10 Inspirational Farmhouse Design Ideas that are Timeless

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Ever driven through a neighborhood and stopped to admire a house that just feels right? That perfect blend of cozy and contemporary, rustic yet refined? That’s the magic of farmhouse design. Whether you’re building new or planning a major exterior update, getting that modern farmhouse style exterior just right can completely transform how your home looks and feels from the curb.

Here’s the thing—farmhouse architecture isn’t one-size-fits-all. From bold board and batten siding to striking stone accents, there are countless ways to achieve this look. The best part? You can adapt these ideas to match your personal taste, your climate, and your budget without losing that signature farmhouse charm.

Ready to explore 10 stunning farmhouse exterior styles? Let’s dive into the details that make each approach unique, practical, and downright beautiful.

10 Farmhouse Design Styles to Transform Your Home

1. White board and batten with natural brick accents

White board and batten siding creates instant farmhouse appeal, especially when you pair it with natural warm-toned brick around the foundation or as an accent wall. This combination gives you that modern farmhouse home exterior everyone loves—clean and fresh but grounded with traditional materials. The vertical lines of board and batten draw your eye upward, making the home feel taller, while the brick adds texture and warmth that prevents the white from feeling too stark.

This works beautifully on both single-story ranch styles and two-story homes. The brick typically anchors the lower portion of the house or frames the entry, creating a visual foundation that makes the whole structure feel solid and permanent. Dark-trimmed windows pop against the white siding, and a metal roof (either full coverage or just accent sections) completes the contemporary farmhouse exterior look. The beauty here is in the contrast—smooth painted siding meeting textured masonry.

You’ll want to consider the brick color carefully. Warmer tones like tan, cream, or soft red blend naturally with white board and batten, while grey brick creates a cooler, more modern feel. Either way, this combination ages gracefully and maintains its appeal year after year without looking dated.

2. Dark gray board and batten with brick

Flip the traditional color scheme and you get something striking—dark gray board and batten siding paired with brick. This modern farmhouse plan approach feels current and sophisticated, perfect if you want your home to stand out while still fitting the farmhouse aesthetic. The dark siding makes architectural details pop, especially when you add black or bronze hardware and light fixtures.

Red brick brings texture without heaviness. It reflects light beautifully, which helps balance the darker siding and prevents the exterior from feeling too moody. This combination works especially well on homes with interesting rooflines or multiple gables, where the contrast between materials helps define different sections of the house. The vertical lines of board and batten in a dark color create a modern, streamlined look that feels both bold and classic.

Consider using the white brick on a prominent chimney, around the garage, or across the entire foundation. The key is creating intentional contrast—you want each material to have its moment rather than competing for attention. Black-framed windows tie everything together and reinforce that crisp, modern farmhouse style exterior that photographs beautifully.

3. Soft sage board and batten with weathered brick

Soft sage or muted green board and batten siding brings an organic, calming vibe to farmhouse design while still feeling completely modern. Pair it with weathered gray or brown brick, and you’ve got a country farmhouse exterior that blends beautifully with natural surroundings. This color combination works particularly well in areas with lots of trees or rural settings where you want the home to feel connected to the landscape.

The sage color reads as neutral enough to work long-term but has enough personality to feel special. It’s softer than stark white but more interesting than plain gray. When you combine it with brick in earthy tones—think gray-brown, soft charcoal, or aged terracotta—the whole exterior feels cohesive and considered. The vertical board and batten pattern adds structure and formality that keeps the softer colors from feeling too casual.

This combination loves natural wood accents. Consider cedar or stained wood for porch posts, garage doors, or shutters. Black or oil-rubbed bronze hardware and fixtures look fantastic against sage and brick, adding just enough contrast without going too bold. The overall effect feels current, peaceful, and surprisingly versatile across different architectural styles within the farmhouse family.

