HISTORIC FARMHOUSE + GUEST CABINS - Marin County, California
This historic property is located in Marin County’s rural community of Nicasio. Constructed in 1870, it was initially a dairy farm for the region’s local cheese makers, selling its milk to the Point Reyes Cooperative Creamery. Generations later, it now serves as a remote retreat for a prominent young couple from San Francisco. Little has changed in the area since the 1870s, and the property remains a historic treasure from California’s early pioneer days. Its three structures include the family farmhouse and two small guest cabins (originally built for the ranch hands.)
FAMILY FARMHOUSE
Historic elements were preserved wherever possible during the renovation of the family farmhouse. Its original pine floors were salvaged by bleaching and refinishing them with a custom stain in lieu of a full replacement. A large span of windows was added behind the living room’s fireplace to open up what had previously been a walled-in space with no views of the surrounding countryside. This style of architecture was more common in the past when farm workers often sought to separate their home life from work — thus, views of the land were often intentionally minimized.
Hart Howerton Architects added windows behind the living room’s fireplace to open up what had previously been a walled-in space. The custom-designed console by Statsky Design conceals a TV lift. The room is filled with vintage finds, including the coffee table, reading lamp, and large wooden table lamp. Lounge chair and ottoman by Ochre with a Rose Tarlow linen. Area rug by Mark Phillips.
The mud room’s custom cabinetry is painted in Farrow and Ball’s Green Smoke. A vintage stool with a rug from Laviva Home completes the space.
A vintage wooden table lamp sits atop a custom console with its hidden TV lift. Lounge chair is by Galerie Half.
Custom daybeds were designed for the meditation room and upholstered in a Mark Alexander fabric from De Sousa Hughes. A vintage pendant from Obsolete hangs above. A vintage rug and workbench round out the space.
Natural wood dining chairs by Century/Bernhardt surround a rustic dining table made with reclaimed wood.
A mixture of black dining chairs and benches from Sawkille and natural wood chairs by Century/Bernhardt surround a rustic dining table. “I love mixing in benches around the dining table. It provides the opportunity to add another style, finish and texture and creates a more interesting design.” - Jennifer Robin
A built-in daybed and drawers were added to the guest bedroom for extra sleeping accommodations. Bed and bedside tables by Jacob May. Sconces by Roxy. Area rug by Erden. Table lamp by MT Washington Pottery.
Bed and bedside tables by Jacob May. Sconces by Roxy.
The homeowner’s art sits atop custom cabinetry for the built in day bed.
Double sconce by Hector Finch. Area rug by The Vintage Rug Shop.
The primary bathroom tub is surrounded by reclaimed wood. A photograph of one of the homeowner’s llamas at the ranch hangs above.
The wall-to-wall headboard in the primary bedroom is upholstered in a Mark Alexander plaid from De Sousa Hughes. A vintage trunk from 1stdibs sits at the end of the bed . The Erden area rug is from De Sousa Hughes.
Wooden night stands by Tod Von Mertens from De Sousa Hughes. Table lamps by Stone and Sawyer.
Two whimsical swings on the outdoor patio are by Stahl + Band. One of the guest cabins and the original barn can be seen in the background.
A seating area with swivel stools by Palecek and coffee tables by Zachary A. Design sit outside the main farmhouse. One of the two guest cabins can be seen in the background
The firepit provides a cozy spot with plenty of bench seating and sweeping views of the surrounding hills. Adirondack chairs by Sutherland.
Outdoor dining table and benches by Artefact Design and Salvage. Concrete dining chars by Stahl + Band.
THE “COWBOY” CABIN
The theme for this cabin’s design was inspired by a vintage cowboy fabric the homeowner found. The cabin was fully renovated, including its tiny guest kitchen, loft with two built-in beds, and a new Malm fireplace. The reclaimed wood siding, floors, and ladder were salvaged to maintain its rustic roots.
The theme of this guest cabin was inspired by the vintage cowboy print fabric. The wall-to-wall headboard is upholstered in an Osborne and Little plaid, and the bed shams are in a Pierre Frey fabric. A vintage settee by Obsolete sits at the end of the bed. Vintage island stools from Lee Stanton provide kitchen seating.
Bedside sconces from Obsolete.
The checkerboard clay tile is by Country Floors with Noir Sully Stone floor tiles by Ann Sacks
The kitchen features natural soapstone countertops for durability. The ceiling and doors are painted in Railings by Farrow and Ball
THE “COUNTRY” CABIN
This cabin's renovation includes the addition of an exterior deck with twin tubs, a bathroom, and a sleeping loft. The loft’s ladder telescopes and tucks away to make more space during the day. A new built-in day bed was designed in the main space so that the cabin would function for day use, not just as sleeping quarters. The homeowner initially wanted a bright floral design for this cabin’s interior, but feared it would be out of place with its rustic surroundings. They eventually opted for a more neutral palette that added floral whimsy with a more subtle Rose Tarlow wallpaper (also used on the sconces). Additional color was added by preserving the original wainscot and repainting it in Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball.
The Country Cabin was reconfigured by adding a day bed area for daytime use (as opposed to remaining a cabin purely for sleeping.) The loft has an additional twin bed, accessed by a telescoping ladder that tucks away when not in use. The leather chair, table lamp, and quilt were vintage finds. The vintage rug is from Carol Piper Rugs. Original wainscot painted in Blue Smoke by Farrow and Ball. The wallpaper and fabric at sconces is by Rose Tarlow.
The shower wall tile is from Cle Tile, and the floor tiles are by Country Floors. A ceiling fixture by Touch Good lights the entry to the bathroom.
