Explore a rustic farmhouse with a refreshingly modern take on colour

published 27 July 20

THE PROPERTY

This rustic farmhouse in Connecticut is actually a new-build modern home, crafted from start-to-finish by Hendricks Churchill. The home mixes traditional details and Shaker-inspired colours with modern amenities and an up-to-date kitchen. Antique wood furniture pieces and vintage artworks complement the traditional aesthetic while the sparse placement gives it a minimalist vibe. The result is a truly calming country respite.

The rustic farmhouse embodies Hendricks Churchill’s typical, hallmark style: Run by a couple of creatives, interior designer Heide Hendricks and creative director Rafe Churchill, the firm creates traditional living spaces infused with modern touches and careful curation of colour. Each project undertaken by Heide and Rafe is a journey of transformation defined by a shared desire to develop spaces with beauty, comfort and individual character. Children of the arts, the couple has been married for 25 years and are heavily influenced by their upbringing and residence in Williamsburg in the 90s.

FRONT PORCH

The house is entered through a front porch or sun room, which is the perfect covered spot for people watching, and for enjoying the property's views and sunsets.

The yellow from the exterior cladding wraps around this space, making it feel sunny even on dreary days.

HALLWAY

Enter through a sunshine yellow front porch and you'll find yourself in the main hallway. Here, the grey paint colour on the stairs is tied in with the skirting, door frames and even the cornice, framing the room's features.

The doorless door frames in the hallway frame vignettes into other rooms, like the sunshine yellow kitchen.

LIVING ROOM

Farrow & Ball's Folly Green sets the tone in the living room, where wood-panelled walls and built-in shelving and drawers all give this room an aged, historic look. It's a far cry from your stereotypical new-build property.

The green gives this space an uplifting energy, while also highlighting the detailing in the woodwork. The same colour was applied to the window frames that peer into the sunny front porch, and the cornice that wraps around the room, tying the scheme together.

KITCHEN

The yellow paint colour (Farrow & Ball's Babouche) in the kitchen isn't confined to just the kitchen island and cabinetry, the colour wraps around the window frames, door frames, skirting and cornice.

A black marble sink, black marble worktop and matching splash-back break up the scheme, and complement the steel framed windows.

DINING ROOM

The yellow carries through to a country-style dining room, modernised with a Flos pendant.

LANDING

Up the grey stairs is a serene landing area, with windows and doors wrapped in a ribbon of grey paint. An antique table, country pendant light, white painted floorboards and vintage-style lace curtain all add to the rustic farmhouse aesthetic.

BEDROOM

Bedrooms were given a different palette, with warmer woods contrasting Farrow & Ball's Theresa’s Green – a very pale cool green.

Photography: Amanda Kirkpatrick

Lotte Brouwer

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.