Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

Interior designer and Canada’s own Sarah Richardson has been a favorite rockstar designer of Hello Lovely’s audience forever, and she never fails to deliver classic decorating ideas and fresh modern spins on traditional decor. Case in point? Her latest project: her family’s off-the-grid country eco-friendly country home.

Turquoise and bold blue in a #moderncountry #modernfarmhouse laundry room by #SarahRichardson
Design: Sarah Richardson.

I just learned this home (two hours from Toronto) has a name! STARLIGHT FARM!

Turquoise blue vintage sliding barn door in #SarahRichardson gorgeous #farmhousestyle laundry room
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

When first I blogged about it, I kept referring to it as a modern farmhouse, but I didn’t notice other sources using “farmhouse” to describe it. Since FARM is in the name, I think we can safely say we were right! In addition, Sarah’s vision for the house was “a classically inspired farmhouse for modern living.”

It’s off-the grid, meaning it has solar grids, wells, and foundations. Their goal was to use a minimal amount of energy so the house runs on solar power and has three wood stoves and two fireplaces. To insulate the house, they opted for prepainted wood siding and an exterior with board-and-batten lined with Silverboard (foam insulation that keeps heat in or out, depending on the season). Sarah Richardson and her husband, Alexander Younger, built this 5,000 square foot, five-bedroom home as their forever home, and today we’ll soak up inspiration from its interiors along with a few other farmhouse-y projects from Sarah.

PHOTOS BY STACEY BRANDFORD DESIGN: Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

1. Sarah Richardson Added Her Favorite Color: Blue

Aren’t the happy blues in Sarah Richardson’s off-the-grid Ontario home fresh and inviting? Such a good lesson for us all since such areas of the home are often aesthetically inferior even though they are used frequently.

Soft blues distinguish this mud room with its elongated bench and easily washed tiles. #mudroom #blueandwhite #beadboardceiling #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

2. Modern Farmhouse Fleamarket Treasures for Interest

I wish I had a dollar for how many emails I receive asking for the paint color on Sarah Richardson’s amazing vintage sliding barn door with its turquoise lovely paint! I haven’t yet discovered whether the weathering and paint are original or faux, but isn’t this entrance to the laundry room in her family’s off-the-grid house in Ontario extra special?

Turquoise and bold blue in a #moderncountry #modernfarmhouse laundry room by #SarahRichardson
Warm reds and oranges in #SarahRichardson #farmhouse with wood on pitched ceiling
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

3. Refined and Rustic Modern Farmhouse

Sarah Richardson’s farmhouse living room feels sumptuous with all the warmth from the red decor including wool rugs, velvet pillows, and throws. The coat of arms above the fireplace mantel is a showstopper too. The elegance factor is heightened with the seagrass wallcovering you may not expect to see in a country house with so much whitewashed knotty wood and other rustic home decor details. This is what Sarah excels at: creating elegance in a room that remains approachable and inviting.

Shop the Room! Sarah Richardson's Ontario Living Room. #wingchairs #leatherpouf
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

4. Tete-a-Tete Factor

This serenely quiet conversation area with neutral home decor in a cozy section of Sarah’s living room is one I could stare at for a long time. It captures the imagination since there is so much calm, and even in this small space, Sarah has introduced textures of rattan, buttery leather, exotic wood, linen, and character-lovely wood. The setting for this home has breathtaking views (it’s her family’s country home in Ontario), and the color outside pairs magnificently with the subdued interior design.

A classic, contemporary bathroom by #SarahRichardson in a #victorian style home
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

5. Splurge on Classic Details.

In this Victorian-era bathroom above, beadboard on the walls, classic millwork, and vintage-style brass bathroom fixtures combine with brilliant design from Sarah for the tile. A mosaic above the chair rail looks classic yet a bit unexpected, and the marble shelf is both functional and beautiful for holding luxurious bath items and decor.

