The front of the Benson is a mix of stone and brick.
‘Modern farmhouse” design evokes feelings of warmth and comfort and has become popular largely as a result HGTV shows, such as “Fixer Upper,” hosted by Chip and Joanna Gaines.
When you couple modern farmhouse decor with the “blank canvas” of a newly constructed residence, the result is what Lori Benson and her husband, Joe, have created over the past two years.
“I got the idea for a modern farmhouse style after walking through a lot of display homes as ours was being built,” Lori recalls. “I liked the natural materials, muted shades and rustic finishes of natural stone and vintage oak flooring” she says, identifying key characteristics of the modern farmhouse style.
Other common elements often include wide plank floors and vintage accessories, all of which are found in the Benson residence incorporated into an open floor plan on the first floor where the great room and kitchen create a seamless space.
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The great room windows offer a view of the pool and the valley outside the home.
Decorating help came from interior designer Meg Minicky, and Norma O’Bryan, owner of Discount Draperies and an expert in custom window treatments. “Norma was great decorating the windows, and when I asked her about other finishing options to complement her window treatments, I liked those ideas as well,” Lori says.
The great room is anchored by a stone fireplace bracketed by two open bookshelves filled with handcrafted accessories. At the opposite end of the great room, the kitchen oven is recessed into a nook, also with natural stone surrounding it.
Bookcases and walls painted gray appear even more prominent since the wood engineered floor is a dark brown and distressed with dark spots and cracks to look old and weathered. “The sample we selected from did not show nearly as much of the distressed character appearing in many of the installed planks. That took a little getting used to.”
The kitchen stove is recessed in an arched alcove faced with stone. Stone is often used in modern farmhouse décor. Arches, also seen over the doorway, are found throughout the passageways on the first floor.
The centerpiece in the kitchen is a very functional 5-by-7 foot center island with a white quartz top. Around the island perimeter, two leather bar stools are tucked into an area allowing under-the-counter seating.
Connecting the two areas is a dramatic two-story wall of windows along the back of the great room. Softened with floor-to-ceiling white sheer drapes, the overall vibe is warm, comfy and inviting.
A particularly unusual piece of décor Lori found on the website antiquefarmhouse.com is a decorative, double-sided train station wall clock. Appearing just like clocks on walls in train stations from days past, the distressed timepiece is displayed on the wall between the great room and the kitchen, where it shares the time from two directions.
A particularly unusual piece of décor Lori found on the website antiquefarmhouse.com is a decorative, double sided train station wall clock. Appearing just like clocks on walls in train stations from days past, the distressed timepiece is displayed on the wall between the great room and the kitchen, where it shares the time from two directions.
Architectural choices the couple made when the home was built include arches featured over the great room stone fireplace mantle, above the kitchen stove, and above most doors and passageways on the first floor.
Wrought iron accents are also a characteristic found in some modern farmhouse décor, and an open stairway with single twist iron spindles leads to the second floor landing and an open balcony hallway along the front of the upstairs bedrooms.
From the second floor, the view is not only of the great room and kitchen below, but also a thickly wooded valley behind the home. “We selected this lot because we wanted to be high so we could enjoy the view,” Lori says.
One of the three upstairs bedrooms belongs to Cadance, the couple’s 17-year-old daughter. “She tells me I did not need the help of a designer,” Lori says. “She wants to do it all. Before we moved in she was 15 and designed and decorated her room. She selected the drawer pulls, designed her closet before the house was built, and picked out the paint, bedding and pictures on her walls.”
One of the three upstairs bedrooms belongs to Cadance, the couple’s 17-year-old daughter, and an aspiring designer. She decorated her room, selected the drawer pulls, designed her closet, and picked out the paint, bedding and pictures on her walls.
After moving into the 5,000 square foot residence featuring four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms, the Bensons added a kidney-shaped pool and a hot tub. Plans are to add a porch off the great room with a staircase down to the pool, as well as an outdoor kitchen, Lori volunteers. The final change will be to furnish 1,000 square feet of the lower level, which opens to the pool and is already walled in and carpeted.
