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Before and After: A California Wine Country House Opens Up
An interior designer revamps his Healdsburg getaway into a comfortable, welcoming home full of character
When it comes to the Japanese principle of wabi-sabi — seeing imperfections, the primitive and the incomplete as beautiful things — interior designer Ben Dhong is all in. He was challenged by the basic 1980s finishes in his wine country weekend home in Healdsburg, California. To bring character to his home’s interiors, he mixed classic and modern, high and low, and old and new, and he incorporated inspirations from around the world, including Swedish Gustavian, Moroccan, rustic Americana, Venetian, Asian and French farmhouse.
Kitchen and Living Room (After)
This glance into the kitchen from the living room shows how unkitchen-y the new kitchen is. Dhong designed a modern island that looks like a solid block, wrapped it in a marble waterfall countertop and filled it with efficient storage. “Upper cabinets would have been a boring view,” he says. Instead he juxtaposed the modern island with a tall 19th-century French apothecary cabinet for display and storage. (Although that sounds fancy, it was actually less expensive than it would’ve been to outfit the space with cabinets and a countertop.)
“Every one of those white ceramic pieces came from shopping sprees at HomeGoods, Marshall’s and Ross,” says Dhong, a fan of the high-low mix. He is also a big believer in the ambiance a table lamp adds to a kitchen. There’s an outlet in the island to accommodate it.
He also loves to mix in classics, like the pedestal table with the classic Corinthian architectural base and the klismos chairs. Behind that table is a large painting of clouds by a local artist, which inspired the home’s name — Cloud Walk. “Walking into the house is like walking in the clouds. It’s very peaceful, Zen and comforting,” he says.
One of the designer’s favorite tricks is using portieres — drapes hung between rooms. He used them across the 10-foot-wide opening between the kitchen and the living room. “It lets me close things off a bit. And if I’m having a special candlelit dinner, I can open them up to the living room afterward. Ta-da! Opening them is almost like theater,” he says.
He’s also drawn to architectural pieces, like the long console table that resembles a Venetian bridge, and round mirrors, which pop up around the house. The large silver lamp was one a client ordered and then didn’t want, and the leather chair was a $90 High Point Market find. “I like to make the most of leftovers. It’s really fun to put them together,” he says.
Wall paint throughout the first floor: Light Pewter, Benjamin Moore
This glance into the kitchen from the living room shows how unkitchen-y the new kitchen is. Dhong designed a modern island that looks like a solid block, wrapped it in a marble waterfall countertop and filled it with efficient storage. “Upper cabinets would have been a boring view,” he says. Instead he juxtaposed the modern island with a tall 19th-century French apothecary cabinet for display and storage. (Although that sounds fancy, it was actually less expensive than it would’ve been to outfit the space with cabinets and a countertop.)
“Every one of those white ceramic pieces came from shopping sprees at HomeGoods, Marshall’s and Ross,” says Dhong, a fan of the high-low mix. He is also a big believer in the ambiance a table lamp adds to a kitchen. There’s an outlet in the island to accommodate it.
He also loves to mix in classics, like the pedestal table with the classic Corinthian architectural base and the klismos chairs. Behind that table is a large painting of clouds by a local artist, which inspired the home’s name — Cloud Walk. “Walking into the house is like walking in the clouds. It’s very peaceful, Zen and comforting,” he says.
One of the designer’s favorite tricks is using portieres — drapes hung between rooms. He used them across the 10-foot-wide opening between the kitchen and the living room. “It lets me close things off a bit. And if I’m having a special candlelit dinner, I can open them up to the living room afterward. Ta-da! Opening them is almost like theater,” he says.
He’s also drawn to architectural pieces, like the long console table that resembles a Venetian bridge, and round mirrors, which pop up around the house. The large silver lamp was one a client ordered and then didn’t want, and the leather chair was a $90 High Point Market find. “I like to make the most of leftovers. It’s really fun to put them together,” he says.
Wall paint throughout the first floor: Light Pewter, Benjamin Moore
Dining Room (After)
Dhong took one look at the roofline outside and knew he could go up here. So he had the drop ceiling removed, created a vaulted one and covered it in simple flat boards butted together. The porthole window’s shape is a detail he added throughout the house, even adding small portholes to some of the interior doors. “Everyone gets so happy about a round window!” he says. He replaced the existing floors with prefabricated engineered French oak flooring from DuChateau. “It gives the house a bit of a French farmhouse feel,” he says.
He wanted to create a comfortable lounge vibe throughout the house. “I’m very particular about a dining area because I want everyone to feel comfortable and chill out together for a long time,” he says. To do this, he used a lot of pale gray and white with a few well-edited bits of dark, a variety of textures, and glints from metallics like brass and mercury glass. “I like the play between dull and shiny,” he says.
By borrowing about 40 inches of depth from the garage, he created the Swedish sleeping alcove on the left. Shiplap cozies it up and distinguishes it from the rest of the room. “It’s the perfect place to lounge, nap, read newspapers and it provides extra seating,” he says.
