James Hardie’s Modern Homes Forecast 2024 | Discover Japandi, Barn, Modern Coastal & Mid-Century Modern

In case you missed it, we recently delved into James Hardie’s first annual research initiative, the Modern Homes Forecast 2024. We took a peek into Modern Farmhouse, Modern Heritage, and Box Modern trends to learn more about these styles and why they made the forecast this year. Now we’re back for the final edition to delve deeper into the Japandi, Barn, Modern Coastal, and Mid-Century Modern home styles to discover why these designs are expected to shape the future of Australian interior design and construction.

Modern Coastal Render

Japandi 

Zen, minimalist, and ambient. We’re sure you’re not surprised by the feature of Japandi within this forecast. Japandi has taken the interior design industry by storm, and for a good reason. The serene, yet sophisticated style is a balanced blend of Scandinavian functionality and Japanese minimalism. Both the architecture and interiors of Japandi-style houses are cemented in simplicity, quality craftsmanship, and natural materials. It's a warm minimalism with an organic, neutral palette and simple layouts that emphasise an indoor-outdoor connection. And who better to collaborate with in the Designer Handbook than Japandi experts, Steph and Gian, founders of Japandi Estate and winners of The Block 2023. 

Japandi homes often feature simple lines with clean aesthetics and a strong focus on natural materials. Think flat or gabled roofs, timber accents, large windows, bi-fold doors, and a warm, minimalist approach. 

Japandi Render

Cladding Solutions:

• Hardie™ Axent™ Trim
• Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding
• Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding
• Axon™ Cladding 

Design Features:

• Minimalist architecture 
• Natural-look exterior
• Neutral colour palette
• Indoor-outdoor connection
• Warm, comfortable interiors with a focus on simple layouts and tranquility 

Mood board created by James Hardie on Style Sourcebook. View mood board here. 

Japandi Render

Barn

Simple, versatile, and inviting. Not to be confused with Modern Farmhouses, Barn-style houses take inspiration from Nordic minimalism and focus strongly on the structure and atmosphere of a home. This design style emphasises quality craftsmanship as the architecture of the home is kept quite simple. However, this doesn’t translate to boring. Barn-style houses are also the epitome of rustic charm, providing warmth and cosiness throughout the home. You might be familiar with Barn-style renovators Rhys and Kirsten Stanley, featured in the James Hardie Design Handbook to pass their expertise onwards. 

Although this classic design style might feel quite contemporary, Barn-style homes can best be described as a modern interpretation of traditional forms. The architectural design has reimagined the structure of a classic barn with the addition of elements such as optimising natural light and incorporating a neutral palette. 

Barn Render

Cladding Solutions:

• Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding
• Stria™ Cladding
• Linea™ Weatherboard
• Axon™ Cladding 

Design Features:

• Steeply Pitched Roof
• Vertical or Horizontal Detailed Exterior
• Barn Shape
• Larger Windows
• Spacious, uncluttered interiors with barn doors

Mood board created by James Hardie on Style Sourcebook. View mood board here. 

Barn Render

Modern Coastal

Open, airy, and light-filled. Coastal style homes have long been a favourite within the interior design industry. But as trends come and go, we see different variations of this popular design choice. Modern Coastal homes are a contemporary take on the traditional coastal design you’re probably familiar with. Inspired by the history of the classic Australian beach shack, this style is the perfect combination of laidback and sleek minimalism. Plus, not only do Modern Coastal homes tick all the aesthetic boxes, but they’re perfectly built and designed for the Australian climate, especially those in coastal locations. Providing their expertise for the Design Handbook is Kyal and Kara, who are sharing their experience and advice for achieving this modern twist on an iconic style. 

If you’ve visited a beachside location lately, then we’re sure you’ll be able to picture a Modern Coastal home quite easily. Think laidback, open-plan layouts with a focus on indoor-outdoor connection, natural light, big windows, stacking doors, and of course, crisp white weatherboards.

Modern Coastal Render

Cladding Solutions:

• Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding
• Linea™ Weatherboard
• Axon™ Cladding 

Design Features:

• Flexible roof
• Weatherboard exterior
• Light colour palette
• Indoor-outdoor connection
• Light, spacious interiors with natural textures and neutral coastal tones

Mood board created by James Hardie on Style Sourcebook. View mood board here. 

Modern Coastal Render

Mid-Century Modern

Functional, nostalgic, and effortlessly cool. No better words have described Mid-Century Modern style houses. The current Mid-Century Modern homes we’re seeing today remain reminiscent of the iconic period that was filled with distinct architectural elements, minimalistic lines, and unique interior aspects, such as conversation pits. But with Mid-Century Modern known for its “form follows function” approach, these homes have evolved to cater to the lifestyles of today. There’s still a strong focus on indoor-outdoor connections, spirited palettes and textures, flat or raked roof lines, and large floor-to-ceiling windows, however, they’ve been updated with ultra-modern amenities and take a more minimalist approach. Lachlan Grant, from Happy Haus Property Group, has been featured in this edition of the Design Handbook to illustrate how you can achieve this style of life while reimagining your home for 21st-century living. 

There’s a certain art to nailing the Mid-Century Modern home style, but aiming for a low-lying design that embraces colour and nature is key for achieving this nostalgic style.

Mid Century Modern Render

Cladding Solutions:

• Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding
• Linea™ Weatherboard
• Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding  

Design Features:

• Flat or gently sloped roof
• Exposed structure 
• Dominant roof life
• Large windows 
• Visually intriguing interiors with plenty of texture, such as coloured glass and natural stone crazy pave, and hints of bold colours combined with minimalist lines 

Mood board created by James Hardie on Style Sourcebook. View mood board here.

Mid Century Modern Render

We hope you’ve enjoyed diving deeper into the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast 2024. Discover the full forecast and Design Handbooks on the James Hardie website, or begin creating your dream home, in any style, using our mood board tool, which also features the incredible range of James Hardie products.