American Farmhouse Style – August 2019

BACK TO NATURE

Natural elements like exposed wood and dried flowers

suggest farmhouse sophistication. For her kitchen, Elana

chose a Hawaiian wood not usually found on the mainland:

jacaranda wood. Other elements, such as a large farmhouse

sink and practical items like wood cutting boards and wicker

bowls, adorn this kitchen in farmhouse comfort.

“We really wanted to reflect the environment around us,”

Elana says. So they sourced local stone and as much local

hardwood as possible. Yet she wanted a modern twist on a

typical Hawaiian style, with no overt references like tikis or

surfboards. Instead, dusty golds mirror Hawaiian sunsets,

while dazzling aqua tiles pay homage to the island’s crystal-

clear waters.

OCEAN HUES

Originally Elana had wanted white tile for the backsplash.

“I thought it was a risk to use the aqua color and hexagon

shape,” she says. But soon she realized the unique tiles would

“inject personality and originality” into her kitchen and create

the look she sought. “We wanted a subtle island without

obvious allusions,” she says. “Wicker baskets communicate

island without being overstated.”

The perfect farmhouse style should look like it has evolved

over time. “We sourced locally, pulling from secondhand

stores sometimes,” she says. The goal was to make the

kitchen look spontaneous and unrehearsed, with all the

elements coming together naturally.

Elana feels that farmhouse kitchens shouldn’t be matchy-

matchy. “We used to have wood everything, but we changed

our minds,” she says. “We wanted to be different.” After all,

part of farmhouse style’s charm is drawing from many

diverse sources. So go ahead, mix and match. “Don’t be afraid

to step outside your comfort zone,” Elana says.

SEE SOURCES, PAGE 1 2 8.

“Some people think rustic when they think of a farmhouse

aesthetic, but it’s also about

pulling from nature

.”