I need to come clean: I've been experiencing major modern farmhouse fatigue. As an editor in the design industry, I look at multiple farmhouse living rooms, farmhouse kitchens, and farmhouse dining rooms several times a day, every day. Though I love that the look brings modern sensibility to classic design, it's become boring to me over time. That is until I saw Anne Hathaway's kitchen.
Though I've written at length about all the incredible design details in Hathaway's kitchen, her modern farmhouse lighting was especially striking to me today. The actress's interior designer, the acclaimed Pamela Shamshiri, has chosen to line her ceiling with four clear glass flush mounts and two longer copper pendants. Their arrangement against the paneled wood ceiling creates an elegant contrast. The copper in each of the lamps complements the copper pots hung on her wall, and the mason jar-esque shape of the flush mounts fits in perfectly with the farmhouse feel of the space.
What about this look, in particular, has renewed my interest in modern farmhouses? First, I love how unique it is. Instead of the common practice of choosing one lighting option, Shamshiri has included two different styles of kitchen lighting in a single space. This unorthodox practice draws the eye up, highlighting the beauty of Hathaway's vertical kitchen storage. Further, the different heights and styles of lighting provide an interesting contrast that makes the upper half of the kitchen look much more dynamic.
Each lighting decision makes the kitchen ceiling more interesting. To get more specific, I adore Shamshiri's choice to use flush mounts, rather than recessed lighting. Inset, personality-free, florescent lighting is my biggest pet peeve in modern farmhouse kitchens, and maybe one of the biggest reasons I've developed a distaste for the style. These flush mounts provide the same easy, close-to-the-ceiling, unobtrusive type of lighting but also add a touch of copper, a flash of glass, and a big of height.
Furthermore, the mix of lighting masters one of my favorite elements of design: a seamless blend of antique and modern styles. Though the flush mounts look contemporary, the pendants were most likely sourced from an antique store, vintage market, or resale site. I love the marriage of these different materials and how they create a very unique and interesting look. I can definitely see this becoming a popular kitchen lighting trend going forward.
Shop The Modern Farmhouse Lighting Edit
These gorgeous textured lamps sit close to the ceiling for an interesting differentiation in height, like Anne Hathway has created. The accessible price point makes them great for trying out the look.
This Japanese light from the 1970s closely resembles the ones that appears in Anne Hathaway's kitchen. I think it would look just as gorgeous in a farmhouse living room or dining room.
These copper lamps are from the 1920s for an antique feel alongside modern appliances. What better to tap into Hathaway's aesthetic than with a timeless classic?
To recreate this look, I recommend starting by choosing two different types of lighting. For a similar design, you will need four of your shortest light, and two of your longest. The coolest part about taking inspiration from this look is that it would work beyond a modern farmhouse space and could work well in any style room.
Leave it to Anne Hathaway and Pamela Shamshiri to completely revamp my outlook on a design style that has been around for years. All it took was the perfect lighting scheme.