Gorgeous modern farmhouse kitchen with beadboard ceiling and grey Shaker style cabinets. #SarahRichardson #modernfarmhouse #farmhousekitchen #moderncountry
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

6. Skip the Kitsch

Sarah Richardson’s own kitchen in her off-the-grid house is brimming with fresh ideas on her vision of modern country style. Most of us imagining a country kitchen with a wood stove would not envision the elegant decor and finishes we see here. There’s no giant harvest table, no rustic farmhouse signs, no vintage corbels or antique plates on the wall. Instead, she has surprised us with sleek custom brass accent panels, a refined breakfast dining area with modern upholstered dining chairs. Even the color palette feels more cool and Paris chic than say Nashville lovely (there isn’t even a rug in the space…though there is a “stone rug” between the island and range wall).

Stunning red doors and vintage chandelier in #SarahRichardson #modern farmhouse mud room.
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

7. Painted Vintage Door Delish

For long-time Sarah Richardson fans like me, we recall vividly watching Sarah design this farmhouse with its charming entry/mudroom on her HGTV show. On the show, we were taken along on her flea market jaunts to source the home decor and furniture, and it was such a learning experience, wasn’t it? The rosy red of these doors on twin closets, the nook for the cupboard, and that vivid striped rug surely make this one of the most re-pinned Sarah Richardson design moments in history. What a welcoming entry! The alder doors in my own home aren’t vintage but are suggestive of age (find them here).

#SarahRichardson designed dining room with #moderncountry decor in her own home. Shop the Room! Sarah Richardson's Ontario Living Room
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

8. Comfy Chairs

These airy open weave rattan high back dining chairs in Sarah Richardson’s own dining room, adjacent to the living room add a a rustic yet light layer of casual comfort to this room’s design in her off-the-grid Ontario home. Pssst. Find the exact light fixture in that post too! Where you might expect to see Windsor style dining chairs or even upholstered Parsons chairs for softness, Sarah has chosen a handsome natural option which you might expect to see on a covered porch or in a beach house. For me, they say “vacation!” which is a lovely invitation to elevate both the everyday and special dinners shared with family and friends.

Repurposed antique dresser as vanity in Sarah Richardson classic vintage style bathroom in London Flat
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

9. Repurposed Vintage

Long-time viewers of Sarah Richardson television shows will know Sarah loves to repurpose vintage dressers and antique cabinets for bathroom vanities, and I’m not certain this is old or new; I only know it’s perfection. Sarah often uses mosaic tile to create statement walls in bathrooms and beyond, and I’m sure this design choice stayed with me and showed up when I designed the marble hex mosaic statement wall in our vacation house kitchen. While wallpaper also creates a statement, I can tell you there is nothing quite like incorporating a natural material like marble for a rich, commanding presence that reads “timeless and tranquil.”

Soft, simple and serene palette of neutrals and aquas in #SarahRichardson master bedroom with linen and blue grey walls
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

10. Blue-Grey is Magically Tranquil.

Sarah Richardson knows her way around fabric prints, and she mixes them with bold genius. While we often see other designers do this adeptly with bold color, you don’t often see quieter, subdued, and more neutral shades mixed as we see here in Sarah’s serene blue-grey master bedroom with European inspired furnishings and home decor. Quiet color need not be bland and snoozy (although what’s so wrong with snoozy in a bedroom!?!) if your personal style is on the more dynamic end of the spectrum.

Red white and blue #moderncountry bedroom in #beachhouse designed by #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

11. Fresh Americana

Sarah Richardson’s interior design style has never shied away from bold color like the red and blue happy punches in this bedroom. She has combined stripes, gingham, stars, paisley, and crosses, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming or overstimulating. There is enough white to balance and contrast, and the bold red painted cottage style beds get to shine as stars of the room. The home decor and design of this craft room has a similar happy boldness.

#SarahRichardson designed hall with bold blue accents and Moravian star pendants #modernfarmhouse #shiplap
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

12. Wall Covering Courage

While it can be a daunting task to choose wallpaper for a public space like this entry in Sarah’s own family home, she repeatedly demonstrates in her interior design projects how it’s an important layer in the big picture. This subtle wallcovering adds an ethereal elegance that feels very modern when combined with the more traditional wood flooring and shiplap walls. Sarah Richardson has also not played it safe in her mixing of blues as you’ll spy navy, slate, and turquoise in close proximity to one another. In most cases, homeowners do not seem to feel that same freedom to mix rather than match, and yet for an evolved over time look, it’s precisely such freedom which creates that desired outcome.

