Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Farmhouse Rises Among the Grapes
A home in the middle of a pinot noir vineyard mixes traditional and contemporary farmhouse styles
This former tech exec was ready to unplug and live life among rows of grapevines in Northern California. He found his ideal property, a working 7-acre pinot noir grape farm close to Santa Rosa, California. But the dark suburban kit house on it didn’t fit in with its surroundings and didn’t take advantage of the wine country views. Architect Amy Alper was able to work some of the existing structure into the classic farmhouse-meets-contemporary style her client yearned for, making the most of the setting, taking advantage of the natural light, putting the focus on the spectacular views and blurring the lines between inside and out.
The original house was more cookie-cutter suburban than agricultural. Its wraparound porch was the only element that fit in with the rural surroundings. However, it had a solid foundation that was more than adequate to handle a second story. “There was a lot of value in reusing the foundation,” Alper says. “It was a huge budget-saver, and it made sense to use it rather than starting over.”
The original house was 2,250 square feet. The renovations added 1,300 square feet to the home for a total of 3,550 square feet.
The original house was 2,250 square feet. The renovations added 1,300 square feet to the home for a total of 3,550 square feet.
By using the existing foundation, Alper did not have to remove one single vine. The simple shapes and wraparound porch recall a simple farmhouse vernacular, as do the materials she used — board and batten siding, hog wire, metal roofing and rough-hewn posts and beams. White siding creates a pleasingly crisp contrast to the colorful earthy surroundings.
Alper was able to keep the existing porch and its roofline. It was an element that fit in with the contemporary farmhouse style and again, a big budget saver to keep it.
However, the existing pediment on the roofline didn’t really fit with any other elements. Conventionally, a pediment like this would announce a front door, but in the case of the original house, it was just an attempt to balance out the bay on the other side.
To have it make sense within the new design, Alper expanded the stairs to correspond with its width and added a picture window beneath it. This window is on axis with large windows and doors on the other side of the house and with views of the vineyard and mountains. This foreshadows what’s to come inside — blurring the lines between inside and out, the influence of the surroundings, a strong axial plan and meticulous consideration of every view.
However, the existing pediment on the roofline didn’t really fit with any other elements. Conventionally, a pediment like this would announce a front door, but in the case of the original house, it was just an attempt to balance out the bay on the other side.
To have it make sense within the new design, Alper expanded the stairs to correspond with its width and added a picture window beneath it. This window is on axis with large windows and doors on the other side of the house and with views of the vineyard and mountains. This foreshadows what’s to come inside — blurring the lines between inside and out, the influence of the surroundings, a strong axial plan and meticulous consideration of every view.
Here’s what you see through the picture window — the axis even lines up with the rows of grapevines outside the windows.
The fireplace surround has a contemporary industrial look right down to the tiles, which are porcelain but look like steel.
Fireplace tile: Broadway Bronzo, Ceramic Tileworks
The fireplace surround has a contemporary industrial look right down to the tiles, which are porcelain but look like steel.
Fireplace tile: Broadway Bronzo, Ceramic Tileworks
A cross axis extends from the massive fireplace surround (just out of view to the right) into the kitchen. Alper scaled the massive fireplace surround to stand up to the scale of the living room and to be proportional to the large opening into the kitchen.
The hog-wire railings across the loft repeat the railings outside on the porch and balcony. The round blackened-steel chandelier throws some curves into the mix.
The hog-wire railings across the loft repeat the railings outside on the porch and balcony. The round blackened-steel chandelier throws some curves into the mix.
Because her client wanted a kitchen table and a workstation in the kitchen, Alper combined the two. “The island [which is on castors] can stay in its spot and still accommodate four at the table for dinner,” she says. “For more guests, there is a bench that is tucked under the table for added seating, and the kitchen island rolls over the table and is placed at the back of the couch where it can be used for a buffet.”
While the architect gave the home a farmhouse form and nodded to the style via many of the materials she used, she arranged everything in a contemporary way. She also related different elements throughout the house to one another to create continuity. Blackened steel appears on table bases, light fixtures and railings. The light fixture in here repeats the steel structure and Edison bulbs used on the round living room chandelier. And the two were placed along the same cross axis.
Light fixture: Tech-Lighting Akimbo Linear Suspension Light; kitchen table/island: Parsons (customized), Room and Board
While the architect gave the home a farmhouse form and nodded to the style via many of the materials she used, she arranged everything in a contemporary way. She also related different elements throughout the house to one another to create continuity. Blackened steel appears on table bases, light fixtures and railings. The light fixture in here repeats the steel structure and Edison bulbs used on the round living room chandelier. And the two were placed along the same cross axis.
