The Perfect Family Farmhouse

Located right off of a cul-de-sac, the Powers home immediately radiates a bright and cheery demeanor. Cream-colored board-and-batten siding is interspersed with brick walls of the same color. Light colors give way to earth tones as natural, four-plank pallet shutters don each side of the home’s windows. Five wooden brackets can be seen supporting various gables and add to the warmth of the exterior.

Stepping through the home’s chic, wooden double doors, guests are transported immediately into the family’s main living space.

A large dark gray leather sectional sits atop a blue-gray oriental rug and offers plenty of seating.

“The open living room gives plenty of space for Greyson to play while our family winds down by the fire together in the evenings,” says Amber.

A brick fireplace runs from the hardwood floors to the ceiling and draws visitors’ eyes upward toward the room’s exposed beams.

“I really like the farmhouse look, but I didn’t want everything to be so white. I wanted to add in some neutral colors and wood here and there to warm up the space and make it a little rustic,” says Amber. “It’s almost like it has elements of a cabin in some places with the natural wood.”

A floating wooden mantle sits just underneath a flat-screen TV, and two white built-ins on either side of the fireplace offer space to keep family photos and memorabilia. Another set of glass-paned double doors can be found on the left wall and lead outside, all the while offering the living room ample natural light.

(First) Greyson, Sean, Amber, and Sawyer

With an open floor plan, it’s an easy transition to the kitchen. An island with white quartz countertops commands the space. Gray distressed lower cabinets provide storage room, while the surface gives the family plenty of workspace for cooking delicious meals. Four gray barstools are tucked neatly under an overhang and allow guests to be part of what is happening in the kitchen.

“Sometimes Greyson will play on a tablet or do other activities at the island while I cook dinner,” explains Amber. “The large island acts as an extension of our living room, which provides more space for entertaining our guests.”

White perimeter cabinets line the back wall of the kitchen, and horizontal tiles in various shades of gray maintain a crisp and clean aesthetic while adding some texture to the room.

To bring in the rustic elements found throughout the rest of the home, the Powers incorporated a wooden range hood that carries upward and is flush with the room’s trim. Two wooden frame pendant lights hang over the island and provide an extra touch of warmth.

“I love how bright and welcoming this room is, and it has great views
of the ridge.” –Amber Powers

To the left of the kitchen is the family’s dining space. A farmhouse table is surrounded by four slat-back dining chairs that are cream-colored and have a natural wood seat. To the far side of the table is a shiplapped enclave that features a bay window and a built-in bench. Overhead hangs another wooden frame pendant light, this one linear in shape.

“As soon as we decided to incorporate a bay window, I knew I wanted there to be a bench that would provide seating at the dining room table,” explains Amber. “I love how bright and welcoming this room is, and it has great views of the ridge.”

Amber notes this is another popular area of the home, and the family eats dinner at this table every evening.

  Just down the hall from the main living spaces is the Powers’ powder room. This chic bathroom features an exposed brick accent wall composed of the same brick used for the family’s fireplace. “Our powder room is always a conversation piece,” says Amber. “The brick wall gives our home character and accentuates the rustic farmhouse style we love.” Oak hardwood floors continue into this room and add warmth, while a vanity with pewter blue cabinets brings in a soothing, spa-like feel. A rustic sconce with two Edison bulbs provides a touch of light and hangs above a mirror with a thick black frame. Black hardware and fixtures tie the vanity in with the mirror and provide a uniquely elegant look.

Tucked away from the rest of the living spaces is the Powers’ master bedroom. A king bed rests atop a blue-gray oriental rug, and a white bookcase headboard adjoins a large window that lets in ample light. Exposed beams overhead carry the rustic farmhouse feel into the room, but the real crown jewel of the master suite is the Powers’ bathroom.

Walking into the spacious master bathroom, visitors are once again greeted with a chic and clean aesthetic. Two mirrors hang above a double vanity and are surrounded by a thick wooden frame, while fixtures outfitted with Edison bulbs provide warm light.

Dark gray lower cabinets and drawers provide plenty of storage, and a linen cabinet bisects the two sinks and gives Amber and Sean a place to store towels and other necessities. White countertops bring an airy and spa-like feel to the space. 

“Our last house had a small bathroom, so I knew going into it that I wanted our master to have plenty of space,” explains Amber. “We went to an open house and fell in love with a similar layout of the master bathroom. We took some of the elements and added our own style to it and ended up with our dream bathroom.”

As a result, the Powers have a large walk-in shower complete with a bench seat. White marble with a subtle gray veining lines the walls, and a stripe of navy subway tile arranged in a herringbone pattern provides a pop of color. 

An alcove next to the shower houses a bathtub and features the same marble tile with navy accents, making for the ideal space to unwind and relax.

After searching high and low for the perfect family home, the Powers decided to settle down in the wooded acres of Ooltewah. Complete with a thoughtful and tailored design, Amber and Sean’s home offers everything they desired for their young family. 

Faithful farmhouse touches make the house a warm and inviting space to live out the next chapter of their lives, but the Powers note the best is yet to come.

“It still feels so new,” says Amber. “We’re still settling into the home as a family, but I’m excited for what the future holds.” CS