Choosing a home style in Franklin Lakes is about more than curb appeal. You want a house that fits how you live now, feels right for the setting, and still makes sense for your long-term plans. If you are weighing colonial, contemporary, or farmhouse living here, this guide will help you understand how each style shows up in Franklin Lakes and what daily life can look like in each one. Let’s dive in.
Why style matters in Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes has a real architectural backstory. The borough’s history includes early agricultural settlement, sandstone and fieldstone farmhouses, later estate homes, and then custom single-family development as roads improved.
That history still shows up today. Franklin Lakes preserves several historic homes, including the Jno. C. Blauvelt House, William Ward House, Sturr House or Blue Meadow Farm, William W. Pulis House, and Lewis W. Packer House, which reflect the area’s earlier farmstead and vernacular traditions.
That is one reason colonial and farmhouse-inspired homes feel so natural in this market. Even when a house is newly built or fully updated, the style often connects back to a local pattern rather than feeling dropped in from somewhere else.
Colonial living in Franklin Lakes
What defines a colonial here
In Franklin Lakes, colonial usually means a modern take on Colonial Revival or Georgian-inspired design. You will often see symmetrical facades, balanced window placement, formal entries, columns or pediments, and restrained exterior details.
Inside, the appeal is usually about structure and separation. These homes often create a clear distinction between formal and casual spaces, which can make everyday life feel organized without giving up modern comfort.
How colonials function day to day
A local colonial example on Blue Hill Terrace paired an eat-in kitchen with center island, a family room with fireplace, a formal dining room, a first-floor office or bedroom, and a tree-lined backyard with a pebble patio. Another center-hall colonial on Cheyenne Drive featured formal living and dining rooms, a chef’s kitchen, a first-floor office or den, floor-to-ceiling windows in the family room, and a backyard with a pool and outdoor kitchen.
Taken together, those examples show why colonial homes remain popular in Franklin Lakes. You get a more traditional layout up front, with updated spaces in the rear of the home that support cooking, working from home, gathering, and entertaining.
Who may prefer a colonial
If you like rooms with clear purpose, a colonial may feel like the best fit. This style often appeals to buyers who want a more formal first impression, a defined foyer, and a layout that creates a little separation between quiet time and social time.
Colonials can also work well if you want timeless design. In a market like Franklin Lakes, that classic look often feels consistent with the broader streetscape and the borough’s historic roots.
Contemporary living in Franklin Lakes
What makes a home contemporary
Contemporary homes are defined less by one historical model and more by current design priorities. In general, that means clean lines, simple forms, large expanses of glass, open interior spaces, and an emphasis on light and connection to the site.
In Franklin Lakes, that often translates into homes that make full use of larger lots. You may see wooded settings, cul-de-sacs, oversized windows, decks, patios, pools, and layouts that flow directly from the kitchen or great room to outdoor living areas.
What contemporary life feels like
A recent contemporary retreat in South Gate sat on about 1.2 acres and featured a light-filled interior, a dramatic great room, expansive windows overlooking the pool, and a walkout lower level opening to the patio and pool. Another local contemporary was described as a custom-designed home on 1.5 acres with an open floor plan, 24-foot ceilings, many windows, and a 1,500-square-foot deck.
Those features point to the biggest lifestyle draw of contemporary living: openness. These homes often feel visually lighter, less formal, and better suited to buyers who want natural light, easy entertaining, and strong indoor-outdoor flow.
Who may prefer a contemporary home
If you want a home that feels open the moment you walk in, contemporary design may stand out. This style can be a strong match if you value big gathering spaces, dramatic windows, and a layout that feels flexible rather than compartmentalized.
It can also be a smart choice if the lot itself is a major priority. In Franklin Lakes, many contemporary homes seem designed to pull the landscape into everyday life.
Modern farmhouse living in Franklin Lakes
What modern farmhouse means here
Modern farmhouse style blends rustic references with cleaner, current finishes. Common features include neutral color palettes, clean lines, exposed beams or shiplap, open shelving, and updated materials and appliances.
