Sequestered in rural Sebastopol, this whole-house remodel turned a cramped, dark, 1970’s home into a bright, country modern designed for entertaining. On approach the off-white board & batt siding picks out the low-lying house from the surrounding greenery; the front porch offers views of a tree-lined meadow and a centered bi-parting door connects directly with the living room inside.
Essential to the brief was a large, bright great room space that connects the living, dining and kitchen areas directly to the outside. The large vaulted room spaces out these programs using area rugs, sideboards and the kitchen cabinetry, making each feel distinct in the open-plan format.
Two large skylights over the kitchen provide natural ambient light that bounces from glazed white subway tile and the honed Carrara marble countertops.
Although more difficult to maintain, the look of marble can certainly be worth the effort for the conscientious.
Light neutral tones throughout allow color and dark contrasts to pop in stark, contemporary juxtaposition. The pendants and over-sink sconce from Luminaire Authentik for example, are weighted against the pale palette from across the great room, tying in with the darker black tone of the island cabinetry.
The hallway bathroom also uses a light palette of Carrara marble and white Zellige tile, the darker accents of the hexagonal floor tile, mirror frame and sconces used as counter-balancing elements. Artwork highlighted with a red frame adds vibrance and visual interest in the otherwise neutral space.
Also included in this project; the renovation of two bedrooms, and the addition of a mud room, laundry and wine storage room off the kitchen. A detached workshop on the property also received an upgrade to an ADU which allowed our clients somewhere to live while the primary dwelling was completed. Construction was expertly handled by Jed at Pterodactyl Construction.
“I highly recommend Samuel Lowe at SDL Residential. Sam worked with us to redesign and increase a 1400 square foot ranch home plus convert a separate detached garage into a studio/office in our newly purchased home in Sebastopol, CA. Our vision was to expand the footprint of the house with an open floor concept, increase ceiling height and incorporate the common living space into indoor-outdoor living. In addition, we transformed an old garage to serve as a welcoming place for guests and office space for us. Sam was a pleasure to work with - he brought great ideas to the project, while considering our needs and budget. He is professional, attentive and has a great sense of design. Sonoma County is a tough place to get permitting, but due to Sam’s diligence, the process went smoothly without a hitch and we were approved with no revisions needed. I would not hesitate to work with Sam in the future.”