The iconic midcentury modern Eero Saarinen Tulip table anchors a mix of bamboo chinoiserie chairs and a French barrel chair. “The table is such a classic, it looks good with everything,” he says. Also worth noting is another table lamp in an unexpected spot, keeping things casual on the table. “I didn’t want the distraction of a ceiling pendant or chandelier here,” he says.
Dhong took one look at the roofline outside and knew he could go up here. So he had the drop ceiling removed, created a vaulted one and covered it in simple flat boards butted together. The porthole window’s shape is a detail he added throughout the house, even adding small portholes to some of the interior doors. “Everyone gets so happy about a round window!” he says. He replaced the existing floors with prefabricated engineered French oak flooring from DuChateau. “It gives the house a bit of a French farmhouse feel,” he says.
He wanted to create a comfortable lounge vibe throughout the house. “I’m very particular about a dining area because I want everyone to feel comfortable and chill out together for a long time,” he says. To do this, he used a lot of pale gray and white with a few well-edited bits of dark, a variety of textures, and glints from metallics like brass and mercury glass. “I like the play between dull and shiny,” he says.
By borrowing about 40 inches of depth from the garage, he created the Swedish sleeping alcove on the left. Shiplap cozies it up and distinguishes it from the rest of the room. “It’s the perfect place to lounge, nap, read newspapers and it provides extra seating,” he says.
The iconic midcentury modern Eero Saarinen Tulip table anchors a mix of bamboo chinoiserie chairs and a French barrel chair. “The table is such a classic, it looks good with everything,” he says. Also worth noting is another table lamp in an unexpected spot, keeping things casual on the table. “I didn’t want the distraction of a ceiling pendant or chandelier here,” he says.
Living Room (After)
We caught a glimpse of the living room earlier; now here’s the rest. Materials including brass, plaster, hand-knotted wool and sea grass contribute to the lounge vibe. And let’s not forget the cardboard of the Frank Gehry Wiggle chair. Dhong painted it to “make it feel like a prototype.”
He covered the fireplace surround in a simple faux cement, which brings in a more modern look, as do the low and blocky wooden outdoor coffee tables. Flourishes include a Moroccan rug (pair it with an antique to relax the antique, he advises), an Ashante kings stool from Ghana he painted white ("I just slap it on; brushstrokes just add appeal,” he says), John Dickinson-inspired floor lamps that resemble giant tassels (a flea market find) and a DIY cloud over the fireplace. “I had some Fornasetti wallpaper left over from another project, so I had someone cut a cloud shape out of plywood and papered it,” he says.
For the ceilings, he went with a wabi-sabi philosophy, which embraces imperfections. “I got the junkiest, cheapest, most distressed wood I could find at the lumberyard,” he says. The more knots and imperfections, the more it brought in a well-worn French farmhouse feel overhead.
Coffee tables and tufted sofa: Restoration Hardware; Moroccan rug and armless sofa: CB2
We caught a glimpse of the living room earlier; now here’s the rest. Materials including brass, plaster, hand-knotted wool and sea grass contribute to the lounge vibe. And let’s not forget the cardboard of the Frank Gehry Wiggle chair. Dhong painted it to “make it feel like a prototype.”
He covered the fireplace surround in a simple faux cement, which brings in a more modern look, as do the low and blocky wooden outdoor coffee tables. Flourishes include a Moroccan rug (pair it with an antique to relax the antique, he advises), an Ashante kings stool from Ghana he painted white ("I just slap it on; brushstrokes just add appeal,” he says), John Dickinson-inspired floor lamps that resemble giant tassels (a flea market find) and a DIY cloud over the fireplace. “I had some Fornasetti wallpaper left over from another project, so I had someone cut a cloud shape out of plywood and papered it,” he says.
For the ceilings, he went with a wabi-sabi philosophy, which embraces imperfections. “I got the junkiest, cheapest, most distressed wood I could find at the lumberyard,” he says. The more knots and imperfections, the more it brought in a well-worn French farmhouse feel overhead.
Coffee tables and tufted sofa: Restoration Hardware; Moroccan rug and armless sofa: CB2
Powder Room
“I give a lot of thought to vanities because they are a good chance to keep a bathroom from feeling so bathroom-y. I’m always finding interesting chests and other pieces of furniture to transform into one,” Dhong says. In the powder room, he repurposed a classic cabinet from Horchow, adding the marble top and sink. Simple 10-inch shiplap adds interest on one wall, and a faux wood mirror adds rustic texture. “It’s better to add the shiplap to just one wall in a small room like this; otherwise it will make you dizzy,” he says.
“I give a lot of thought to vanities because they are a good chance to keep a bathroom from feeling so bathroom-y. I’m always finding interesting chests and other pieces of furniture to transform into one,” Dhong says. In the powder room, he repurposed a classic cabinet from Horchow, adding the marble top and sink. Simple 10-inch shiplap adds interest on one wall, and a faux wood mirror adds rustic texture. “It’s better to add the shiplap to just one wall in a small room like this; otherwise it will make you dizzy,” he says.
