Black windows with no divided light, white board & batten, and half a dozen gable ends. I see these details everywhere in my area and it drives me crazy. Thank you for showing better details. We have to build better!
The irony is it often costs more to build boring block-houses with 15 different roof peaks, zig zag exterior walls, and ultra-flat fake stucco/foam exterior walls.
As a carpenter in Montreal, Quebec, lots of old neighborhoods's that need fixing and loads of modern house as well need a story! Thanks for the quality content and always interesting as usual.
Cheers from Ottawa! What sort of fixing do the older neighbourhoods need? Have you had issues updating some older homes, as far as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc. while still retaining the historically accurate elements like mouldings?
Brent, I live in a 1857 Gothic Revival Plantation house in GA. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your videos. Been binge watching them. The narrative of a home and telling a story through architecture is so important! I look forward to hopefully working with you in the future as we seek to renovate this Ol’ girl. 😊
The changes in your design are absolutely stunning. Fantastic start to a new year. Keep this content coming, I can't get enough of these design videos 🎉
💯Totally agree! Also...Where's the root cellar housing a stone trough with a spring running through it? Won't need an electric guzzling fridge, if you have one of those and it's a great place to store fruits from your orchard. Where's the dry cellar pantry for your home canned goods? Will the stove hold a full 21 quart pressure cooker? Now THAT'S a farmhouse.
As someone with the above garage dormers, it’s about interior lighting. Mine face the east of the home, and it really lets light shine into the 10’ ceilings above the garage throughout my early morning work hours, and it adds character to the interior in my opinion. I redid the space 5y ago, and that change in interior space really helps separate my working area from the rest of the living space
Castles and other large dwellings ■ sometimes built one house from one century, and add another house connecting to first dwelling; sometimes wrapping around as if a community. M
This is exactly right. For example, large panel aluminium windows are obviously much more affordable than divided light window set into cut stone frames with stone hooded detail above. There's also the question of ability of builders to understand these details and implement them, as well as knowing how to specify the requirements and where to even source these kinds of materials. I would love to see Brent do into more detail on the procurement, supplier networking side of this.
Sometimes $$, sometimes not. A Builder building 30-40 house's a year in an exclusive neighborhood - yes, it's all about time=$$. The Builder that builds 1-2 houses a year cost plus? Most builders lack the ability to design, then add the properly executed details in a manner that enhances the home. Only 1.5% of houses are designed by Architects.
@@BrentHull We've been the victims of "value engineers" too many times. Luckily though, I have worked on some amazing homes; where the owner actually wanted a generational house, with beautiful custom details.
THANK YOU. Please also tell people to stop putting "shiplap" siding on their interior walls and sliding barn doors inside. It's all coming from Texas, can't you stop it, please?
I enjoy the "how to fix boring design" videos probably more than anything on this channel. Especially when he speaks to how to improve "average" homes. The mansions he showcases are nice, and he is THE guy for that niche market. But let's be honest, those 5M+ homes are less than 100th of a percent of the population. Most people have no use for custom plaster and $10k/each windows. But builders could sure use some help avoiding boring rubber stamped vinyl boxes.
We salvaged old windows to put in our house, you don’t have to pay $10k per window. We paid $500 per window, stripped, repaired, glazed, bronze weather stripped and installed. It was weeks of work but looks amazing. When the morning sun hits the old wavy glass it’s magical. We also put all old heart pine flooring in. Redoing the porch with a proper entablature this summer hopefully. You can do a lot of this on your own with the proper tools and practice.
Are there any examples of modern farm houses that you feel do work? I have an appreciation for the classic style & proportions, but also enjoy the expansive light - especially in living spaces. Thanks in advance!
Let me see what I can find. As with all things, when it first started the ideas was good, simplified traditionalism. It has morphed into an excuse to build cheaply. Thx.
Should have done one in the classic Midwest farmhouse style, simple but elegant. With the crappy addition in the back on a pad that doesn’t match the house at all 😂
I completely agree. There's no reason - except expense - to eliminate the historically relevant, architectural details which should otherwise accompany residential building styles of the past. Brent, I honestly think its what I'd call a "simplification fetish" that's taken hold of far too many in our field of architecture and its not only cheapening the residential landscape of our country as you've correctly observed, its also robbing us of a rich historical legacy that we should be relying upon - not ignoring!!
