When I first saw this gorgeous modern farmhouse, I absolutely fell in love with its rich, dark color! I then discovered it was located in the beautiful foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Southwest Missouri where I grew up and I loved it even more! Designed and built by Eric and April Ayres, their home sits on top of a hill overlooking their beautiful property that has been in his family for almost 100 years. April drew her inspiration from her mother and the fabulous Joanna Gaines. By incorporating authentic antique architectural pieces, re-creations and new items, April was able to accomplish her goal of creating a perfect balance of old and new. Everything blends perfectly to create a cozy, welcoming farmhouse that makes you feel right at home! Come join me for a tour and see for yourself!
Photos by Danielle Giarratano
When I asked April why she went with a dark exterior versus the more popular white, I was truly expecting a long, philosophical answer so I was quite surprised when she responded, “because my husband made me!” So we can all thank Eric for putting his foot down and demanding their farmhouse have a unique look by painting it black! While not everyone would be brave enough to choose such a bold color, the white trim and windows pop against it so nicely and it tweaks the farmhouse aesthetic in just the right way! Choosing to do metal roofing just over the porch is a great way to incorporate texture into your exterior while saving money. Going with metal that is a different color from the black on the rest of the roof provided a great contrast!
Exterior:
Windows:4-lite Anderson Double Hung 400 Series
Siding and Board & Batten: James Hardy Irongray
What a perfectly modern farmhouse kitchen! Sleek black granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, gooseneck lighting, subway tile and modern fixtures pull in a modern look while chippy columns saved from a bank built in the 1800’s, natural wooden beams and floors, shaker style cabinetry, a farmhouse sink and that beautiful buffet ensure the farmhouse feel is in full effect!
Kitchen: Flooring throughout: Bella Cora
Pantry Door Handle: Emtek
Buffet: Magnolia Home
Backsplash: Similar here
Granite: Absolute Black
Cabinetry: Hickory painted with Benjamin Moore White Dove
Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
Sink:Rohl
Pot Filler: Delta
Sink Faucet: Delta
Refrigerator: Samsung
Double Oven: GE similar here
Scale: Kirklands
Bar Stools: Kirklands
Farmhouse Fresh Mat: Kirklands
Glass Canister Set: Amazon
The light fixture from Antique Farmhouse that April chose for her dining room shows how one statement item can absolutely make a room! When you look at the room, you are instantly drawn to this eye-catching piece! However, April did a fabulous job of making sure the rest of the room did not get lost in it’s shadow. Placing the nesting boxes on the wall was the perfect choice to balance out this room! Plus, they are just so darn cute!!!
Dining Room:
Light Fixture: Antique Farmhouse
Rug: Boutique Rugs
Dining Room Set: Furniture Row
Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
Pewter Basket with Copper Handles:Target
Geometric Pillow: Kirklands
Black Ticking Stripe Pillow: Kirklands
Clock: Hobby Lobby
April’s favorite room is her living room and it is easy to see why! Boasting a 28′ high ceiling that is covered in shiplap and accented with gorgeous wood beams plus a floor to ceiling wood burning fireplace, this is one grand room! The fire place is a guaranteed show stopper and is truly the focal point of the home. The magnificent mantle and corbels were made locally and add to perfect touch! I love all the natural light flooding in! The green cabinet is one of the replicas I was referring to in the opening paragraph. Personally, I love having authentic pieces in my home but I could easily settle for this stunning piece from Magnolia Home. The card catalog portion of it is just perfect! April’s gorgeous rug defines the seating area and makes it feel cozy and intimate.
Living Room:
Card Catalog: Magnolia Home
Ceiling Fan: Lowe’s
Area Rug: Boutique Rugs
Magnolia Wreath: Kirklands
Crescent Wreath: Kirklands
Milk Can Vase: Similarhere
Farm and Feed Sign: Etsy
Couches: Furniture Row
End Tables: Magnolia Home
Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Pale Oak
Designing a cozy space like this to do your laundry in makes a never ending task seem a little more bearable! The sideboard sink was salvaged from an old mill in Jefferson City, MO. I love what April found for drying racks! See the little faucets on each end? So adorable!
Laundry Room:
Metal Racks:Amazon
Cotton Wreath: Kirklands
With quintessential farmhouse foyer requirement, a pew, this foyer is simply perfect.
I don’t know that I have ever seen a cozier mudroom than this one! Though there is plenty of room for organization, I love that it has more of a homey feel versus the industrial feel of a lot of mudrooms.
Mudroom:
Mirror: Kirklands
Lamp: Similar here
When it comes to master suites, I am a fan of intimate, comfortable spaces and April’s fits the bill perfectly! Though it is a 20×20 suite, April did a wonderful job of using a neutral color palette and layering soft textiles to give it the perfect feel.
Master Bedroom:Night Stands: Amazon
Chandelier: Similar here
Bedside Lamps: Similar Antique Farmhouse
White Lace Tray: Similar here
Rug: Boutique Rugs
Master Bathroom
Sink Faucet: Delta
Bathtub: Build.com
Tub Filler: Delta
Tile: Mediterranea
I hope you enjoyed this in-depth tour of the Ayres’ modern farmhouse as much as I did! The look and feel of the entire home is a perfect mix of modern and farmhouse. The rustic, authentic pieces mix seamlessly with the new, polished ones to create a perfect blend of old and new. You can see more of April’s home and how she has decorated it so beautifully for the holidays on Instagram!
The Ayres Family
All House Photos byDanielle Giarratano