Light fixture: Tech-Lighting Akimbo Linear Suspension Light; kitchen table/island: Parsons (customized), Room and Board
Also, the kitchen backsplash tile and the fireplace surround across from it are both arranged in a herringbone pattern, but in different scales and colors.
The drawer pulls are a contemporary take on traditional farmhouse bin pulls.
Pulls: Ribbon, Mockett; countertops: Coleus marble, Ceramic Tile Design
The drawer pulls are a contemporary take on traditional farmhouse bin pulls.
Pulls: Ribbon, Mockett; countertops: Coleus marble, Ceramic Tile Design
The kitchen, this entry and the loft above are the spaces between the twin towers and are all part of the transitional zone between the public areas and the more private ones.
Engineered wood flooring throughout house: European Oak Chandon, French Connection
Engineered wood flooring throughout house: European Oak Chandon, French Connection
The staircase doesn’t touch the walls on either side — a 1-inch gap allows for LED tape lights to provide an intriguing glow from below. The handrail is another example of mixing rustic and modern — its blackened steel has a contemporary look, but it was handcrafted.
Railing: FabWorx
Railing: FabWorx
The cozy loft overlooks the living room. It’s a private space away from the workers who arrive early in the morning. As you can see out the windows, every view was carefully considered and framed. At first glance, the window on the left easily could be mistaken for a landscape painting.
In addition to providing a view of the Mayacamas Mountains, the windows also bathe the loft and the rooms below with daylight. Hot air from below rises up and escapes through operable skylights for passive cooling.
In addition to providing a view of the Mayacamas Mountains, the windows also bathe the loft and the rooms below with daylight. Hot air from below rises up and escapes through operable skylights for passive cooling.
Here you can see some of the exterior elements repeated indoors — Douglas fir rough-hewn beams, horizontal siding, vertical board and batten siding and hog-wire railings. The horizontal siding and vertical board and batten siding break up the scale of the soaring ceiling and designate the first and second levels respectively. The beams also emphasize this level change. Finally, a narrow metal channel uplights the ceilings with LED lights.
The owner’s favorite view is this one from the loft through the master bedroom’s corner windows and out to one of the storage barns. The hog-wire railings outside are part of a balcony accessible from the master bedroom.
Here’s a glimpse directly out those corner windows. A built-in window seat adds a great spot to enjoy the view.
Bedding: Crate and Barrel
Bedding: Crate and Barrel
“The bath is traditional, yet modern,” Alper says. The free-standing bathtub is a contemporary update on a claw-foot tub one might find in an antique farmhouse. Calacatta marble adds a luxe touch. A pony wall between the shower and tub allows one to take in the view out the window from the shower stall.
A teak veneer on the vanity brings in a warm contemporary touch. A large mirror helps keep the room light and bright.
Counter: Caesarstone; sconces: Modern Forms
Counter: Caesarstone; sconces: Modern Forms
The homeowner originally bought the denim piece on the far wall online to use as a rug, but on the floor it was skewing toward hokey. However, as a wall hanging, it adds just the right rustic/contemporary touch in the guest room.
On the private side of the house, this flexible space could easily be a bedroom, but for this homeowner, it serves as a changing room for the pool.
Around the corner from the front door, the porch provides a spectacular view across the infinity pool to the fruit-forward rows of pinot noir grapevines.
Alper redesigned the patio, infinity pool and pool surround to be an extension of the home, with a dining space adjacent to the kitchen and lounge chairs that have a view for miles. In addition to all the visual access between indoors and out, there is a lot of physical access. Doors from the living room and kitchen and the upstairs balcony off the master bedroom provide direct access on this side of the house, while the wraparound porch provides a transitional covered outdoor space.
Team: Contractor: Earthtone Construction
Interior design collaboration: Rochelle Silberman
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Team: Contractor: Earthtone Construction
Interior design collaboration: Rochelle Silberman
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A tech exec who traded in the startup lifestyle for grape growing
Location: Near Santa Rosa, California
Size: 3,550 square feet (330 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Architect: Amy Alper
While the owner requested large windows to take in the views, he also wanted privacy. The house sits smack dab in the middle of a vineyard, which meant a lot of workers nearby early in the morning. Alper composed a house of twin forms — one is for public living areas, the other for private areas, with an entry, kitchen and loft occupying the space in between.