Agree too! I see the same here in the UK, particularly in our cities. New builds don't even have the level of detail shown in Brent's 'bad farmhouse' example. Every new building is a basic box with ugly windows cut out of it and a randomly placed doorway or two. Banal and oversimplified to the point of impracticality. Identikit, 'minimum viable product' buildings with no character, soul or longevity.
Looks like a great house for cars, with some space tacked on for the humans. There should be some reason and logic for changes in exterior finish material. This is not a critique of Brent Hull. I always enjoy what he does. These were just a couple of thoughts that crossed my mind.
Maybe farmhouses across the country look very different. I’ve never seen a farmhouse locally with that layout. It’s like a ranch farmhouse… I feel like a smaller 2 over 2 or 3 over 2 floor plan with a later addition has that iconic American farmhouse look. Even a turn of the century 4 square would seem more appropriate.
The black & white modern farmhouse (box) is a lazy architect’s formula for making the most profit while keeping labor costs down. I do not love it in the slightest, kind of looks like a large tract home, in my opinion.
80s and 90s builds I see houses with details put on incorrectly. Now we’re just not including any detail at all. Almost feels like some builders think it’s the safer option at this point. Kind of a shame
IMO the problem is that they're choosing to add "more" in all the wrong places. As you say, the finishes are too plain... but the _massing_ in that "modern farmhouse" is an absolute mess. The main problem is that it lacks focus. Traditionally that focal area would be around the main entry - and to be true to the farmhouse vernacular, that's the way it should be. Frank Lloyd Wright proved, you can still design a beautiful home where the front door _isn't_ the focal area. But you still need one for the eye to settle on.
Thank you! I do not understand why builders continue to build these homes that are completely devoid of any character or architectural identity. I know budget budget budget is always the driver. But… Character in architectural design identity can be readily instilled in these homes while maintaining the budget. It’s just simple American laziness.
I live in a historic city with lots of homes from the 1800s. It’s sad when a flipper buys up an old victorian and converts it to a modern farmhouse. I will never understand the modern farmhouse thing.
I think unfortunately people prefer to build bigger instead of better. The square footage / person in Europe is significantly less in Europe. Perhaps better to money into better quality houses instead of bigger ones
It is a modern farmhouse trend, that is infecting many houses. The reason this english-ish house looks like this is because of the modern farmhouse look.
Sweety, we just want to be able to afford to own a home by the time we turn 70 so that we can start a family using our frozen eggs. Give me craft, sure, give me innovative details, but focus on "cheap and not terrible" over "novel and expensive therefore not boring". Much of the shape of this house has been designed to cost double or triple what a shoebox house of similar square footage costs, and half of that is just conspicuous consumption.
Im so tired of tired of people using the excuse for not building attractive homes of "people can't afford it". Sure, some of the beautiful homes Brent shows are large and expensive but there are ways to build smaller, more modest homes that are still attractive and designed right. People are just too lazy to spend the time. Americans should spend more time in antique stores and less time in Hobby Lobby.
Black windows with no divided light, white board & batten, and half a dozen gable ends. I see these details everywhere in my area and it drives me crazy.
Thank you for showing better details. We have to build better!
AGREED!!!
The irony is it often costs more to build boring block-houses with 15 different roof peaks, zig zag exterior walls, and ultra-flat fake stucco/foam exterior walls.
Totally agree - Stop building boring modern farmhouses.
My favorite is the subdivisions full of "farm houses" lol. On .1acre lots.
Thanks!
Thanks for introducing me to a dovecote, what a clever idea that was originally!
Yeah, that is pretty cool, right?
As a carpenter in Montreal, Quebec, lots of old neighborhoods's that need fixing and loads of modern house as well need a story! Thanks for the quality content and always interesting as usual.
Cheers from Ottawa! What sort of fixing do the older neighbourhoods need? Have you had issues updating some older homes, as far as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc. while still retaining the historically accurate elements like mouldings?
Thanks!!
The changes to the house are beautiful . The garage side looks like a carriage house in the Cotswold, which is definitely one of my favorites .
Thank you so much!
Spot on as usual!
I appreciate that
So interesting. Please do more on this topic. So many new ideas to consider.
Noted. Thx.
Brent, I live in a 1857 Gothic Revival Plantation house in GA. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your videos. Been binge watching them. The narrative of a home and telling a story through architecture is so important! I look forward to hopefully working with you in the future as we seek to renovate this Ol’ girl. 😊
Wonderful. Thanks so much.
Amazing how much of a difference the garage changes have made. Thanks for sharing. Charles
Thanks, glad you liked it!