4. Navy blue board and batten with crisp white brick

Want to make a statement? Navy blue board and batten siding paired with crisp white painted brick creates a rustic modern farmhouse exterior that’s both bold and classic. This combination has serious curb appeal—the deep blue reads as sophisticated and timeless rather than trendy, while the white brick keeps everything feeling fresh and current. It’s a look that works equally well in suburban neighborhoods and on larger rural properties.

The navy provides incredible depth and makes architectural details stand out beautifully. Windows, trim, roof lines, and any decorative brackets or gable details become more prominent against the dark background. The white brick typically works best as an accent—maybe on a chimney, around the garage, or highlighting the entry area. This contrast creates visual interest and breaks up what could otherwise feel like too much dark siding.

Hardware and fixtures matter here. Brushed brass or warm bronze looks stunning against navy, adding a touch of elegance. Black works too for a more dramatic look. White trim around windows and along the roofline ties back to the white brick and creates clean definition. This is a modern farmhouse architecture choice that photographs beautifully and maintains its appeal season after season.

5. Black board and batten with natural red brick

Black board and batten siding creates maximum drama, and when you pair it with natural red brick, you get a modern farmhouse style exterior that feels both edgy and grounded in tradition. This isn’t a timid color choice—it’s for homeowners who want their house to make an impression. The black siding provides a striking backdrop that makes every other element pop, from windows to landscaping to architectural details.

Red brick in its natural form brings warmth and texture that prevents the black from feeling too stark or modern. The earthy orange-red tones create a beautiful contrast that feels intentional and sophisticated rather than jarring. This combination works particularly well when the brick covers a substantial area—maybe the entire foundation, a full chimney, or wrapping around the garage. Small brick accents can feel random, but bold sections create purpose.

White or light gray trim and window frames provide necessary relief and definition against the black siding. Consider a metal roof in black or dark gray to maintain the dramatic aesthetic. This rustic modern farmhouse exterior approach works beautifully on contemporary farmhouse plans with clean lines and simple forms, where the bold colors can be the star without competing with overly complex architecture.

6. White board and batten with gray painted brick

This combination gives you a sophisticated, modern take on farmhouse design that feels clean and cohesive. White board and batten siding paired with gray painted brick creates a contemporary farmhouse exterior with subtle tonal variation that’s interesting without being loud. The gray brick adds depth and texture while staying in the same color family as the white, creating a layered look that feels considered and intentional.

The beauty of this pairing is its versatility—it works on different architectural styles and in various settings, from suburban neighborhoods to rural properties. The gray brick typically looks best in a medium tone, not too light (which can wash out against white) and not too dark (which creates more contrast than this look needs). The painted brick surface has a slight texture that catches light differently than smooth siding, adding visual interest.

Black or charcoal window frames and doors provide just enough contrast to define the architecture without overpowering the subtle gray-and-white scheme. This modern farmhouse home exterior approach works beautifully with metal roof accents, whether that’s a full standing seam roof or just metal accents over porches or dormers. The overall effect feels current, clean, and effortlessly stylish.

Alt text: White board and batten modern farmhouse architecture with gray painted brick garage

7. Cream board and batten with tan brick

Warmer neutrals create a softer, more traditional approach to farmhouse design while still feeling completely current. Cream-colored board and batten siding paired with tan or buff-colored brick delivers a country farmhouse exterior that’s welcoming and timeless. This combination has an organic, natural feel that works beautifully in any climate and blends well with landscaping.

The cream siding is less stark than pure white, giving the home a warmer, more relaxed appearance. It’s particularly attractive in areas with intense sun, where it won’t feel glaring or harsh. The tan brick complements the cream beautifully—both materials share warm undertones that create harmony rather than contrast. This tonal approach feels collected and intentional, like the home has been there for years even if it’s brand new.

Dark trim and window frames provide necessary definition without overwhelming the softer color palette. Consider bronze or oil-rubbed bronze hardware and light fixtures to enhance the warm aesthetic. A darker roof color—charcoal, brown, or even black—grounds the lighter exterior colors and provides visual weight. This is a safe, beautiful choice that maintains curb appeal year after year.

