How to Choose Millwork and Colors for the Top 3 Custom Home Styles

When building a custom home, it helps to choose a style to guide your design choices. Some of the most interesting custom home designs feature a defined architectural style, custom interior millwork, and a thoughtful color palette. Based on this article by Houzz, the top three styles you’re likely to see are Farmhouse, Modern/Contemporary, and Tudor Style. This guide will help you choose a style and will also include suggestions on custom interior millwork and color selections to strengthen your style choice.

 

Style 1: Farmhouse

Characteristics:

The Farmhouse style is classic, cozy, and rustic. This movement features lots of reclaimed wood, vintage/antique pieces, and varied textures. The Spruce also points out in their article on the style that it usually incorporates barnboard/shiplap, wrought iron, and wide plank floors.

farmhouse home style millwork kitchen cabinets

Millwork:

When planning interior millwork for a Modern Farmhouse style home, distressed wood reigns. Rustic beams, entire walls of shiplap, and thick trim in light or white painted woods will fit perfectly. If you’re going more traditional than modern, be sure to include some ogee detailing in your millwork cabinetry and furniture.

Colors:

Colors are usually soft and neutral in this style. Cream, beige, gray, and tan are all welcome with accents in soft gray-blue and sage green. If you like the French Farmhouse look laid out in this article by Weed Em and Reap, try using robin’s egg blue and pale pink. Farmhouse interiors add excitement with a wide variety of textures. Layering materials like wool, linen, wood, sisal, and metals will feel perfect.

 

Style 2: Modern and Contemporary

Characteristics:

Modern design started in the 1920s, but has evolved many times over the years. It shares many traits with Contemporary styles, as noted in this article from Impressive Interior Design. The hallmarks of these styles are openness, sleek finishes, and clean lines. The main difference is that Modern tends toward minimalism and high contrast while Contemporary emphasizes connecting with nature and is more subtle and soft.

contemporary home style millwork colors

Millwork:

While Modern and Contemporary homes tend to have very little trim, the millwork in cabinetry and other finishes tends to be finished to a very high degree of quality. One common trend for both Modern and Contemporary houses is to create flat cabinet fronts with hidden hinges and very little space between them. This creates the illusion of a solid slab of wood across the wall.

Colors:

The color palettes in Modern homes usually feature lots of crisp neutrals and high contrast schemes. A common palette for this style consists of a pure white, charcoal gray, and cherry red. Contemporary color palettes are a subtle version of the Modern styles. Neutrals are soft and welcoming while colors are small splashes of bold hues. A normal palette for a contemporary home might include soft white, sand, and leaf green.

 

Style 3: Tudor Style

Characteristics:

In America, Tudor homes are early 20th century blends of historical design elements. As shown in this article from Freshome, the main pieces needed for a Tudor home interior are natural materials, rustic details, and leaded glass windows.

tudor kitchen millwork characteristics

Millwork:

The interior millwork in a Tudor home tends to be very ornate. The wood is usually stained a dark color or may be left mostly unfinished for a rustic effect. Decorative curves and geometric elements are very common in this style.

Colors:

Color palettes include light neutrals, greens, rusts, and browns. The overall effect is usually very warm. Metal finishes are usually wrought iron or oil-rubbed bronze.

 

 

Now that you’ve learned more about the top custom home designs, you can choose custom interior millwork, color palettes, and other features with confidence!