The changes in your design are absolutely stunning. Fantastic start to a new year. Keep this content coming, I can't get enough of these design videos 🎉
Thanks. I am glad you like it!
Another great Video Brent. Thank you for making me smarter.
Any time!
Happy New Year's too you and your family 🙏🎄❄️
Outstanding video of yours as always.
Thanks. Happy New Year to you as well!
💯Totally agree! Also...Where's the root cellar housing a stone trough with a spring running through it? Won't need an electric guzzling fridge, if you have one of those and it's a great place to store fruits from your orchard. Where's the dry cellar pantry for your home canned goods? Will the stove hold a full 21 quart pressure cooker? Now THAT'S a farmhouse.
Exactly!
Clipping that front gable makes sense. Helps entry gable to look bigger. Shed dormer on the side look a lot better!!
Thank you!
Excellent points
Thanks!
As someone with the above garage dormers, it’s about interior lighting. Mine face the east of the home, and it really lets light shine into the 10’ ceilings above the garage throughout my early morning work hours, and it adds character to the interior in my opinion. I redid the space 5y ago, and that change in interior space really helps separate my working area from the rest of the living space
Noted. Thx.
Castles and other large dwellings ■ sometimes built one house from one century, and add another house connecting to first dwelling; sometimes wrapping around as if a community. M
Yes.
Happy New Year, always very educational. Thank you!
Thanks! Glad you find it helpful.
Great way to start the new year!
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Great tutorial Brent... Thanks!
Thanks, glad you found it helpful!
I am with you. Clipping the gable, decreases the height and the importance of the gable roof.
Nice. Thx.
They don't have all those fine details because they most likely don't want to spend the money.
This is exactly right. For example, large panel aluminium windows are obviously much more affordable than divided light window set into cut stone frames with stone hooded detail above. There's also the question of ability of builders to understand these details and implement them, as well as knowing how to specify the requirements and where to even source these kinds of materials. I would love to see Brent do into more detail on the procurement, supplier networking side of this.
Sometimes $$, sometimes not. A Builder building 30-40 house's a year in an exclusive neighborhood - yes, it's all about time=$$. The Builder that builds 1-2 houses a year cost plus? Most builders lack the ability to design, then add the properly executed details in a manner that enhances the home. Only 1.5% of houses are designed by Architects.
@Chauvinbuilders Unfortunately, you can always tell homes that were designed by a builder & not an Architect.
Maybe.
@@BrentHull We've been the victims of "value engineers" too many times. Luckily though, I have worked on some amazing homes; where the owner actually wanted a generational house, with beautiful custom details.
Excellent video!
Thanks!
THANK YOU. Please also tell people to stop putting "shiplap" siding on their interior walls and sliding barn doors inside. It's all coming from Texas, can't you stop it, please?
Haha. Ok.
I enjoy the "how to fix boring design" videos probably more than anything on this channel. Especially when he speaks to how to improve "average" homes. The mansions he showcases are nice, and he is THE guy for that niche market. But let's be honest, those 5M+ homes are less than 100th of a percent of the population. Most people have no use for custom plaster and $10k/each windows. But builders could sure use some help avoiding boring rubber stamped vinyl boxes.
Noted. Thx.
We salvaged old windows to put in our house, you don’t have to pay $10k per window. We paid $500 per window, stripped, repaired, glazed, bronze weather stripped and installed. It was weeks of work but looks amazing. When the morning sun hits the old wavy glass it’s magical. We also put all old heart pine flooring in. Redoing the porch with a proper entablature this summer hopefully. You can do a lot of this on your own with the proper tools and practice.
Are there any examples of modern farm houses that you feel do work? I have an appreciation for the classic style & proportions, but also enjoy the expansive light - especially in living spaces. Thanks in advance!
Let me see what I can find. As with all things, when it first started the ideas was good, simplified traditionalism. It has morphed into an excuse to build cheaply. Thx.
Should have done one in the classic Midwest farmhouse style, simple but elegant. With the crappy addition in the back on a pad that doesn’t match the house at all 😂
haha, thx.
I completely agree. There's no reason - except expense - to eliminate the historically relevant, architectural details which should otherwise accompany residential building styles of the past. Brent, I honestly think its what I'd call a "simplification fetish" that's taken hold of far too many in our field of architecture and its not only cheapening the residential landscape of our country as you've correctly observed, its also robbing us of a rich historical legacy that we should be relying upon - not ignoring!!
Agreed 100%. Thx.
