Show of hands, who wants a relaxing abode nestled in the heart of wine country? If you raised your hand (I did!) this post is for you. Kara, of Along Came Lennox, created this soothing escape for her client using warm and modern touches that relax your muscles and encourage you to breathe deeply. Now grab your corkscrew, your favorite bottle, and sip your way through the beautiful photos by Meghan Caudill.
From the designer… This home is located in the heart of Wine Country, only a few minutes outside of downtown Healdsburg, CA and nestled on a road with multiple vineyards.
When we kicked off the remodel and furnishing of the home, I wanted to honor both the client’s more modern style and the traditional bones of the home. This home was to be used as a restful weekend retreat from the city and as an entertaining landing zone for both large family gatherings and friends. The client is a total boss lady, working long hours in a high-stress work environment that she loves and said “When I come here, I just want to feel life slow down. I want to have the doors open, and take deep breaths”. We wanted to reflect that peaceful vibe in both the remodel and the soft furnishings and styling.
For remodel needs, it was decided early in the process to remodel both bathrooms, the open concept kitchen and replace the original tile flooring with hardwood. We loved the original wood beams/paneled ceiling, but the original stain undertone read quite pink so we re-stained all throughout the home which took a while to get the adjusted stain just right! As it is a second home, we also wanted to also use durable materials for entertaining and guest visits. My client loves the classic look of marble, but to avoid the upkeep, we went with porcelain slabs for the kitchen countertops– and the installed result is perfection.
When selecting the furniture and styling pieces, we shopped from everywhere mixing contemporary pieces with more traditional pieces. The goal was to ground the space in a warm neutral palette, but mix materials and subtle patterns. Knowing we would keep a warm white paint throughout the home, we also wanted to layer in more color with artwork and rugs. For the two guest rooms, we did add more color with bedding and rugs as we wanted each guest room to have its own distinct personality instead of being referred to as “Guest Room 1”, etc!
My favorite part of this project? Brainstorming with the client on what would make the home ideal for both her needs and a variety of entertaining needs. A fun example of this is when we were brainstorming about hosting large family gatherings for the holidays – so a built-in raised daybed was created in a guest bedroom corner to happily sleep her nephews, while the sofa in her detached office also serves as a pull-out for when all siblings come to visit! Game night is also a treasured family tradition, so I shopped for the best looking board games on the market…. and surprising even me, there are some gorgeous options in the market for monopoly to backgammon that are proudly displayed!
Looking back at the completion of this project, what makes me as the designer the happiest? The client purchased the home with the intent to be exclusively a weekend retreat from San Francisco, but post remodel and full interior design, the client happily spends more time in wine country than in the city. That is the happiest news for a designer to hear.
Next project? The outdoor renovation with the addition of a pool and pool bath this summer!
Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Along Came Lennox · Photography: Meghan Caudill · Builder: Richard Bicardo
