A Flower-Filled Spring Farmhouse

Written by Heather Lusk

Photography by David Sparks

Styling by Carey Johnson

This Michigan home has evolved from a small log cabin to a full farmhouse with flea- market charm and a palette of spring.

spring farmhouse exterior — Carey Johnson and her husband have gradually added to their Michigan home.

Our homes rarely remain stagnant, but change over time with the seasons of our lives. This has been the case for the home of Instagrammer Carey Johnson and her husband, Alan, in rural Michigan. Over the years, the house has seen an evolution, tripling in size since they first built their small log cabin on the property in 2003.

spring farmhouse entryway — The original log cabin’s beams welcome visitors in the entrance. An antique pie safe houses some of Carey’s vintage bowls. Her favorites are her Munising bowls. She found her first bowl in an antiques store in the namesake town and was hooked. “I love the fact that they’re local,” she says.

Spring Farmhouse Changes

While the renovations have significantly added to the living space and common areas, the most dramatic change is the interior ‘s color scheme from natural woods to white walls, ceilings and floors. Carey had grown tired of the dark natural wood walls that are part of living in a log cabin.

spring farmhouse dining table — This area was once the family room for the log cabin but is now a dining area with a kitchen table custom made by Alan. The original home’s beams are a focal point that showcase rustic farmhouse style.

spring farmhouse standing desk — A chippy standing desk anchors the end of the kitchen island countertop and makes the island feel more substantial. Carey replaced the original builder-grade doors with “chippy doors” throughout the house to add charm.

spring farmhouse kitchen — Wood is one of the stars in Carey’s home, whether in the vintage furniture or the pine walls.

Carey began by painting the tongue-and-groove ceiling white to reflect natural light more easily in the space. Now most of the wooden ceilings, floors and walls are painted, with the exception of a handful of surfaces and the home’s original logs that remain visible as interior walls. With each remodel, the couple continues to use pine and shiplap to tie into the original home’s structure. “We’re not huge fans of drywall,” Carey says. “I prefer walls with texture.”

spring farmhouse office — Carey’s office area has a simple desk, chair and cabinet. “The big green cabinet hides all the ugly office things,” she says. “Close it and the ugly goes away.”

Architecture and Decor

With the textured walls, the architecture becomes an important part of the design. Carey embraces this in her decorating and limits furnishings where they’re unnecessary. “If every surface and area is filled with décor items, it draws [your] attention away from the things you really want guests to notice,” she says. “You really want your décor items and furniture to enhance your home, not bury it.”

spring farmhouse living room — The stars along the walls of the family room are handmade pieces from reclaimed lathe for the holidays. Carey enjoyed them so much that now she keeps them out year-round. Bringing in spring flowers adds a hint of color and the warmth for the season.

Beyond the white of the foundation pieces, Carey has ended up with green accents throughout her home. Much of that simply happened. Most of the items the Johnsons discover and love happen to be that color, and the different shades of green still manage to work together in each room. “The green finds us, we don’t actively look for green,” Carey says.

spring farmhouse family room — In the basement, the Johnsons hide their electronics behind sliding barn doors in an entertainment center and bookshelf built by Alan during their most recent renovation. The ceiling is made of shiplap and reclaimed wooden barn rafters to tie into the home’s upstairs.

Flea Market Spring Farmhouse

Carey describes her style as primitive farmhouse, including flea-market-inspired items and furnishings that are visibly worn. “I just love chippy worn paint, things that show their age and you know they’ve had a life beyond coming to your house,” Carey says. “They speak to me.”

How to Stay Sane at Christmas

spring farmhouse green bedroom — The master bedroom features a green shiplap accent wall. The bed is flanked by reclaimed porch columns and salvaged windows. Carey adds greenery above the salvaged wood headboard to bring some nature into the house in the spring. “I love to bring the outdoors in,” she says. “Winters are very long and cold in Michigan.”

Because Carey prefers well-used items, many of her finds are fairly inexpensive. “I usually get really lucky pricewise because people think it’s junky,” she says. In general, she refuses to refinish items which have “earned this look.” She discovers many of her pieces at flea markets, antiques shops, yard sales and through online sellers. She salvages some pieces from homes or barns about to be demolished.

farmhouse exterior dining area — The wrought-iron table on the back patio mixes ornate detail with the rustic edge of chipped paint. Carey’s grandfather’s ladder now holds potted plants. “They’re great little outdoor shelves,” she says. The ceiling is reclaimed steel roofing from a shed and shows natural patina.

Carey Johnson greenhouse — Carey’s business is only steps away from her front door. As a floral designer, she grows annuals in window boxes, potted arrangements and hanging baskets for private clients. She starts all her flowers from seed in her home’s greenhouse beginning each March. “I’ve been blessed with a green thumb,” she says.

The couple has done all the home renovations and flea- market upcycles themselves, with many pieces of furniture custom built by Alan. “He just has this uncanny way of pulling the vision right out of my head and bringing it to reality,” she says. “We definitely are a good team that way.”

Love the vintage touches in Carey Johnson’s Michigan farmhouse? A Flea Market Farmhouse will further inspire you! Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!