A Contemporary, Californian Farmhouse

As a design blogger, I am constantly looking at beautiful homes and gathering ideas for myself and others and I believe this exposure has influenced me greatly in being a little more adventurous with my own interior style. I used to have a house full of antique pieces but now I prefer a mix of contemporary and traditional furniture. I still love traditional style, however I realise the most interesting spaces are when designers mix things up, especially in a building that has contemporary architecture and this is why I love this Californian Farmhouse so much.

I think what's most important when designing the interior of your home is that it reflects your personality, its important to keep your identity. In saying that it is also important to be brave and be a little more eclectic in style. If you decide to build or move to a contemporary space and your furniture is traditional, it would be a mistake to give it up and start again. Look at what you have and choose to keep some of the more stand out pieces as a reflection of who you are, you can then mix these with a few contemporary pieces. A large, traditional piece of furniture can be the foundation of a new beginning of blending old with new.

Today's interior features a contemporary, Californian farmhouse built by contractors Griffin and Crane, the gorgeous photography is by Jim Bartsch. I was drawn to the farmhouse when I spotted its stunning vaulted kitchen. The ceiling remind me of my beach house.This kitchen is classic, however the design works perfectly in this light filled, contemporary space. Clean lines are seen in the furniture and lighting. Striking, iron suspension lights reflect the bold lines of the bar stools legs. This space has an airy, contemporary feel, although at the same time it is traditional. The circular breakfast table and traditional style dining chairs with their simple loose covers are more classic compared to the contemporary bar stools. I love the classic dining chairs, they are timeless, suiting any style of decor, you may have seen similar chairs featuring in Interior designer, Irene Creans Mediterranean style home, which shows the elegance and simplicity of this chair suits many interior styles. In saying this, a loose covered chair such does look better in a larger space. The most traditional piece in this space which may have been a "keepsake" for the owners of this stunning home is the Persian rug on the kitchen floor which works wonderfully bringing a richness to the white palette.

The large arched doors in the kitchen area frame the view of the garden beyond which has been landscaped in rooms as an extension of the interior. I have a postage size back garden which I am currently re-landscaping into 3 areas which I plan to share on the blog, one stage at a time.

Building book shelves over a doorway is something I have always been drawn to and would love to do myself. This door frames the simple artwork and features antique books which when you look at it in its entirety is almost an artwork in itself.

In contrast to the kitchen/breakfast room, the dining room has a traditional look through the lights, furniture and the wainscot on the walls. It still has a contemporary feel because of the simple white palette. If you want to keep a space feeling light, spacious and contemporary then using white on walls and ceilings is the perfect solution. I am not talking about a creamy, yellow white but a lovely crisp white with just a hint of warmth. 

The remainder of the house blends contemporary with traditional pieces with most rooms featuring strong lines, such as the simple four poster in the master suite and the iron supports of the marbled vanity in image 14.

Photography - Jim Bartsch

I hope you have enjoyed the images of this beautiful home and have been inspired to make little changes in your home or mix in some contemporary pieces with your more traditional ones. I am busy working on my garden at the moment as it has been neglected in favour of the inside of my house. After I completed my art studio (yet to share), I realised the garden and deck needed a major overhaul. I have grand visions for the tiny garden and will be sharing them as I complete one section at a time. 

Have a lovely week.