reasons the homeowners were drawn to Crestin was her skill at incorporating architectural salvage. She went straight to her favorite source, Tom Joyal of Old House Parts Co. in Kennebunk, Maine. He set her up with great reclaimed lumber, among other things, that she used around the house. Here, she decided that the ceiling was a good opportunity to add the warmth of the wood. Joyal precut the wood to fit, sanded it and gave it a gray wash. He also made the coordinating frame for the medicine cabinet.
Window treatment fabric: Duralee; lighting: Restoration Hardware
The homeowners knew they wanted shiplap in the mudroom entry, and Connor Homes designed the convenient locker-like millwork. Crestin helped with paint selection, lighting and the tiles, which are ceramic but resemble bluestone.
“Using predominantly bronze lighting was an early decision that we repeat throughout the home,” Crestin says. “When you’re trying to tie a home together, repetition is your friend.” She landed on dark bronze because it’s up to date, and works well with modern farmhouse style and the kinds of industrial touches that the husband likes. The lighting played a big role in creating continuity throughout the house.
Shiplap wall, trim, ceiling and cabinetry paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Visual Comfort; ceiling light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.; baskets: West Elm
“Using predominantly bronze lighting was an early decision that we repeat throughout the home,” Crestin says. “When you’re trying to tie a home together, repetition is your friend.” She landed on dark bronze because it’s up to date, and works well with modern farmhouse style and the kinds of industrial touches that the husband likes. The lighting played a big role in creating continuity throughout the house.
Shiplap wall, trim, ceiling and cabinetry paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Visual Comfort; ceiling light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.; baskets: West Elm
On the other side of the corridor is the pantry, which offered a great opportunity to incorporate the architectural salvage and barn door tracks the couple wanted. Originally, the pantry had two doors that swung into the space. Crestin called up Joyal and sent him on a search.
“I knew I wanted screen doors so that the light could pierce through them, but they could still conceal a bit of mess,” the designer says. Joyal did not disappoint, finding doors salvaged from a municipal building in Maine. Their dark color brought in the black accent color she used throughout the house.
Light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.; doors: Old House Parts Co.; barn door hardware: Specialty Doors and Hardware
“I knew I wanted screen doors so that the light could pierce through them, but they could still conceal a bit of mess,” the designer says. Joyal did not disappoint, finding doors salvaged from a municipal building in Maine. Their dark color brought in the black accent color she used throughout the house.
Light: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.; doors: Old House Parts Co.; barn door hardware: Specialty Doors and Hardware
In the kitchen, the homeowners had already chosen a gray-blue Benjamin Moore paint called Black Pepper for the island. “This color gave us a base. I built up the color palette for the house from there,” Crestin says. The 2-inch-thick Carrara marble countertop on the island is a showstopper, while large pendants add personality overhead. “We went a little overscaled with the lighting around the house because it’s modern and fun,” Crestin says.
The window sashes are black inside and out. “I suggested they paint the window sashes throughout the house black because it’s classic yet modern and would dial up the attention to the architectural details,” she says. The kitchen represents both homeowners well: The open wood shelves with black metal brackets and the sconces over the window add the industrial style he loves, while the durable black granite countertops are reminiscent of soapstone, which is sometimes found in the historic farmhouses she loves.
Kitchen cabinetry, ceiling and wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Restoration Hardware; pendant lights: available via Kristina Crestin Design
The window sashes are black inside and out. “I suggested they paint the window sashes throughout the house black because it’s classic yet modern and would dial up the attention to the architectural details,” she says. The kitchen represents both homeowners well: The open wood shelves with black metal brackets and the sconces over the window add the industrial style he loves, while the durable black granite countertops are reminiscent of soapstone, which is sometimes found in the historic farmhouses she loves.
Kitchen cabinetry, ceiling and wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Restoration Hardware; pendant lights: available via Kristina Crestin Design
The subway tile, Shaker cabinets and hardware have a traditional look, while the vintage-style counter stools add warmth and a more industrial touch.
Cabinetry and open shelving: Connor Homes; cutting board: Muzio Designs; pendant lights: Visual Comfort; sconces: Restoration Hardware; bar stools: Kristina Crestin Design; sink and faucets: Kohler
Cabinetry and open shelving: Connor Homes; cutting board: Muzio Designs; pendant lights: Visual Comfort; sconces: Restoration Hardware; bar stools: Kristina Crestin Design; sink and faucets: Kohler
The living room mixes traditional, industrial and contemporary elements. Crestin began on the ground with a rug that included blues and grays in its pattern. “Using an Oushak rug gave us a traditional pattern, but the color palette is updated,” she says.
For the sofa, she went with a more contemporary piece. “This is actually the exact same sofa I have in my own home. I knew it would be a great size for the scale of the space and it would let us anchor the room with something more contemporary,” she says. She had the couple over to her home for a sit test, and they loved it.
