ARTISANAL ABODE — St. Helena, California

The design ethos behind this Wine Country retreat emphasizes the beauty of nature and the craftsmanship of local artisans and makers. The project is a unique guest house that sits just behind a historic Victorian home where the owners (a professional couple with adult children) have lived for 25 years. When the opportunity arose to purchase this adjacent property, they envisioned creating a “California Modern” retreat with a separate experience from their main residence, using the pool area as the connection and meeting place.

The homeowners’ appreciation for the arts, local crafts, and community quickly became apparent, as did their commitment to sustainability. Nearly every element in the home—from the kitchen’s dramatic art tile wall to the extraordinary 27,000-pound eucalyptus tree in the dining area was sourced and crafted by local artisans. Local and regional materials are also celebrated in every corner of the home and garden, with reclaimed Monterey cypress boards used for the wood finishes and decks and a ‘wabi-sabi’ quilt of eucalyptus segments used to create the courtyard’s central water feature. The wood elements tie together the architecture and interiors, while the quiet, textured landscape selections reinforce the home’s earthy aesthetic. The result is a special “artisan’s abode” grounded in the environment with a serene sense of tranquility and harmony at every turn.

PHOTOGRAPHY

View additional photography here. Photography by Adam Potts. All rights reserved.

The main pivoting entrance door exposees a massive clay vessel containing a time capsule from the design team to the owners as a focal point beyond a wall-to-wall window.

Reclaimed Monterey cypress boards were used throughout the interiors and exteriors of the home.

The custom kitchen tile was crafted from a single large slab of material. The artist (Kelly Farley) constructed scaffolding over the top of the slab, then used his hands to create intricate texture and movement across the surface. Afterward, he carefully hand-cut each tile piece.

Pre-cast custom concrete casework by Joe Bates, SC Fabrication.

The backsplash and vanity in the powder room repeat the same materials used in the kitchen for a cohesive design.

A 27,000-pound reclaimed eucalyptus log was cut and carved into an integrated piece of natural furniture by Evan Shively of Arborica. It was craned into the space and repurposed as a central feature, serving not only as a dining space, but also as a room divider, curving perfectly to the back of the living room sofa. Custom lighting by Mick Handley.

Sofa and chair by STAHL + BAND. Custom coffee table by Napa artisan Weidmann Sculpture Studio. Vintage kilim rug by Woven.

Custom concrete cabinetry design by Napa artisan Joe Bates from SC Fabrication. The concrete was hand-packed in the center to introduce dynamic movement, character and texture.

A tranquil office spaces was designed as a “Zoom Room".

Custom desk and sofa by Garth Miller Studios. Glass coffee tables by John Liston, Coup d’Etat.

Custom designed bed by Erin Martin in Vanderberg Blue by Benjamin Moore

Custom designed chair by Erin Martin, rug by Atlas Weavers.

Custom concrete vanity with hand-packed concrete by Joe Bates, SC Fabrication.

The central courtyard and its water feature are a modern take on Japanese courtyard design.

A Yoga Barn forms the transition from the original property to the new retreat. The swimming pool is a meeting point shared between the two properties.

KEY MATERIALS, ARTISANS & VENDORS

Key Materials & Local Artisans

  • Reclaimed Monterey Cypress and Reclaimed Eucalyptus — Evan Shively, Arborica, Petaluma

  • Concrete Cabinets and Floors — Joe Bates, SC Fabrication, Napa

  • Handmade Tile — Kelly Farley, Pope Valley Pottery

  • Wiedmann Sculpture Studios, Napa

  • Jeff Menchacha Fine Woodworking, Napa

  • Ray’s Custom Ironworks, St. Helena

  • Michael McDermott, Artist, Coombsville

  • Garth Miller Studios, Ukiah

Kitchen/Dining Area

  • Backsplash Tile — Handmade by Kelly Farley, Pope Valley Pottery

  • Countertops and Cabinets — Custom hand-packed concrete by Joe Bates, SC Fabrication

  • Dining Table — Woodwork by Jeff Menchacha, Metalwork by Ray’s Custom Iron Works

  • Barstools and Dining Chairs — Okha in taupe leather through Twentieth

  • Lighting over Island — Juniper Lighting

  • Custom Light on Eucalyptus Log — Mick Handley, Lighting Designer

Living Room

  • Sofa and Chair — STAHL + BAND, Great Plains Fabric: Teddy, Buff

  • Custom Coffee Table — Wiedmann Sculpture Studios

  • Vintage Purple Kilim Rug — Woven

  • Art —Email For An Anchorite by local artist Michael McDermott. Encaustic, Beeswax, and Wax Crayon on Wood

Primary Suite

  • Bed — Custom designed by Erin Martin in Vanderberg Blue by Benjamin Moore

  • Chair — Custom designed by Erin Martin

  • Side Table — Dan John Anderson through The Future Perfect 

  • Rug — Atlas Weavers

  • Custom Door Hardware — Brian Kennedy, Metalwork Artist

  • Bathroom Vanity — Custom hand-packed concrete by Joe Bates, SC Fabrication

Zoom Room

  • Glass Coffee Table: John Liston’s Bishop Table through Coup D'Etat

  • Custom Desk and Sofa — Garth Miller Studios 

Powder Room

  • Backsplash Tile — Handmade by Kelly Farley, Pope Valley Pottery

  • Vanity — Custom hand-packed concrete by Joe Bates, SC Fabrication

Exterior

  • Wood Loung Chairs — Espasso

PUBLICIST

Kim Gonthier
DAVIS GONTHIER
415.798.7142
kim@davisgonthier.com
@davisgonthier