July 21, 2021
It’s filled with modern farmhouse elements that are comfortable, functional and inviting!
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Classic and comfortable, the modern farmhouse style of decorating is all about achieving an understated elegance by keeping things simple and organic. The ability to mix vintage and modern pieces along with natural elements such as woods makes this design style easy to achieve and incorporate into any type of home.
This 2,550 square foot double-storey house in Skudai, Johor owned by a married couple is one great example. The homeowners, Rina and Mohd Subha created a much-welcomed sanctuary for their family of five to retreat with farmhouse chic elements such as barn style doors, farm sinks and shaker style cabinetry. It's almost impossible to believe that this house is located in Johor and not in an American countryside!
Read on to find out how Rina ramped up the charm and personality of her home that sets it apart from other cookie-cutter units in her neighbourhood.
Qanvast: Hi, tell us about yourself and your family.
Rina (R): My name is Rina! I am a full-time housewife and work on an online business on a part-time basis while my husband works at UTM Skudai as an IT officer. We have been married for 17 years and are blessed with 3 kids aged 16, 12 and 2 years old.
When we purchased this 2,550 square foot double-story house in November 2014, we decided to rent it out first because we planned to move in once our son finishes his primary school years as our previous house is closer to his school. Since he now attends school online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were able to move to this house much sooner than expected.
Q: In brief, how would you describe your home’s style?
(R): My taste in decoration always changes. I used to decorate my previous house in a modern and contemporary style, then changed it to Scandinavian décor style.
Our current house now features a modern farmhouse style. However, because we have some items from our previous home, there are still some elements of other design styles.
Q: What about the colour scheme chosen for this house?
(R): I adore neutral colours such as black, white, grey, and beige because they are timeless and can complement any design style. Furthermore, white can make a room feel larger, brighter, and more airy. Hence, I painted the entire interior wall white with a light grey/greige undertone.
I also like the colour sage green. So for the kitchen cabinetry, I went with white with a dark sage green pop on the island. I chose the same colour (dark sage green) for the laundry cabinets to tie the space together.
Q: What renovation works were carried out to achieve the current look, feel, and functionality for each of your home’s spaces?
(R): Our home underwent extensive renovations. On the ground floor, renovation works were concentrated on the kitchen area. I'd always wanted a kitchen island, so we extended the kitchen by utilising the side yard to make room for an island.
We added a shiplap wall and a barn door to the kitchen to achieve the farmhouse look. We also installed a folding door in the kitchen that leads to the patio and it perfectly complements the café-style window with a similar black frame above the kitchen sink.
We also installed wood look ceramic tiles in a herringbone pattern in the wet kitchen to visually separate it from the dry kitchen.
I also wanted a walk-in pantry in my kitchen. As a solution, we hacked the smallest room wall and built up a new wall in the backyard to create a spacious walk-in pantry.
We also added a small patio in the side yard which is connected to the kitchen. At the patio, we use a glass roof awning. Luckily, that area is shady so we can sit and relax there all day long. The glass folding door and glass roof on the patio also contribute to more natural light entering the kitchen.
On the upper floor, in front of our master bedroom, we have a large flat roof space. With this extra space, we decided to turn it into a new master bedroom and laundry room. The original master bedroom was then converted into a dressing room.
We installed a skylight in the laundry to allow more natural light into the room. We also built a concrete sink in the laundry for soaking clothes and we chose black and white patterned tiles to make a bold statement.
We also did some structural changes to my eldest daughter’s room. The room was initially quite small. We were able to create a larger room for my daughter with the extra roof space created by the kitchen expansion, where I could put a queen bed and create a zone for reading, study, and a dressing area
Q: What about the renovation works done to the exterior?
(R): To achieve a modern look with American farmhouse vibes for our home’s exterior, we created an A-shaped roof with horizontal wall siding (shiplap). We also incorporated some board-and-batten wall siding to give more variations to the design features.
Q: You mentioned having three children. How do you keep a neat home when you have young active kids?
(R): Usually, the TV area is always a messy place. To create a living room that is always ready for guests, we installed a TV on the kitchen island so my kids and husband can watch movies while eating and in the family area in the upper floor where my kids are allowed to make a mess!
Q: Which is your favourite area in your house?
(R): My favourite room in my house is the kitchen because it is where I spend the majority of my time cooking and cleaning. The kitchen is set up in the way that I prefer, and seeing everything in the kitchen makes me happy. Although the kitchen size is not large, I love that it is comfortable enough for all our family members to be here at the same time.
In my walk-in kitchen pantry, I also set up a small office (SOHO). My 12-year-old son often uses this space for online classes or computer games, making it easier for me and my husband to keep an eye on him. The kitchen is also connected to the playroom, patio, and side yard, so I can safely monitor my two-year-old daughter while she is playing in that area while I am busy in the kitchen.
Q: Are you happy with the overall look of your home? Is there anything else you want to change or improve in the future?
(R): Overall, the renovation has significantly improved our way of life. In our previous home, the kitchen was small and was only used for cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry. I was always alone in the kitchen while my husband and kids were upstairs playing, studying, or watching TV. We can be closer and spend more time together now that we have a new kitchen layout.
I also appreciate having a laundry room on the second floor. I believe it is more practical for our family because it is close to our wardrobe, eliminating the need for carrying heavy laundry baskets up and down the stairs.
My house however, is still far from finished. The living room, bathroom, master bedroom, and tiling the house porch will be the next phases of our renovation project!
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