She also suggested a bold moss green for the drapery panels, and the couple was totally up for it. “The dining room and living room are really one long space, so we used the same drapes in both to tie the rooms together,” she says. “You walk in and see long panels of them all the way down the space.”
For the sofa, she went with a more contemporary piece. “This is actually the exact same sofa I have in my own home. I knew it would be a great size for the scale of the space and it would let us anchor the room with something more contemporary,” she says. She had the couple over to her home for a sit test, and they loved it.
She also suggested a bold moss green for the drapery panels, and the couple was totally up for it. “The dining room and living room are really one long space, so we used the same drapes in both to tie the rooms together,” she says. “You walk in and see long panels of them all the way down the space.”
“We brought in the industrial element through a lot of the lighting,” she says. She avoided recessed lighting as much as possible because it looks too modern, and brought most of the light into the home via sconces, ceiling-mounted lights, pendants, and floor and table lamps. The accordion sconce and pipe-fitting floor lamp add industrial touches. So do the coffee table and side table, which mix rustic wood and dark metal.
Paint: White Dove (shiplap wall, mantel, bookcase, ceiling and trim), Nimbus (walls) and Black PM-9 (door and window sashes), Benjamin Moore; sofa: Kristina Crestin Design; blue chair: Lekker Home; coffee table and bar: Nuevo; Moroccan leather pouf: Serena & Lily; drapes: custom, Willow Design; pillows: Landry & Arcari and Pine Cone Hill; floor lamp: Visual Comfort
Paint: White Dove (shiplap wall, mantel, bookcase, ceiling and trim), Nimbus (walls) and Black PM-9 (door and window sashes), Benjamin Moore; sofa: Kristina Crestin Design; blue chair: Lekker Home; coffee table and bar: Nuevo; Moroccan leather pouf: Serena & Lily; drapes: custom, Willow Design; pillows: Landry & Arcari and Pine Cone Hill; floor lamp: Visual Comfort
Because the dining room is part of a long continuous space with the living room, Crestin treated the two as one big room when choosing color and material palettes.
This room brings in elements both homeowners wanted, like the barn door, built of reclaimed lumber by Joyal. An industrial chandelier lights the chunky rustic farmhouse table. The updated take on Windsor chairs nods to the traditional style in a fresh way.
The console is an antique — it was a furniture maker’s workbench. “It’s long enough for this wall, and it has a nice mass,” Crestin says.
Dining table: Restoration Hardware; Marlow II black dining chairs: Crate & Barrel; lamp: Lekker Home; art over console: Craig Mooney, Jules Place; barn door: custom, Old House Parts Co.; chandelier: Nuevo
This room brings in elements both homeowners wanted, like the barn door, built of reclaimed lumber by Joyal. An industrial chandelier lights the chunky rustic farmhouse table. The updated take on Windsor chairs nods to the traditional style in a fresh way.
The console is an antique — it was a furniture maker’s workbench. “It’s long enough for this wall, and it has a nice mass,” Crestin says.
Dining table: Restoration Hardware; Marlow II black dining chairs: Crate & Barrel; lamp: Lekker Home; art over console: Craig Mooney, Jules Place; barn door: custom, Old House Parts Co.; chandelier: Nuevo
One place where the designer broke from the consistency was in this library, off the front entry. “It’s really classic, handsome and den-like in here, and it’s not very connected to the rest of the house,” Crestin says. She proposed going dark by carrying the Black Pepper paint to the paneled walls, trim, mantel and other millwork.
The couple already had a lovely collection of antique books. “The spines of the books inspired us to go with warmer metals like gold and brass in here,” Crestin says. The metals lighten up the room, as do the window treatments and the rug.
Ceiling paint: Rodeo, Benjamin Moore; art above mantel: Powers Gallery; drapery: Crate & Barrel panels with modifications by Willow Design; sofa and side table: Restoration Hardware; pillows: Serena & Lily, Pine Cone Hill and Target; floor lamp: Serena & Lily; sconces: Authentic Designs
The couple already had a lovely collection of antique books. “The spines of the books inspired us to go with warmer metals like gold and brass in here,” Crestin says. The metals lighten up the room, as do the window treatments and the rug.
Ceiling paint: Rodeo, Benjamin Moore; art above mantel: Powers Gallery; drapery: Crate & Barrel panels with modifications by Willow Design; sofa and side table: Restoration Hardware; pillows: Serena & Lily, Pine Cone Hill and Target; floor lamp: Serena & Lily; sconces: Authentic Designs
She pulled together a hodgepodge of the couple’s collected art at the last minute to create this vignette, and it worked out beautifully. “I love that at first this gallery wall looks serious, but then you realize there’s a portrait of their bulldog Gunther in his fancy garb up there,” Crestin says.