“The home was constructed during COVID, and the pandemic caused a variety of complications decorating the house. Many of the decorator showrooms were closed, and the appointments we needed to make selections for colors, cabinets and surfaces were few and far between,” Lori remembers.
Lori and Joe Benson moved into their “blank canvas,” new build home in Lake Saint Louis three years ago and have since designed the home with a modern farmhouse style. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
Lori and Joe Benson
Ages: Lori is 55, and Joe is 47.
Occupations: Joe is senior vice president of software engineering at Mastercard. Lori is a fashion stylist for Finding Foxtale. The firm offers a line of clothes for children ages 2 through 12 sold through direct sales events held in private homes. (findingfoxtale.com)
Home: Wentzville
Family: Dante and Cadance are 17 year-old twins. A son Donovan is 12. Enzo is a friendly bulldog who loves meeting new people and lying “spread-eagle” on his stomach.
At Home with Lori and Joe Benson in Wentzville
The open concept first floor gives a view of the kitchen through the living room at Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A large sectional fills the living room looking into the kitchen in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The great room windows offer a view of the pool and the valley outside the home.
The living room coffee table is decorated in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A particularly unusual piece of décor Lori found on the website antiquefarmhouse.com is a decorative, double sided train station wall clock. Appearing just like clocks on walls in train stations from days past, the distressed timepiece is displayed on the wall between the great room and the kitchen, where it shares the time from two directions.
The open concept first floor gives a view of the living room through the kitchen at Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The kitchen stove is recessed in an arched alcove faced with stone. Stone is often used in modern farmhouse décor. Arches, also seen over the doorway, are found throughout the passageways on the first floor.
Items fill a cabinet and stools line the kitchen island in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The kitchen sink overlooks the backyard in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The dining room is open to both the kitchen seen on the left, and entry foyer.
Armoires are filled with decoration in the dining room of Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The front entrance of Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
Norma O’Bryan, owner of Discount Draperies and an expert in custom window treatments, did the curtains in the main bedroom. When Lori asked about O’Bryan’s opinion on other décor, she took her advice. Much of the décor in the room was from a collaboration between the women.
A decorative chandelier lights the main bedroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A lamp and family photo decorate the nightstand in the main bedroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The main bedroom’s en suite bathroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The main bedroom’s en suite bathroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
Various hygiene products are placed in decorative jars in the master bedroom’s en suite bathroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A peacock soup holder decorates the main bedroom’s en suite bathroom at Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A half-bathroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A collage of family photos decorates a hallway in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A jewelry box and tray of trinkets decorated Cadence Benson’s dresser in her bedroom in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Cadence helped design each aspect of her room. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
One of the three upstairs bedrooms belongs to Cadance, the couple’s 17-year-old daughter, and an aspiring designer. She decorated her room, selected the drawer pulls, designed her closet, and picked out the paint, bedding and pictures on her walls.
The nightstand is lightly decorated with a lamp and books in Cadence Benson’s room in Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Cadence helped design each aspect of her room. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
A room in the lower level is used as a showroom for Lori’s business as a fashion stylist for Finding Foxtale. The firm offers a line of clothes for children ages 2 through 12 sold through direct sales events held in private homes.
Products for Lori Benson’s business Finding Foxtail are hung in the basement of her home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
The front of the Benson is a mix of stone and brick.
A fire pit lined with chairs sits alongside the pool outside Lori and Joe Benson’s home in Lake Saint Louis on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
Lori and Joe Benson moved into their “blank canvas,” new build home in Lake Saint Louis three years ago and have since designed the home with a modern farmhouse style. Photo by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
Norma O’Bryan, owner of Discount Draperies and an expert in custom window treatments, did the curtains in the main bedroom. When Lori asked about O’Bryan’s opinion on other décor, she took her advice. Much of the décor in the room was from a collaboration between the women.
The dining room is open to both the kitchen seen on the left, and entry foyer.
A room in the lower level is used as a showroom for Lori’s business as a fashion stylist for Finding Foxtale. The firm offers a line of clothes for children ages 2 through 12 sold through direct sales events held in private homes.
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