With their wide front porches, welcoming layouts, and homey touches, it’s no wonder farmhouses have us all dreaming of making like Chip and Joanna Gaines and moving to the country. But while rural Virginia has plenty of fixer-upper farmhouses just waiting for buyers who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, you actually don’t even have to leave the city to find farmhouses in Richmond. 

The History of Farmhouse Style Homes

“Farmhouse style” is a buzzy term in today’s design world, but farmhouse style homes have a history dating back centuries. Their roots have humble beginnings in the simple, modest homes built by American pioneers in the 1700s and 1800s. These unpretentious, straightforward designs were typically built in rural locations for farmers and their families. 

According to an article in The Spruce, the iconic farmhouse that we know and love today was popularized by the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog, which sold kits for “modern” farmhouse homes in the early 1900s for less than $1000. With clapboard siding, semi-enclosed front porches, and two floors, these homes are still easily identified as farmhouses today.

Modern Farmhouse Homes in Richmond

Recognizing the resurgence of farmhouse style homes in the U.S., a number of local developers have adopted the farmhouse look in new construction homes around the Richmond region. Developments like RounTrey and Hallsley in Midlothian specialize in the style. (The gorgeous American Gothic farmhouse pictured is one of our recently sold properties in Hallsley.)

So what makes a home a modern farmhouse? Here are some key design features:

• Classic white siding on the exterior
• Large front porch and plentiful outdoor living space
• Rectangular floor plan
• Rustic materials like hardwood floors, iron hardware, and hand-hewn beams
• Shiplap or beadboard walls inside
• Dominant fireplaces
• Accents like apron front sinks, open shelving, and schoolhouse-style light fixtures
• Light, bright color palettes 

Where to Find Farmhouses in Richmond

New home developments like RounTrey and Hallsley are a good place to start your farmhouse home search in Richmond, but they’re not the only place to look. New and old farmhouses can be found in the city and its surrounding areas, from Varina to Goochland and beyond. And then there’s always the option to buy land and build your own farmhouse, just like the pioneers.

Ready to make your Virginia farmhouse fantasies come true? Our team of house hunters is standing by, ready to help you find a farmhouse in the Richmond area that ticks all your boxes. Get in touch with an agent at Ruckart Real Estate to start your search today.