The verdict on farmhouse style isn't so simple. Some designers say the farmhouse look feels dated and overdone, especially in mass-market homes that lack originality. Others believe the style is ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jeffrey Steele has been a freelance writer for one-third of a century. Fashion fads come and go, as do popular home design trends.

These days, the fashion industry is characterized by trends that come and go seemingly overnight; interior design seems to now be following suit, albeit at a slightly less blistering pace.

Interior designers, home decor magazines and TV shows tout the modern farmhouse look as among the most popular decorating styles. But what does “farmhouse style” really mean? It doesn’t mean you’ll ...