Just as she did in the living room, Crestin looked to the floor first when decorating the master bedroom. The salmon color is a departure from the rest of the house and less traditional than the reds more often seen in these kinds of rugs. It grounds the room with color not seen elsewhere in the home.
“We continued the light gray paint up here because it worked well with all of the angled ceilings,” she says. Again, the window sashes got the black treatment, adding that modern touch. The corner was a good out-of-the-way spot for the homeowners’ antique spyglass.
Paint: Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim, doors and ceiling), Benjamin Moore; rug: Landry & Arcari; throw: Pine Cone Hill; nightstands: Restoration Hardware; sheets, coverlet and drapes: Target; duvet cover: Serena & Lily
“We continued the light gray paint up here because it worked well with all of the angled ceilings,” she says. Again, the window sashes got the black treatment, adding that modern touch. The corner was a good out-of-the-way spot for the homeowners’ antique spyglass.
Paint: Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim, doors and ceiling), Benjamin Moore; rug: Landry & Arcari; throw: Pine Cone Hill; nightstands: Restoration Hardware; sheets, coverlet and drapes: Target; duvet cover: Serena & Lily
Crestin’s husband pitched in by converting the antique bottles she’d found into nightstand lamps. The nightstands bring in clean lines and warm wood that resembles the reclaimed wood she used throughout the house.
The tile, vanity and layout were already set when Crestin joined the project; she added items to create character. Once again she looked to Joyal. Unable to add lighting on the walls over the bath due to codes, she sketched an idea for reclaimed-wood hurricane sconces, and shipped them to him along with hurricanes she’d found at Crate & Barrel. He crafted them and the mirror frames out of the same wood.
Paint: Black Pepper (vanity), Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim and ceiling): Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Connor Homes; art: Powers Gallery; sconces: Restoration Hardware; Roman shade: custom, Willow Design; shade fabric: Kerry Joyce; vases: Target
Paint: Black Pepper (vanity), Sterling (walls) and White Dove (trim and ceiling): Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Connor Homes; art: Powers Gallery; sconces: Restoration Hardware; Roman shade: custom, Willow Design; shade fabric: Kerry Joyce; vases: Target
Because her clients were moving here from a much smaller home in the city, they didn’t have a lot of furniture. But Crestin was able to use their bed and dresser in this guest room. Again, grays and blues dominate the space. The clean-lined chair and modern side table mix with funky vintage artwork, resulting in an eclectic feel that’s welcoming for houseguests.
Coverlet and bed pillow: Pine Cone Hill; gray chair: Lekker Home; metal side table: Target; table lamp: Crate & Barrel
Coverlet and bed pillow: Pine Cone Hill; gray chair: Lekker Home; metal side table: Target; table lamp: Crate & Barrel
The hall bath is shared by their daughter and houseguests. (There is also a guest suite over the garage that is not photographed here.) Not wanting to go too babyish yet still make it a child’s bath, Crestin chose a striking color for the walls. “Because there was so much white in the room, I knew it could take this color,” she says. The artwork is composed of three $7 downloads from Etsy, and she framed them in inexpensive frames purchased at Target.
Now that the TV show is over, the family is all settled in. The historic look of their home’s exterior is a good fit for the area, first settled by Europeans in the 1600s. Inside, they have the modern farmhouse style they both love.
Builder: Kaminski Construction Management
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Now that the TV show is over, the family is all settled in. The historic look of their home’s exterior is a good fit for the area, first settled by Europeans in the 1600s. Inside, they have the modern farmhouse style they both love.
Builder: Kaminski Construction Management
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter, who was born during the construction, and their bulldog, Gunther
Location: North Shore of Massachusetts
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square meters); four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two powder rooms
Designers: Kristina Crestin Design (interiors), Connor Homes (home)
The Massachusetts designer was hired midway through the construction of the new home, which was featured this year on the PBS TV series This Old House. “They both wanted elements like barn doors, shiplap and architectural salvage, but her tastes skew a little more traditional farmhouse, and he likes industrial style,” she says. She helped the couple find their style while tying together rooms with dark accents, lighting, the color palette and other elements.
There were a lot of factors at play when Crestin was considering whether to sign on to the project. The couple was working with Connor Homes, a company that produces panelized homes with historic-looking exteriors and interiors tailored to modern lifestyles. Everything is customized and made in the factory, then shipped to the customer’s site to be assembled. The owners chose this Federal-style farmhouse, the Sarah Taylor.
The construction of the house was being filmed for the TV show, and Crestin would have to get up in front of the cameras.
And Crestin, who is used to doing a lot of the interior architectural design, knew she’d need to work with elements that the couple had already chosen, like millwork, cabinetry and the staircase. But after seeing the choices the couple had made for the house so far, learning they liked bold contrast, seeing their willingness to compromise, bonding with them over their mutual love of incorporating architectural salvage into interior design and getting a good feel for what a modern-farmhouse look meant to them, she was in.