Cozy cottage kitchen by #SarahRichardson with vintage style cabinets, tile backsplash, and lanterns #modernfarmhouse
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

13. Celebrate Aquas.

Hello Lovely readers went nuts and Pin-crazy back in 2010 when I shared Sarah Richardson’s cottage with this little kitchen done in Sarah’s favorite blue-green palette. The waterfront property surely inspired all the watery colors and aqua accents like the marble mosaic backsplash. You may remember Sarah whitewashed all the knotty paneling which she inherited with the property. The pastels in this cottage style kitchen, dining area, and living room made a huge splash with lovers of vintage style and shabby chic!

Beautiful seating area with armchairs in front of window in blue master bedroom designed by Sarah Richardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

14. Design Creates Backdrops for Memories.

As we saw in an earlier vignette above, Sarah Richardson places comfy armchairs at the ready for face to face conversations, which creates an altogether different effect than tucking a single upholstered chair in a nook with a task lamp for reading. Maybe you see a simple conversational area with a killer view through the window. What I see in this furniture arrangement is intentional space made for relationship, intimacy, and lovely discussions.

Blue and white cottage style living room with coastal classic decor by #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

15. Pairs of Chairs

Blue and white are surely Sarah Richardson’s best friends, and she has been celebrating the pairing in fresh beautiful ways for decades. In this waterfront home, blue seems right at home, and comfort abounds (notice the darling ottomans encouraging lounging!).

Grey and white modern farmhouse kitchen with built-in cabinets and beadboard ceiling. #SarahRichardson #modernfarmhouse #farmhousekitchen #moderncountry
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

16. Re-imagine ‘Open Concept.’

In an era where open concept kitchens are touted as the ideal since kitchens are typically the hub of modern living and entertaining, Sarah put her own spin on open concept. Towers of cabinetry flank a buffet, providing a separation from the dining area and family room. Truth be told, Sarah’s kitchen is spacious with several zones for living and dining in itself, but this design decision does reinforce a more traditional style design.

Modern farmhouse dining room with rustic farm table and statement medallion at ceiling. #SarahRichardson #farmhousediningroom
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

17. Keep ‘Em Guessing.

Country modern may sound like an oxymoron to a lot of folks, but surely, Sarah shows us how it can be achieved in her Ontario dining room. A chic Sputnik chandelier is both retro cool and minimally modern, and it’s maybe not the first light fixture you would dream of illuminating this rustic vintage Mountain-lodge feeling dining table.

Christmas decorations in a #cottagestyle living room with knotty pine ceiling by #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

18. Sherbet and Candy

Coral, orange, and raspberry sherbet hues for Christmas decorating? Of course. Sarah Richardson knows her way around colors that make everyone feel warm and welcome.

Turquoise and bold blue in a #moderncountry #modernfarmhouse laundry room by #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

Turquoise Area Rug

19. Make the Laundry Room Multipurpose.

So much to learn from Sarah Richardson’s interior design choices for her own laundry room in their off-the-grid home in Ontario. The space is open, with storage and cabinetry around the perimeter of the room and the washer and dryer stacked. The desk is functional for getting work or homework done, but cleared, it seems to me the surface could be utilized for folding laundry. The rug keeps it feeling elegant and interesting, and I bet most of us would never dream of leaving those windows naked!

Classic vintage style bathroom design with hex tile floor and #clawfoottub by #SarahRichardson
Sarah Richardson: Modern Farmhouse Décor & Off the Grid Home

20. A Timeless Bath is a Wise Investment.

More hex tiles from Sarah in this vintage style bathroom with a modern, clean feel, and I love the way she has used vintage-style shower and bath fixtures to impart a classic and timeless vibe. See my own classic bath we recently created at the fixer upper. 

What a wealth of home decor and interior design inspiration from Sarah’s portfolio! I hope you found pretty moments to PIN!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing
Subscribe to Hello Lovely!
Follow:

15 Comments

  1. April 21, 2018 / 5:49 am

    I adore Sarah’s style and the way she adds color, textures, and pieces to a room are nothing less than perfection. Very intrigued by the use of tile on the bathroom wall and the image of the bench at the foot of the bed in white and grey went immediately to my Pinterest board along with several others….beautiful post Michele!