Linen Closet
“As you go through a house, every corner should have a moment that makes you happy,” Dhong says. We don’t have a “before” photo, but it’s not hard to imagine a sad linen closet with boring bifold doors greeting you as you reach the top of the stairs. Transformed into a charming niche with a tortoiseshell bamboo desk (another favorite of the designer’s), a Gustavian plaster cameo hung from ribbon and a tangerine lamp by Mary McDonald, it’s a treat, or as Dhong puts it, “it’s a reward for climbing the stairs.” Much like the portieres between the living room and the kitchen, it’s a spot that makes you pause.
The millwork is the brackets from the linen closet shelves, which he told the contractor to leave. “Part of wabi-sabi is knowing that a little imperfection is a beautiful thing,” Dhong says.
“As you go through a house, every corner should have a moment that makes you happy,” Dhong says. We don’t have a “before” photo, but it’s not hard to imagine a sad linen closet with boring bifold doors greeting you as you reach the top of the stairs. Transformed into a charming niche with a tortoiseshell bamboo desk (another favorite of the designer’s), a Gustavian plaster cameo hung from ribbon and a tangerine lamp by Mary McDonald, it’s a treat, or as Dhong puts it, “it’s a reward for climbing the stairs.” Much like the portieres between the living room and the kitchen, it’s a spot that makes you pause.
The millwork is the brackets from the linen closet shelves, which he told the contractor to leave. “Part of wabi-sabi is knowing that a little imperfection is a beautiful thing,” Dhong says.
Master Bedroom (After)
With a double-height ceiling in his bedroom, Dhong wanted to cozy it up into “a little captain’s cabin.” He customized a canopy bed from Room & Board to make it tall enough to stand up to the room’s height. At the same time, it makes the bed area feel snug. A crisp tailored canopy adds a modern touch.
“Gang them together, and they become pure architecture,” Dhong says of the three metal-framed mirrors from Ballard Designs. (He buys these “by the dozen” and used several more throughout the house.) The art is a student copy of a Roman painting he scooped up at a flea market. A John Dickinson table celebrates the iconic San Francisco designer. Swing-arm lamps mounted to the wall save space. And a convex round mirror over the bed serves as another porthole.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
With a double-height ceiling in his bedroom, Dhong wanted to cozy it up into “a little captain’s cabin.” He customized a canopy bed from Room & Board to make it tall enough to stand up to the room’s height. At the same time, it makes the bed area feel snug. A crisp tailored canopy adds a modern touch.
“Gang them together, and they become pure architecture,” Dhong says of the three metal-framed mirrors from Ballard Designs. (He buys these “by the dozen” and used several more throughout the house.) The art is a student copy of a Roman painting he scooped up at a flea market. A John Dickinson table celebrates the iconic San Francisco designer. Swing-arm lamps mounted to the wall save space. And a convex round mirror over the bed serves as another porthole.
Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
Guest Room (After)
“I wanted my guests to feel like they were staying at Grandma’s house in here,” Dhong says. “It’s a comforting feeling.” A snazzy yellow-and-white Hawaiian quilt, flea market painting collection, burlap drapes and brass reading lamp make it inviting. The bed came from T.J. Maxx. “I saw it from across the store and thought, ‘That bed is either going to be really ugly or really fantastic.’ It turned out to be fantastic, and I love the finish,” he says. He found a dark bamboo table at Chairish and painted it white to serve as the nightstand.
“I wanted my guests to feel like they were staying at Grandma’s house in here,” Dhong says. “It’s a comforting feeling.” A snazzy yellow-and-white Hawaiian quilt, flea market painting collection, burlap drapes and brass reading lamp make it inviting. The bed came from T.J. Maxx. “I saw it from across the store and thought, ‘That bed is either going to be really ugly or really fantastic.’ It turned out to be fantastic, and I love the finish,” he says. He found a dark bamboo table at Chairish and painted it white to serve as the nightstand.
Third Bedroom (After)
Dhong uses the third bedroom as a cozy library, office and den. It contains the only TV in the house (they took it out of one of those shelves for the photo shoot). Textures include grasscloth on the walls, faux wood wallpaper on the ceiling, and a bamboo desk he painted white.
Find faux wood wallpaper
Dhong uses the third bedroom as a cozy library, office and den. It contains the only TV in the house (they took it out of one of those shelves for the photo shoot). Textures include grasscloth on the walls, faux wood wallpaper on the ceiling, and a bamboo desk he painted white.
Find faux wood wallpaper
Exterior
“Healdsburg is pure heaven,” Dhong says. Now he’s made Cloud Walk into his own little slice of it. After evacuating because of the recent wildfires, he feels extra lucky that he and his home made it through the ordeal unscathed.
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“Healdsburg is pure heaven,” Dhong says. Now he’s made Cloud Walk into his own little slice of it. After evacuating because of the recent wildfires, he feels extra lucky that he and his home made it through the ordeal unscathed.
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
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Benjamin Dhong
Location: Healdsburg, California
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Kitchen (Before)
The house was missing the character Dhong wanted. To get it, he replaced floors, opened up a ceiling, installed skylights and round windows, painted, put up shiplap, replaced hollow interior doors, freshened up bathrooms, and painted throughout.
This “before” kitchen photo gives us a good idea of the home’s 1980s finishes and low ceilings.