Historic Barn, Sonoma

We received an award from the Sonoma County Historical Society for this modern reconstruction of a historic barn. Virtually nothing remained of the original building, but using the same footprint within the front yard setback allowed us to open up the other side of the lot for a pool and guest house. For the exterior, we chose unstained Redwood vertical board & batten siding, white metal clad wood windows, and a corrugated metal roof. The stone walls of the guest house have been treated to look like the stucco has been washed away by the passage of time. The entry hall, great room and kitchen feature soaring, vaulted ceilings. Vertical wood boards with hand-eased edges and irregular gaps create a subtle sense of informality for large spaces that might otherwise feel too grand. Warm, stone floors ground the quirky decor in the great room, with antique terra cotta tile in the kitchen and reclaimed Oak in the master suite. The tripled balusters and Victorian details of the stair leading up to the loft bedroom add another layer of personality to a big house that still feels cozy. The undeveloped hills above and beyond the house suggest a rural setting in a classic northern California landscape, but the half-acre property is located in the City of Sonoma, only a few blocks north of the main square.