    • michele
      Author
      April 21, 2018 / 9:43 am

      So glad you found pretty to pin, Joan. Thanks for adding to the beauty here, and I hope you enjoy the weekend. xox

  2. Debbie
    April 21, 2018 / 6:15 am

    Loved this post. As much as I love the serenity of all-white, it’s refreshing to see a bit of color added to the mix.

    • michele
      Author
      April 21, 2018 / 9:42 am

      Hi Debbie. I hear you. I love how Sarah uses color – she manages to keep things timeless yet fresh. Happy weekend, friend. 🙂

  3. April 21, 2018 / 7:47 am

    love all the tiles she chose! Hope all is well with you!

    • michele
      Author
      April 21, 2018 / 9:41 am

      Hi Leslie! Always great to hear from you, friend. xox

  4. Just sayin......
    April 21, 2018 / 12:03 pm

    Love her style, but a few things to think about…….

    Umm….She is a Canadian and lives in Canada. The bedroom you described as Fresh Americana has red & white with some black in it. Canada’s flag’s colors are red and white….no blue. Sure Canada is on the North American continent but in my book “Americana” generally refers to a look used in the United States. Just sayin’……

    Though I love her style, having grown up in a farmhouse with many of my childhood friends also growing up in farmhouses, I would have LOVED to see something like this. Not so. Farmhouse were usually rather small, dark and never the high end look of what designers today call “Modern Farmhouse”. I’d realllly like to ask one of them in person “So, what points exactly do you include to call it Modern Farmhouse?” Most people’s mudrooms actually had mud and manure and the stink of cows, pigs or sheep that lingered on boots and coats. These high end finishes would never have withstood the true rigors of a farmhouse. Is it all gorgeous? Absolutely! But it sure would be nice if designers would come up with a better term for this style of design, IMHO.

    • michele
      Author
      April 21, 2018 / 2:24 pm

      I’m no expert on Modern farmhouse style, but it implies modern amenities and finishes with some traditional country/farmhouse sensibilities. You don’t have to have farm animals to get the look, and there are a ton of riffs on it. What would you call it?

      • Just sayin......
        April 22, 2018 / 8:33 pm

        No idea what to call it 😉 But honestly I see nothing here that resembles what I would call farmhouse….based on my own “then” of growing up in a farmhouse, and real, working farmhouses I see now.

        I just adore her style so I guess it may honestly defy putting a name on it. 🙂 Maybe it should just be called “Sarah-style” 😉

        • michele
          Author
          April 22, 2018 / 8:38 pm

          Sometimes it is the context that makes it a farmhouse…this property of Sarah’s (Starlight Farm) is one where they are growing vegetables and probably adding farm animals. Patina Farm (my archives are bursting with inspiration from it) is another fancy modern farmhouse which is a real farm. Hence, farmhouse! 🙂

  5. April 22, 2018 / 11:51 am

    I don’t know how you do these wonderful posts. So much great information, and the “finds” you post amaze me.
    Big hug !!

    • michele
      Author
      April 22, 2018 / 12:31 pm

      I love having you here, Marsha. Thank you for following and all the encouragement. Loving your new fashion for girls and will mention it soon in an upcoming post! xox

  6. April 23, 2018 / 12:01 pm

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sarah Richardson and loved her show on HGTV a million moons ago. She is incredibly talentd and I enjoy watching her put a room together. My favorite thing in this house has always been the horse/shield.crest above the fireplace.

    • michele
      Author
      April 23, 2018 / 2:51 pm

      Yes! That unicorn crest in her other farmhouse is so bold and beautiful! That farmhouse project really turned my world upside down, and I studied those images so carefully, trying to soak up all that fresh classic style. I love how undecorated and live-able that house is! Thanks for reading, friend. xox

  7. Carol
    September 16, 2018 / 11:31 pm

    Love her style!! Does anyone know what wood was used for the flooring?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s SHOP!

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing