Before and After Modern Farmhouse Update

Outdoor garden space with swinging seating area

Photography by Ashley Laaker

This 120-year-old Iowa abode got a modern farmhouse update…and then a storm rolled in. See how this home rebounded.

Ashley Laaker of @our.1905.home fell in love with her new home even before she and her husband Kyle bought it. “The first time I laid eyes on the house, I knew we had to purchase it,” she says. “My husband and I could only look into the windows, as it was new on the market, but the second I saw all the beautiful original character, I fell in love.” So they got going on their modern farmhouse update.

This Iowa home originally had old dingy carpet before getting its beautiful walnut wood flooring — Here is a before image of how the home’s main living and dining area looked before the renovation.

The original kitchen was not looking its best. The old tile and white cabinetry needed a refresh. — Here is a before image of how the home’s main living and dining area looked before the renovation.

They had been drawn to the age of the home, along with the serious potential of both the house and the yard. “We really wanted an old home. Buying a fixer-upper was always appealing to us. We love doing house projects together. Honestly, we would take a night in tackling a house project over a night out any day!”

The kitchen is brightened with fresh paint, butcher block countertops, and white subway backsplash. — For Ashley, her main advice when fixing up an older home is to take your time. “Live in your home for a while before making big choices. Research your style and what you like. Never follow a trend that you don’t see yourself loving for a long time,” she says.

A Modern Farmhouse Update

Today, Ashley’s farmhouse style leans towards modern farmhouse with hints of cottage. “Our home already had a lot of clean lines and the layout is very simple. I love that about it. However, I love to add in cozy wherever I can. I wanted people to enter our house and feel at home,” she says.

They started their modern farmhouse update with a soft farmhouse paint color. “We then refinished all the floors and trim in a dark warm walnut,” Ashley says. “Then we moved on to the ceilings and lights.” Kyle and an electrician ran new electric in the ceiling, then they added shiplap running parallel with the floors to make their home feel bigger.

New Design

To get the modern farmhouse update Ashley and Kyle desired, they splurged on several design choices. “We chose to add recessed lighting using pancake lights throughout our house,” she says. “We added in farmhouse ceiling fans in both the office and bedroom. I wanted the showstopper of the living/dining area to be the light fixture over the dining room table. So we splurged on this beautiful Pottery Barn light fixture I had my eyes on.” They also added in shiplap, wallpaper and board and batten for texture.

The home's front door is painted black to offset the shiplap style trim on either side of the door — Ashley painted her front door black to offset the white trim on either side of the door, giving a modern twist to her farmhouse style home.

The bathroom has its own modern farmhouse update with white shiplap and industrial style shelving and hardware. — Ashley painted her front door black to offset the white trim on either side of the door, giving a modern twist to her farmhouse style home.

Surprise Storm

After 5 years of renovations, the couple had given their 120-year-old home a modern farmhouse update. They restored a lot of the original character and breathed new life into the old abode. They had even redone the yard. “Then a horrible storm called a derecho with 140 mph winds came through our town a year ago,” Ashley says. “It completely destroyed our town.”

DIY Dream Modern Farmhouse

After a major storm, the home's backyard was covered in fallen trees and debris from the neighborhood. — The couple had completely redone the yard. “Then a horrible storm called a derecho with 140 mph winds came through our town,” says Ashley.

A fallen tree has overtaken much of the home's yard after the huge storm that nearly destroyed the town — The couple had completely redone the yard. “Then a horrible storm called a derecho with 140 mph winds came through our town,” says Ashley.

“We have been working since then to repair all the damage,” Ashley says. “Luckily all the damage was outside, and we were able to repair it ourselves. We are so proud of how far our yard has come in just a year!”

The backyard has been revived after the storm. A cozy sitting area includes a hanging bench and several chairs around a shiplap style outdoor table. — The outdoor seating area has been revived after the storm. To get the cozy feel, Ashley added in slightly oversized white pillows to each chair.

A new sitting area underneath a large outdoor awning — The outdoor seating area has been revived after the storm. To get the cozy feel, Ashley added in slightly oversized white pillows to each chair.

“With our home, I let the history and character of the house be the driving factor.” Ashley’s main advice for fixing up a home is learning to take your time with it. “I wish someone would have told me to stop comparing the progress of our home to someone else’s. Love each season of life you spend in your home with the people you love.”

The family's garden is overflowing with plants about to flower — Spring and summer are very busy seasons for Ashley. This is when the couple chooses to freshen up stain and paint in the outdoor areas and plant their garden with cannas and other annuals.

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