Agree too! I see the same here in the UK, particularly in our cities. New builds don't even have the level of detail shown in Brent's 'bad farmhouse' example. Every new building is a basic box with ugly windows cut out of it and a randomly placed doorway or two. Banal and oversimplified to the point of impracticality. Identikit, 'minimum viable product' buildings with no character, soul or longevity.
Looks like a great house for cars, with some space tacked on for the humans.
There should be some reason and logic for changes in exterior finish material.
This is not a critique of Brent Hull. I always enjoy what he does. These were just a couple of thoughts that crossed my mind.
Thanks for sharing.
The modern farmhouse appears to me as a stack of containers. ■ M
Word! Thx.
Someone should have gotten Brent a marker for Christmas! 😂
haha
Brent Hull I would like to see your opinions and modifications of the contemporary modern house.
Ok, let me find one to study.
Happy New Year and the best of wishes for 2025.
Happy New Year to you too!
Maybe farmhouses across the country look very different. I’ve never seen a farmhouse locally with that layout. It’s like a ranch farmhouse… I feel like a smaller 2 over 2 or 3 over 2 floor plan with a later addition has that iconic American farmhouse look. Even a turn of the century 4 square would seem more appropriate.
ok.
How to change a modem farmhouse into a traditional farmhouse
Yes.
The black & white modern farmhouse (box) is a lazy architect’s formula for making the most profit while keeping labor costs down. I do not love it in the slightest, kind of looks like a large tract home, in my opinion.
Agreed. Thanks!
you da man!
Nice. Thx.
80s and 90s builds I see houses with details put on incorrectly. Now we’re just not including any detail at all. Almost feels like some builders think it’s the safer option at this point. Kind of a shame
Yes. Big shame.
IMO the problem is that they're choosing to add "more" in all the wrong places. As you say, the finishes are too plain... but the _massing_ in that "modern farmhouse" is an absolute mess. The main problem is that it lacks focus. Traditionally that focal area would be around the main entry - and to be true to the farmhouse vernacular, that's the way it should be. Frank Lloyd Wright proved, you can still design a beautiful home where the front door _isn't_ the focal area. But you still need one for the eye to settle on.
Agreed. Thx.
You have a strong resemblance to actor Bruce Greenwood.
That's a first. I usually get Will Ferrell comparisons. Haha
Thank you! I do not understand why builders continue to build these homes that are completely devoid of any character or architectural identity. I know budget budget budget is always the driver. But… Character in architectural design identity can be readily instilled in these homes while maintaining the budget. It’s just simple American laziness.
I agree. Thx.
Modern farmhouse should not equal warehouse!!😂
Word!
I think people care more about a crazy amount of natural light entering the home. I think it makes homes feel cold and less cozy.
Noted. Thx.
I live in a historic city with lots of homes from the 1800s. It’s sad when a flipper buys up an old victorian and converts it to a modern farmhouse. I will never understand the modern farmhouse thing.
Its an unfortunate phase.
It’s what happens when the wife declines the barndominium idea but not entirely.
True. sadly.
I think unfortunately people prefer to build bigger instead of better. The square footage / person in Europe is significantly less in Europe. Perhaps better to money into better quality houses instead of bigger ones
Understood. Thx.
It's boring because the more yiu add, the more expensive it becomes
Prices are ridiculously higher than twenty years ago.
ok.
Thumbs up, as always Brent! These black and white "farmhouses" are ugly and trendy. People love trendy. Copy and paste Pinterest designers.
Pinterest designers. . . ugh.
Uhh how is that Farmhouse?
It is a modern farmhouse trend, that is infecting many houses. The reason this english-ish house looks like this is because of the modern farmhouse look.
Sweety, we just want to be able to afford to own a home by the time we turn 70 so that we can start a family using our frozen eggs. Give me craft, sure, give me innovative details, but focus on "cheap and not terrible" over "novel and expensive therefore not boring". Much of the shape of this house has been designed to cost double or triple what a shoebox house of similar square footage costs, and half of that is just conspicuous consumption.
ok. Thx.
Im so tired of tired of people using the excuse for not building attractive homes of "people can't afford it". Sure, some of the beautiful homes Brent shows are large and expensive but there are ways to build smaller, more modest homes that are still attractive and designed right. People are just too lazy to spend the time. Americans should spend more time in antique stores and less time in Hobby Lobby.
Well said. Thanks!
Modern farmhouse: just like Little House on the Prairie! If Laura Ingles Wilder lived in the suburbs and worked in finance, that is...
Haha.