California Houzz Tour: A Family's Holiday Home in US Wine Country
Situated on a vineyard, this new home embraces its surroundings with a warm ambience and cool modern aesthetic
This US holiday home on a Californian vineyard near the Sonoma County town of Healdsburg is pretty much everything its owners were hoping for. It has a serene, modern design, it connects the interior with the outdoors and it incorporates some sustainable features that help it adapt to its wine country climate. With the region’s hot summers, thought went into how the home was placed in its hilly surroundings and how it would be kept cool. A main priority for the owners was creating a passive house that would use elements such as deep eaves and cross-ventilation to keep the interior comfortable.
Large glass doors open to expose the living room to the terrace, blending inside and out, with the concrete flooring in both areas further connecting them. Vineyard views peek in from clerestory windows. Cedar ceilings inside complement the exterior siding of reclaimed barn wood.
This cosy corner of the living room features a built-in bench and cushion in the home’s trademark green, next to the fireplace constructed of board-form concrete. “The clients are ferocious readers and wanted a reading nook in the living room,” Juestel says. A unique wooden coffee table with stainless steel inlays and a vintage Danish modern wingback chair add a mid-century modern vibe to the space.
The dining table of reclaimed barn wood aligns with the couple’s wish for sustainable features, while the open-weave and wood dining chairs are suitable for indoor-outdoor use.
The open-plan living room and dining area were a crucial part of the homeowners’ desire to connect the interior space with the outdoors.
“The client wanted casual, comfortable and easy-care furniture and insisted that the dining tables and dining chairs had to be able to be used outdoors,” Juestel says. “The tables are on wheels, and depending on weather and preferences, they can seat large groups inside or outside.”
“The client wanted casual, comfortable and easy-care furniture and insisted that the dining tables and dining chairs had to be able to be used outdoors,” Juestel says. “The tables are on wheels, and depending on weather and preferences, they can seat large groups inside or outside.”
The dining room chandelier adds a modern touch to the rustic furnishings and it doesn’t get in the way of the vineyard views. “We selected a custom ‘bubble’ chandelier to have the right large scale while looking light and airy and not impeding the views,” Juestel says.
Natural light also factored into the home’s design. “It was a balance of keeping the space bright and fighting the summer heat,” Juestel says.
Walnut cabinetry warms up the kitchen, contrasting with a mix of cool concrete and stainless steel benchtops. A touch of green comes from the upholstery on the bar stools, which are reproductions of an iconic stool by Danish designer Erik Buch.
Here’s a closer look at the kitchen’s open shelving and stainless steel benches and shelves.
Cool neutral greys with touches of timber and that hint of green make the master bedroom a relaxing retreat.
The bed boasts a view of the hills and vineyard through floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
The master bathroom is equipped with two sinks in the custom-designed vanity and a large mirror. The pendant light is a vintage mid-century German rope light.
The home’s signature green shows up again in the pool powder room’s custom-refinished sink.
A mirror in the home’s main powder room, made from a recycled bicycle tyre, picks up the bright green as well.
Custom indoor-outdoor dining tables made of reclaimed barn wood and steel sit on a terrace leading from the kitchen and living-dining area.
After a swim or bike ride, the family enjoys relaxing in chaise lounges shaded by a pergola – a perfect way to enjoy a holiday in wine country.
Tell us
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More
Did you miss last week’s Houzz Tour? Take a look at this Moscow Houzz Tour: Soviet-Era Apartment Gets a Modern Makeover
Tell us
What do you like about this holiday home? Tell us in the Comments, save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and share it with someone you’d like to holiday with.
More
Did you miss last week’s Houzz Tour? Take a look at this Moscow Houzz Tour: Soviet-Era Apartment Gets a Modern Makeover
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is the holiday home of a family with three children
Location: Dry Creek Valley, northwest of Healdsburg in California, USA
Size: A 296-square-metre home on an 18-acre vineyard with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 powder rooms
Design: Adeeni Design Group and Sutro Architects
The home is an hour and a half north of San Francisco, where designer Claudia Juestel also worked on the owners’ primary residence. “This was new a construction, so the clients got exactly what they wanted,” Juestel says. “They wanted an indoor-outdoor home with a clean, modern look.” The homeowners asked for very little colour but a warm feel. “So we mixed warm and cool materials and used the fresh green of the leaves and vines in the vineyard as the fresh accent colour,” Juestel says.