How TruExterior® Siding Helped Reimagine the Modern Farmhouse
Article summary:
To give Modern Farmhouse architecture a fresher, more contemporary expression, DesignHOME Studios combined vertical TruExterior® Nickel Gap siding with expansive glass, natural wood and carefully placed stone. The mixed-material exterior preserves the familiar form and warmth of a Farmhouse while introducing cleaner lines, deeper visual contrast and more modern proportions. Located on Philadelphia’s Main Line, the 6,835-square-foot custom home demonstrates how builders and designers can update a familiar architectural style through thoughtful material selection, orientation and detailing.
“Modern Farmhouse was all the rage, but we felt it was overdone. So that’s why we labeled this home 2.0.” —Mark Weiss, founder and creative director, DesignHOME Studios
DesignHOME Studios knew that building a custom home on Philadelphia’s Main Line, a series of older, leafy, affluent suburban communities along the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s Main Line, demanded a clean, high-quality look. Their answer? The Modern Farmhouse 2.0.
“Modern Farmhouse was all the rage, but we felt it was overdone,” says Mark Weiss, founder and creative director for the Wayne, Pennsylvania, luxury home builder. “So that’s why we labeled this home 2.0.”
To achieve a fresh take on the classic style, DesignHOME Studios took the familiar massing and infused more glass, incorporated horizontal lines, highlighted more natural materials, and took great care choosing soffit and porch details, with a particular focus on crisp corners. The result is a home that makes a prominent statement in tune with the area yet still feels comfortable, and evoking both the nostalgic warmth of the Modern Farmhouse style with upgrades and design elements that ensure practicality and timeless aesthetics.
Siding Materials Play a Key Role in Defining Modern Farmhouse Architecture
For home exteriors, natural stone was once Weiss’ material of choice to lend a high-end, luxury upgrade, but stone’s heavy feel and predictability has driven the company toward materials with a cleaner appearance. That was part of the reasoning behind choosing TruExterior® poly-ash siding from Westlake Royal Building Products™ for this project, which Weiss says delivers sleek, crisp lines and the right amount of simplicity while offering deeper shadow lines versus fiber cement.
The team played into the Modern Farmhouse vernacular by installing the TruExterior Nickel Gap profile vertically across most of the façade, alongside a small section of horizontal panels on the garage. At the center of the front façade, natural wood siding and expansive windows add a twist to the familiar, simultaneously adding both warmth and a contemporary flair. Two sections of stone provide a transition between the two materials for a touch of elegance without weighing down the design.
Made with poly-ash, a proprietary blend of fly ash and polymers, TruExterior is highly resistant to moisture and delivers the performance, longevity and low maintenance custom home buyers expect. Weiss has been using TruExterior since its early days a decade ago, drawn particularly to its ability to hold black paint that is popular in many Modern Farmhouse styles.
“We have a high degree of confidence in the material, its durability and paintability, and its thickness,” he explains. “We love it. It’s our alternative to fiber cement, wood and polymer.”
Thoughtful Interior Layout and Design
Inside, innovations in floor plan protect the livability of the sprawling 6,835-square-foot home. “Circulation, sightlines, and flow are given as much attention as finish selections,” DesignHOME Studios explains about its approach. “Open-concept layouts are balanced with zones for retreat and privacy. Kitchens aren’t just adjacent to living spaces—they are integrated as social hubs. Mudrooms, storage, wellness spaces and utility areas are strategically placed to support busy family life without interrupting the visual harmony of the home. The result: homes that feel effortless to live in and intuitive to navigate.”
For the design elements, Weiss describes the interior of this home as “Modern Farmhouse with Belgian inspiration,” which is visible in the infusion of real textures, matte finishes and exposed wood and slab. Ceiling heights were also critical. A mix of finishes in natural white oak, black, navy and brass provides a moody and intimate vibe to create the one-of-a-kind Modern Farmhouse 2.0 design.
DesignHOME Studios’ thoughtful approach has caught the eye of residents and experts alike, garnering three Best of Pennsylvania Living Awards for Best Custom Home, Best Bathroom and Best Specialty Room.
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