The bathroom’s pendant light is by Hector Finch from Shears & Window. Plumbing fixtures by Waterworks.
An exterior deck with twin tubs was added to the Country Cabin.
ABOUT JENNIFER ROBIN INTERIORS
Jennifer Robin is the founder and owner of Jennifer Robin Interiors, a full-service interior design firm based in Northern California. Known for her re-imagination of luxury living, Jen’s designs blend traditional elements, modern lines, and organic materials to create beautifully curated interiors full of warmth and elegance. Jen specializes in large-scale residential projects throughout the Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco Bay Area. Her designs carefully weave together each home’s architectural elements, interior details, and natural surroundings to create cohesive spaces that celebrate the very best of indoor-outdoor living. Her award-winning work has been celebrated in numerous design publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Luxe Magazine, Mountain Living, California Homes, California Home & Design, and Modern Luxury Interiors. Jen and her husband Matt, a Cal Fire Batallion Chief, live in the hills of Marin with their daughter Audrey.
“Ideally, one notices a home’s natural surroundings first, then slowly discovers the surprises and thoughtfulness of the interiors.”
— Jennifer Robin
DESIGN TEAM
- Interiors: Jennifer Robin Interiors | @jrobininteriors
- Architecture: Hart Howerton | @harthowarton
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography by Sam Frost. All rights reserved. View project photography here.
KEY VENDORS
Family Farmhouse
Mud Room
Cabinetry - JRI custom design, built by Matthew Chase Woodworks
Paint - Farrow and Ball
Rug - Laviva Home
Stool - Vintage
Dining Room
Reclaimed Wood Dining Table - JRI custom design, built by Statsky Design
Black Dining Chairs and Benches - Sawkille
Natural Wood Dining Side Chairs - Century / Bernhardt
Pelt at Cushions - RW Guild
Living Room
Coffee Table – Vintage / Galerie Half
Lounge Chair - Galerie Half
Sectional – Custom design. Velvet Fabric - Pollack
Lounge Chai/Ottoman - Ochre. Fabric: Holland and Sherry Leather + Rose Tarlow Linen
Custom Reclaimed Wood TV Lift Cabinet – JRI custom design, built by Statsky Design
Layering Coffee Table - Stahl + Band
Area Rug - Mark Phillips
Reading Table Lamp – Vintage / Obsolete
Large wood table lamp - Vintage
Meditation Room
Daybeds – JRI custom design. Fabric: Mark Alexander / De Sousa Hughes
Area Rug – The Vintage Rug Shop
Stump Side Tables - SF Wood Dogs
Pendant - Obsolete
Sconces - Allied Maker
Work Bench - Vintage
Shades - Conrad
Primary Bedroom
Wall-to-Wall Headboard – JRI custom design. Fabric - Mark Alexander / De Sousa Hughes
Nightstands - Tod Von Mertens / De Sousa Hughes
Table Lamps - Stone and Sawyer
Vintage Trunk - 1st Dibs
Area Rug - Erden / De Sousa Hughes
Primary Bathroom
Area Rug - The Vintage Rug Shop
Double Sconce - Hector Finch / Shears & Window
Plumbing Fixtures - Waterworks
Shower Tile - Ann Sacks
Guest Bedroom
Bed - Jacob May
Sconces - Roxy
Table Lamp - MT Washington Pottery
Bedside Tables - Jacob May
Area Rug - Erden
Exterior
Coffee Tables - Zachary A. Design
Swivel Stools - Palecek
Swings - Stahl + Band
Coffee Table - Jean De Merry
Adirondacks at Firepit - Sutherland
Dining Table + Benches - Artefact Design and Salvage
ConcreteDining Chairs - Stahl + Band
The Cowboy Cabin
Entry Rug - L'aviva Home
Bed - JRI custom design. Fabric: Osborne and Little
Nightstands – Custom design. Fabricated by Matthew Chase Woodworks
Settee - Obsolete, vintage reupholstered: Fabric - Holland and Sherry
Island Stools - Vintage (Lee Stanton)
Bedside Sconces - Obsolete
Bathroom Sconces - Hector Finch
Bed Shams - Pierre Frey fabric
Cowboy print fabric on the bed - Vintage from the homeowner
Bathroom Flooring - Noir Sully Stone by Ann Sacks
Shower Tile - Checkerboard clay tile by Country Floors
Black paint on doors/ceiling of kitchen/bath: Railings by Farrow and Ball
Countertops - Soapstone
Custom Light Switch Plates - Nik Gelormino / Another Good Job
Cabinetry - Matthew Chase Woodworks
The Country Cabin
Side Tables – Vintage finds
Rug - Vintage - Carol Piper Rugs
Floor Lamp – Vintage
Leather Chair - Vintage find
Sofa – Custom design, Fabric - Pierre Frey
Table Lamp – Vintage
Twin Bed in Loft – Mulligan’s / represented at Shears & Windows
Sconces - Urban Electric with Rose Tarlow fabric
Bathroom Pendant - Hector Finch / represented at Shears & Window
Bathroom Ceiling Fixture - Touch Goods
Window Shades - Conrad
Wallpaper and Fabric at Sconces - Rose Tarlow
Plumbing Fixtures - Waterworks
Quilt - Vintage
Fireplace - Malm
Bathroom Floor Tile - Country Floors
Shower Wall Tile - Cle Tile
Cabinetry - Matthew Chase Woodworks in Green Smoke by Farrow and Ball
PUBLICIST
Kim Gonthier
DAVIS GONTHIER
415.798.7142
kim@davisgonthier.com
@davisgonthier