Designs that Stood the Test of Time: Modern Farmhouse in Historic Schaumburg

What makes design timeless versus trendy?

Architects are often asked for their opinions on various aspects of design—which, of course, they love as they have plenty! One of the most asked-for opinions, though, regards timelessness and longevity. What design choices are going to last? Will my design stand the test of time, or in twenty years will it look absolutely dated? In this debate of trendy versus timeless, there are so many conclusions to come to and opinions to be had. There is no doubt that this topic can elicit strong feelings, and it makes sense. Even if you go into a newly bought home with every intention to make it your forever home, it is still smart to consider how your home will grow alongside your family or how well it could sell in the future. While the architects at our firm would be very happy to offer their wisdom on what reads as timeless and what does not, we thought of something even better: Let's ask the people whom our architects have designed for, and get their take on what makes a design truly stand the test of time. Because who better to explain than the ones who live within the design every day?

Let's introduce the players: two of our previous clients who partnered with Studio21 Architects to design the modern farmhouse of their dreams. It has been almost seven years since the completion of Mike and Judi's Design+Build home in an historic neighborhood of Schaumburg, in the Chicagoland suburbs. We would say that near-seven years is a perfect point of reference to see how the they have been enjoying their home and what they've learned during, and since, this build.

One of the first steps in Studio21 Architect's design process is to have the clients compose a "wish list", in which they note the elements most-desired in their home, on a scale of one to ten. In addition to the wish list, Studio21 Architects has since developed a more extensive tool for outlining the needs and style of a client: the Design Discovery Review. Our Design Discovery Review is a two-outcome process; we investigate the feasibility of a proposed project in regards to zoning, structural elements, and much more. Alongside the investigation into feasibility, the Design Discovery Review includes a Lifestyle Questionnaire and Design DNA exercise, both of which help the client examine what their lifestyle necessitates in a home. This helps the client to clearly visualize what they want in the context of what is possible.

After forming their wish list, inspiration struck for Judi and Mike. They knew that a farmhouse-style home with modern touches was the style for their dream home. Among the most important features were: a ground-floor primary suite, a built-in vanity in the en suite primary bathroom, an open-plan kitchen with a separate pantry, a minimum two-car garage, a finished basement, and at least three guest bedrooms.

Studio21 Architects: To start at the very beginning, what was your main motivation to start a custom home?

Judi & Mike: We were looking for a forever home that was suitable for us in our retirement. Ultimately, we did a complete tear down to get the exact house that we needed/hoped for.

Test of Time Advice: Ask yourself the question: How will my home continue to work for my lifestyle as I grow older, and as my kids grow older? Design choices that seem perfect for a thirty year-old couple with no kids can easily stop being conducive to your lifestyle in thirty years, ten years, or even one year.

S21: How have you been enjoying the home since its completion?

J&M: In the end, our choices have worked out exactly as we wanted; they meet our needs and we're so happy with our home's appearance—both inside and out!

S21: Do you have a favorite part of the design, or maybe a favorite room out of the whole house?

J&M: Our entire main floor is definitely the favorite. It's one-level living with a relatively open floor plan.

Test of Time Advice: Always consider what kind of floorplan will maximize your home's functionality. Designing with "zones" in mind is a great way to keep an open flow to your home, while still maintaining privacy from potential guests, in-laws, etc.

S2: In your opinions, what are the elements of your home's design keeps the place feeling timeless, rather than trendy?

J&M: Keeping the aesthetic elements of our home true to our personal style is the main thing that keeps our home feeling and looking timeless, to us at least. Some examples are: the exterior appearance with a wraparound porch, blue stone stairways and porch, and hardwood floors with crown molding in a traditional design.

Test of Time Advice: What works for you may not work for everybody and that is OKAY! If your plan is to have a forever home, then you shouldn't compromise on making that home a reflection of your style and your needs.

S21: Is there anything, looking back, that you think you would change or do differently?

J&M: We think our home is as close to perfect as we could probably get, but hindsight is 20/20, right? So we suppose that if we were to do anything differently, we might've eliminated the dining room to create a larger shared office/library.

S21: So for any of our readers that might be considering starting a project of their own, what advice do you have for them?

J&M: What helped us the most in the designing process was research, research, research! It's very important to have a firm outcome in mind; you need to know what you want. Doing research on online design sites and visiting model homes help a lot with shaping a clear idea of what your dream home needs to have.

Test of Time Advice: Judi and Mike are absolutely right. While an expert architect like our team at Studio21 will help guide you in making the best design choices for you, having a vision (even if it's abstract) is crucial in getting a home perfectly suited to your style and needs. Studio21's Design Discovery Review was developed exactly for this purpose!