‘Farmhouse fresh’ look combines natural elements, greenery, white and unexpected elements

The table is set. There is a white plate at each place setting. A folded cloth rests on top. On top of the cloth is a matching white bowl.

Nestled underneath the plate is a delicate green wreath. Almost hidden underneath the plate and the green wreath is a tennis racket. On either side of the table, the tennis racket extends toward the center of the table.

When it comes to embracing and creating a farmhouse fresh look, it is all about the unexpected, said Jenny Boevers, co-owner of Fig and Frolic in Cedar Falls.

Inside the store on West Fifth Street, Boevers and her mother, co-owner Becky Hiatt, have created a picturesque 'farmhouse fresh' table display. The look is defined by a combination of industrial and farmhouse styles.

'We've got a lot of the unexpected, that's a key thing,' Boevers said. 'So somebody can look at the table, and not really notice but when they look closely, there's tennis rackets on the table that you probably didn't notice when you first were looking.'

The look includes lots of natural elements and greenery, Boevers said. At the center of the table are two preserved boxwoods.

'Those are real; they're preserved, so they'll stay green like that,' she said. 'That's great for somebody that does not have a green thumb.'

Hanging above the table are artificial succulents, which Boevers noted are popular and easy to work with.

The table features an array of chairs, which for the most part, do not match. In front of one half of the table is a red couch. Angled on the couch is a set of antlers.

The antlers add to the theme of unexpected and quirky elements which defines the farmhouse look, Boevers said.

'People ask us all the time, 'How do you do this?' Boevers said. 'There's really no rules. If you like something, use it. The more things that you like, when you get them together in a setting, the more it just begins to look like you, and that's really the only thing that matters.'

Another theme when it comes to embracing the farmhouse style is including items that bring you joy.

'If you like the setting, then chances are other people are going to like it too,' Boevers said.

Hiatt said the farmhouse look of today has come a long way since the country look that was popular in the 1990s. That look featured a lot of 'chickens and roosters, dark reds, mustards,' she noted. Instead, the updated look includes lots of white, pops of color and fresh greenery. 'We like to use fresh, but if you can't use fresh, then maybe a baby's wreath or a boxwood wreath. That goes in there really well,' Hiatt said. 'Big bold pillows, big signs, anything that has a real natural touch to it.'

This style also features black pipe and rustic thick wood for shelves. A variety of chandeliers and lighting is also prominent.

Another element of this style is repurposed items. Pieces can be acquired at vintage stores and flea markets, said Sandy Joblinske, manager and buyer at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Independence. The look includes vintage and wood furniture and rusty and reclaimed metals, she said.

'I think it's the relaxed feel, comfortable style,' Joblinkse said. 'It's just kind of eclectic, all kinds of combinations of things. It's a very laid back type of style.'

The theme of repurposing also means old items can be made new again.

The table on display at Fig and Frolic was done using Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan. Chalk Paint can be used in gardens, walls, on metal, kitchen cabinets and on floors.

Hiatt said the farmhouse look is 'huge' now, particularly with young families that are just getting their house together.

'Everybody loves it,' she said. 'They come in and they really like the look. It's easy to do, real easy to do.'

To create the look

• Begin with an inspiration picture of a room you want to create, perhaps from a magazine.

• After you decide what image you like, look at items you already have that can help create the look.

• Start the hunt. Visit thrift stores, garage sales, auctions and flea markets.

• Don't be afraid to go overboard. You don't want to have so much going on that you can't create a cohesive theme, though.

• Add elements that bring you joy.