A couple whose home I remodeled in San Francisco in the 2010s purchased this property in Sonoma during the pandemic. Located in Sonoma Valley, this property had all of the good bones of a wine country escape, including fantastic cocooning spaces, a large yard, great indoor-outdoor flow, and mature redwood trees providing privacy from the adjacent neighbors.  The catch?  Spending time there felt like a trip to grandmother’s house as the home was a bit shabby and the yard was dated with fences cutting it up into small period vignettes. We successfully turned the property into an escape in which anyone would enjoy an extended staycation (pandemic or not!) with a private hot tub, pool, fire pit, and lawn large enough for corn hole and croquet.   We removed some of the fences and built custom shades to define separate spaces while maintaining an overall open feeling.  In the hot tub area, we incorporated a Manos Made firepit, perfect for a cool evening nightcap.  The outdoor dining area near the house has hosted both children’s birthdays and large adult dinner parties and the shaded chaise lounges by the pool have been enjoyed by the clients reading a book out of the summer sun. Even post-pandemic, these multiple spaces perfectly accommodate the clients needs, be it entertaining large groups or social distancing by choice. Project completed in close collaboration with Latker Design Solutions.

In the heart of wine country, on the border of Sonoma and Napa counties, lie a series of valleys that traditionally have been in agricultural use.  The owners of this valley property wanted to transform it  into a weekend retreat while remaining true to its simple pastoral roots;  Rather than opting for a conventional residence, the family asked us to evolve the existing agricultural and caretaker buildings into a haven that provided comfort in a natural and unpretentious way. The centerpiece of the reimagined property is a pool with breathtaking views surrounded by a classic California landscape of Live Oaks.  We designed the outdoor spaces with indoor-outdoor living top of mind, providing valley-view lounging areas with shade as well as outdoor dining spaces for al fresco meals.   The unconventional residential buildings seamlessly integrate the rustic charm of the agricultural setting with modern amenities, offering a getaway where the owners can unwind and entertain guests.  A large kitchen adjacent to the pool accommodates both family meals and serves as a catering center for larger gatherings.  Upper levels provide lofted bedrooms. The transformation of this agricultural property into a weekend haven showcases an evolving definition of luxury living, where existing spaces are reimagined for new uses. Shade structure design and plantings by K Form Landscape Design.  

We modernized this 1980s rancher, building a great room with walls of windows opening up to the Mayacamas Mountains.  The owners didn’t miss the warren of spaces that comprised the kitchen, dining and an awkwardly located bathroom.  The expansive openings with sliding and pivoting doors replaced two small windows to truly bring the outdoors in.   In the kitchen, a 10 foot island makes for perfect entertaining and ample space for guest, food and wine.  The guests love the bathrooms, all modernized with floating vanities, dramatic tiles, and modern fixtures.  The public and private areas of the house transition seamless through decks and stairs to the pool and hot tub area.  This is wine country living at its best!

The owners saw endless opportunities for this empty lot, with mountain views and plenty of room for a pool.  We strategically placed the pool to accommodate future expansion of the adjacent home while maximizing views.  Low seating walls provide an architectural frame, transitioning to native vegetation and a privacy berm.  Our design included a lawn adjacent to the pool deck that’s the perfect size for croquet, volleyball and badminton.  Cheerfully bright custom daybeds sit under a shade structure, built on a repurposed concrete pad.  As a treat for the winter months, a hot tub deck was built adjacent to the bedroom wing.