8. Charcoal board and batten with white painted brick

Charcoal gray board and batten creates a sophisticated middle ground between black and lighter grays, and when you pair it with white painted brick, you get a modern farmhouse plan that feels balanced and refined. The charcoal provides depth and drama without going as bold as true black, making it an easier choice for some neighborhoods or homeowner preferences while still delivering impact.

The white painted brick serves multiple purposes—it brightens the overall exterior, provides textural contrast, and creates clear definition between different sections of the home. This combination works particularly well on homes with interesting architectural features like multiple gables, dormers, or varied rooflines, where the two-tone approach helps distinguish different elements. The white brick typically looks best on vertical features like chimneys or as a foundation wrap.

Window frames can go either way—black for maximum contrast or white to tie into the brick. Both approaches work depending on the overall look you want. A metal roof in charcoal or black reinforces the modern aesthetic, while traditional shingles in a dark gray keep things more classic. This rustic modern farmhouse exterior combination photographs beautifully and maintains strong curb appeal across seasons.

9. White board and batten with charcoal brick

Flip the previous combination and you get something equally striking but with a different feel. White board and batten siding paired with dark charcoal or nearly black brick creates a contemporary farmhouse exterior with bold contrast that feels modern and architectural. The white siding keeps things bright and fresh while the dark brick grounds the design and adds dramatic weight.

This combination works beautifully when the charcoal brick covers substantial sections—think a full foundation, an entire chimney running up the facade, or wrapping around the garage area. Small charcoal brick accents can feel scattered, but bold sections create intentional focal points. The dark brick adds texture and depth that prevents an all-white exterior from feeling flat or boring.

Black window frames and doors tie into the dark brick and create cohesive contrast against the white siding. This modern farmhouse home exterior approach loves clean, simple lines—complicated architectural details can compete with the strong color contrast. Keep the form relatively straightforward and let the material combination do the talking. The result feels current, confident, and surprisingly versatile across different property types.

10. White board and batten with mixed gray and tan brick

Why choose between brick colors when you can have both? White board and batten siding paired with brick that blends gray and tan tones creates a contemporary farmhouse exterior with subtle complexity.

Modern brick varieties often feature multiple colors—gray, tan, cream, even hints of brown—that create depth and visual interest. Against white siding, this variegated brick becomes a focal point without overwhelming the overall design.

This combination works particularly well when the mixed-tone brick covers a significant area, allowing the color variation to be appreciated. Maybe it wraps the entire foundation, creates a statement chimney, or covers one side of the facade including the garage.

The blend of warm and cool tones in the brick creates a transition between the crisp white siding and darker elements like the roof or window frames.

Black or dark bronze window frames and hardware provide definition without adding additional colors to the palette. The beauty of mixed-tone brick is its ability to coordinate with different accent colors—whether you choose a dark gray roof, bronze fixtures, or black shutters, the brick ties it all together. This modern farmhouse plan approach feels layered and considered without being complicated.

Your Farmhouse Design Journey Starts Here

Look, farmhouse design isn’t going anywhere—and for good reason. The combination of board and batten siding and brick creates exteriors that feel both timeless and fresh, sophisticated yet approachable.

Whether you’re drawn to classic white with natural brick, bold charcoal with painted brick, or something softer like sage or cream, the key is choosing materials and colors that feel right for your setting and personal style.

These 10 board and batten and brick combinations show just how versatile modern farmhouse architecture can be. From high-contrast drama to subtle tonal variations, there’s a farmhouse aesthetic for every preference and property type. The best part? These combinations deliver lasting appeal that won’t feel dated in five years.

Start with the materials and colors that speak to you, add thoughtful details like hardware and lighting, and you’ll create a contemporary farmhouse exterior that feels like home from day one.