Farmhouse in the City

You may not have Chip and Joanna Gaines on call for a total home makeover, but you’ve probably been inspired by their imaginative ranch-style homes. One of their transformations boosted the value of a home from $12,000 to $400,000 – that’s 33 times its original asking price. Here are 8 renovations that can help take your place from basic to the breathtaking ranch-style home of your dreams.

1. Barn Doors

Love them or hate them, no ranch-style home is complete without a set of sliding barn doors. Accomplishing the barn door look is a fairly low-maintenance renovation. First, decide whether you want to showcase a classic door crafted from reclaimed barn wood or a polished and painted door. Next, you can purchase the necessary hardware and a handyman can stop by on your schedule to install the track and make sure your door slides properly.

2. Playful Word Art

Vintage word art talks the talk in a ranch-style home. We think this classic font adds character to spice up a bland laundry room, but you don’t have to reserve the playful words for the corners of your house. Add a statement (literally) to your living room, kitchen, or bedroom to bring personality into your personal space. Steer clear of common clichés so you can be creative without being cheesy. However, if you’re craving a daily reminder to live, laugh and love, we’re not going to stop you.

3. White Wall Panelling

Brighten up your home with a full wall of white panelling. This classic look pairs well with matte black accessories and soft grey accent colours. The white panels also mingle nicely with reclaimed barn wood and the tasteful sheen of copper. Panelled walls are perfect in the heart of the home – the kitchen – but can also be a subtle statement in entrance ways or even a family room. Guests will instantly feel at home in this cozy addition without immediately recognizing the impact of the white panelling.

4. Farmhouse Sink

That deep, single-basin farmhouse sink you’ve been coveting will go perfectly with your new rustic redesign. We love when home renos aren’t just beautiful, but when they’re also functional. The farmhouse sink offers you space, a lot of space. Warning, this means less under-sink storage and more water used to fill the basin. More space also means it’s easier to fill and clean large pots! This sink is a statement piece that can transform the look of your kitchen counter.

5. Pendant Lighting

The beauty of pendant lights is how they can add a contemporary touch to a rustic interior. Pendant lights are often used in multiples, hung in a straight line over kitchen countertops and dinette sets. This gorgeous set of lights appears to be inspired by stately, carriage lanterns and flaunts an open frame made from sleek square steel. The open, glass-free frame gives these lights a minimalist finish. A rustic industrial pendant light or a modern glass pendant light are also popular choices that pair well with farmhouse designs.

6. Cedar Pergola

Ranches are spacious and even if your backyard isn’t situated on acres upon acres of rural farmland in Texas, you can bring the ranch home with a cedar pergola. Adorn your pergola with hanging plants and position a wooden outdoor patio set front and centre. Look forward to summer parties outdoors, this coverage will feel like a second living room in the warmer months. This space is also scenic for lazy Sundays unwinding with a good book and a glass of sangria.