This Old House Farmhouse in Fairfield Recap

Who says farmhouses have to feel like century homes?

This Old House challenged the norm with their 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield Idea House, located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Baird Brothers celebrated our third year partnering with the This Old House brand on this build (along with the other 2020 Idea House, Cottage On The Cape).

What we like best about this project is that the Farmhouse keeps its classic look while incorporating ultra-modern upgrades, including “smart” features that any neighbor would envy. So, if your dream home combines a classic, traditional design with modern amenities, you can certainly take some inspiration from This Old House’s Farmhouse project!

Whether you’re building a new house with an old fashioned feel or remodeling an old house to look like new, this north shore farmhouse project has something for everyone!

A wide variety of Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods products were used in the Fairfield Farmhouse:

Let’s take some time to dive a little deeper into the unique elements that set the stage for this one-of-a-kind build.

Make Your House Your Dream Home

The Farmhouse in Fairfield incorporated countless elements designed to create seamless warmth and comfort throughout the expansive home. Many of the features that go above and beyond the norm were dreamed up by the home’s owners, who also operate Greyrock Homes.

This house has it all:

Covered porch and patio (with remote control options for a screened-in porch)
Outdoor kitchen
Plunge pool with temperature control (hot tub, anyone??)
Outdoor shower
Gas firepit
Personal putting green
Large ground-floor master suite
Built in bunk beds
Three-car garage

Home Design That’s Impossible to Resist

While this 2020 Idea House was designed and built for inspiration purposes, the designer-builder duo, Jerry and Sandy Effren, liked the final results so much that they made it their forever home. Because of their builder lifestyle, the Effrens have moved 13 times in Fairfield County alone! But, the beauty and functionality of this unique Farmhouse officially put an end to their house-hopping lifestyle.

Shop the Fairfield Farmhouse 2020 Idea House

Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods products are located everywhere you look throughout the 2020 Idea House. When it came to interior design, Sandy Effren had many choices for her hardwood products, including high-end places in New York, Boston, and the greater New England area. In the end, though, she chose Baird Brothers in Canfield, Ohio to ground her new home. And, what’s even better is that you can use the same products in your home improvement projects, too!

As Seen in the Bunk Room

A shiplap accent wall and 3-panel poplar pocket doors are featured in this unique and extremely functional bunk room. Shiplap elevates the look of interior walls with a modern yet rustic look, and the product’s quality and ease of installation ensure a flawless outcome. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a general contractor, shiplap is a great way to add character to any space. For that reason, Baird Brothers proudly manufacturers 18 different types of interior siding to choose from!

Interior Doors 101

Pocket doors are interior doors installed to fully disappear into a slot or compartment within the wall when opened (and interior doors are Baird Brothers’ bread and butter!).

The pocket doors featured in the Farmhouse in Fairfield are just one of many interior door options to choose from at Baird: hardwood doors with endless design customizations, veneer paneled doors, molded doors by Jeld-Wen, flush interior doors, pine veneer doors, TruStile doors, and doors with glass insert options – we have something for everyone!

As Seen in the Living Room

The great room’s living space is brought together with Baird Brothers’ custom hardwood flooring, and the Farmhouse in Fairfield opted for the clean, modern look of 7” live sawn character grade white oak floors (a custom-order option).

For those not wanting to go the custom-order route, in-stock white oak flooring is available in select grade, character grade, engineered select grade, and engineered character grade. For the Farmhouse project, the choice of light colored floors worked perfectly with the spacious, inviting floor plan, and across the nation, white oak is quickly becoming a favorite among homeowners looking for durability and modernization.

As Seen in the Master Bedroom and Sitting Room

The master bedroom and sitting room feature pocket doors from Baird Brothers that slide completely into the wall for an open feel. These doors allow for privacy when closed but offer the benefit of an open hallway as they slide into the wall.

As Seen… Throughout the House!

Baird Brothers’ hardwood floors can be seen in nearly every room of the home! The 7” character grade white oak floor lines more than just in the living room; it can be found in the foyer, bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, second floor loft, and more!

In addition to the flooring, Baird Brothers interior doors (as mentioned earlier) can be found throughout the entire home, as well. Door styles used include BB1000 and BB3000 shaker style solid poplar doors, as well as 1-lite shaker style poplar doors. With an endless variety of door options available, your design is only limited by your imagination!

Baird Brothers also supplied numerous beautiful wood accent pieces; poplar baseboard moldings, window casing and door trim are used throughout the home.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: TOH + Baird Brothers = STUNNING!

Baird Brothers is honored to partner with This Old House Ventures. In fact, one of our favorite moments throughout our 60+ year history was when Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s This Old House show, visited Baird Brothers to see for himself how our products are made. Want to watch firsthand? Catch the visit on the TOH’s 1807/3907 episode!

Stay tuned for more houses like This Old House’s Farmhouse in Fairfield that feature Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods! We’re not planning on slowing down anytime soon!