In Franklin Lakes, this style often appears in custom homes or renovated properties rather than true working farmhouses. That said, the borough’s agricultural history gives farmhouse-inspired design a local connection that feels especially believable here.
How the style shows up locally
A Franklin Lakes listing on Pueblo Drive was described as an “Exquisite Modern Farmhouse Colonial.” It featured a Hardie plank-and-stone exterior, a two-story foyer, expansive windows, a chef’s kitchen flowing into the family room, and an outdoor area with a custom kitchen, pizza oven, and gas fire pit.
That example captures something important about the Franklin Lakes market. Modern farmhouse here often overlaps with colonial scale and layout, while adding softer finishes and a more relaxed visual style.
Who may prefer a modern farmhouse
If you want a home that feels current but not stark, modern farmhouse may be the sweet spot. It usually offers a warmer look than a pure contemporary home, while feeling less formal than a traditional colonial.
This style can be especially appealing if you picture casual entertaining, open kitchens, neutral interiors, and outdoor spaces built for gathering. In Franklin Lakes, that combination fits the market well.
Outdoor living matters in every style
The backyard is part of the home
In Franklin Lakes, outdoor space is not just a bonus feature. Recent listings across styles repeatedly highlight acre-plus lots, privacy, pools, decks, patios, screened porches, and wooded or landscaped settings.
That means your style choice is also a lifestyle choice. The way a home meets the backyard can shape how you use it every day.
How each style connects outside
Colonials often organize outdoor access around the rear of the house, especially near the kitchen and family room. That setup can support patios, dining areas, and more traditional backyard entertaining.
Contemporary homes usually push harder toward indoor-outdoor flow. Large windows, decks, walkout lower levels, and wide openings can make the yard feel like an extension of the main living space.
Modern farmhouses often lean into relaxed, social outdoor living. Features like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and easy transitions from the kitchen to the backyard fit naturally with the style.
How to choose the right style for you
Ask how you want your home to feel
If you want the most formal feel, colonial is usually the front-runner. If you want the most open and light-filled look, contemporary often stands out. If you want something current, warm, and relaxed, modern farmhouse may offer the best balance.
It helps to think beyond the exterior. A beautiful facade matters, but your daily routine will be shaped more by layout, light, and how the house works with the property.
Focus on lifestyle, not labels
Franklin Lakes is best understood as a style-forward but lifestyle-driven market. Even traditional colonials are often updated for modern living, while contemporary and farmhouse homes use site, light, and outdoor space as part of the experience.
That is why the best choice usually comes down to how you live. Do you want defined rooms, open sightlines, or a blend of classic structure and softer finishes? Your answer will usually point you in the right direction.
Whether you are buying in Franklin Lakes or preparing to sell a home with a distinct architectural style, the right local guidance can make a big difference. The team at The Meena Patel Group brings Bergen County insight, personalized service, and a thoughtful approach to helping you position your home or find one that truly fits your lifestyle.
FAQs
What is the most traditional home style in Franklin Lakes?
- Colonial is generally the most traditional-feeling option, with symmetrical design, formal entries, and more clearly defined rooms.
What is the most open home style in Franklin Lakes?
- Contemporary homes usually feel the most open because they often feature large windows, open floor plans, and strong indoor-outdoor connections.
What does modern farmhouse mean in Franklin Lakes?
- In Franklin Lakes, modern farmhouse usually means a custom or updated home that blends rustic-inspired details with clean finishes, open living areas, and a more relaxed feel.
Which home style connects most to Franklin Lakes history?
- Colonial and farmhouse-influenced homes connect most directly to Franklin Lakes history because the borough’s roots are agricultural and its preserved historic homes reflect those traditions.
Do Franklin Lakes homes place a big emphasis on outdoor living?
- Yes. Recent listings across colonial, contemporary, and modern farmhouse styles often highlight larger lots, patios, decks, pools, and outdoor entertaining areas.
How should you choose between colonial, contemporary, and farmhouse living in Franklin Lakes?
- Start with how you want the home to function day to day, including room layout, amount of natural light, and how important outdoor access and entertaining space are to you.
