Modern conveniences can be included in traditional farmhouse decor

A couple from Dublin, New Hampshire, didn't want to sacrifice convenience when they decided to decorate their kitchen in a classic farmhouse style.

According to HGTV.com, it was important for Jocie Sinauer and David Chicane to come up with a design that was easy to maintain and a comfortable place to cook. With white, cottage-style cabinetry and a selection of collectibles for accent, they were able to combine the home's contemporary needs with traditional décor.

"The clean white styling and rich antique furnishings and collections combined for a clean country look," states the website. "Many of the accessories are functional and used for storing food and kitchen tools."

For instance, instead of a kitchen island, the couple set an old English pine farm table in the center of the room and placed a matching chest underneath. It provided storage for utensils but also a display surface for attractive mixing bowls and a tureen.

In the adjacent dining room, they brought in French linens for the table, creamy yellow painted chairs and antique silver candleholders as a centerpiece.

For homeowners who want to bring a farmhouse decorating style to their homes, Better Homes and Gardens magazine recommends they start with choosing a wall color. Soft, dusty tones work best in a cottage décor, and farmhouses - while generally bigger - also use such hues because they often have similar furnishings to those in country-like cottages.

Wood floors are a natural flooring choice for this style, but adding area rugs warms up the look in any room. Even bathrooms decorated in a light, farmhouse palette benefit from a soft rug underfoot.

Window coverings for a farmhouse look can range widely. Soft curtains such as sheers or lace are a traditional choice, but they can be offset with a number of window blinds and shades. For instance, woven wood shades come in variations of wood tones that lend a natural look to their suroundings.

The magazine states that furnishings in farmhouse rooms work best when they are an eclectic mix of styles. Fancy chairs with decorative curves are a good contrast to the more austere lines of a farm table.

For accessories, attractive pieces that have some function fit the atmosphere of a farmhouse. "Bowls and platters [can be placed] on open shelves above kitchen countertops where they can be appreciated as well as used," Better Homes and Gardens suggests.