Inside a Relaxed-Yet-Refined Farmhouse In the Heart of California
From the gable roof to the board-and-batten paneling, this winery-turned-farmhouse shines.
When lifelong East Coasters moved 3,000 miles across the country to be closer to their grandkids, designer Maya Williams helped them outfit a California farmhouse with a New York state of mind.
Golden Opportunity
For longtime East Coasters, even a farmhouse on 40 acres in Upstate New York couldn't compete with 11 grandchildren on the West Coast. So the couple opted to spend their golden years in the Golden State, on a 4-acre property in sunny Ojai, California. And while the house, which served as the area's first winery in the 1890s, offered plenty of history, it lacked the classic board-and-batten, Cape Cod-inspired character that the couple was accustomed to. So they assembled a dream team of architect Charles Samson, landscape designer Paul Hendershot, contractor Supan Builders, and interior designer Maya Williams and challenged them to design a traditional farmhouse with all the refinement, beauty, and warmth of an old East Coast home. "This house, with its classic, Shaker-style woodwork, is a departure from a lot of the Spanish architecture seen on the West Coast," says Maya. Fortunately, the designer's atypical east-meets-west approach pleased even the toughest, and tiniest, of critics—the grandkids.
Living Room
1. Original Fireplace: Made of coveted Ojai stone, the fireplace surround adds a grounding element to the neutral room. "When we demoed the house, we covered up the fireplace and had a sign that read, 'Do not touch!' " says Maya.
2. English Antiques: A few of the homeowners' more refined family heirlooms—like the walnut rocker and various collectibles—are offset by more "California casual" pieces, such as the slipcovered sofa.
3. Reclaimed Wood: The hardy coffee table—"the grandkids can't damage it," says Maya—reinforces the sustainable vibe of the home.
Stables
4. High-Pitched Roof: The stable's steep lines, a staple of New England architecture due to brutal winters, mimics the roof of the main house.
Arbor
5. Charming gardens. Previously dilapidated, the arbor now features pomegranates and grapefruits and serves as a charming place to catch some shade.
Breakfast Nook
6. Mellow yellow. In both the kitchen and breakfast nook, Maya took a subdued approach to color with muted tones of classically California shades. The easy-breezy blockprint tablecloth (pomegranateinc.com) is the West Coast counterpoint to traditional bowback Windsor chairs (thosmoser.com). "I don't think there's a color that's more iconically country," says Maya. The light-filled breakfast nook—no draperies here!—overlooks an impressive vegetable garden.
Kitchen
7. Simple cabinetry: Ample open shelving, classic Shaker-style cabinets, and bin pulls reinforce the room's country flair.
Stove
8. Timeless tile: Drenched with sunshine from the three skylights, the kitchen features an equally sunny backsplash (walkerzanger.com). "The tile has such a classic quality—it feels like something that could have been here forever," says Maya.
9. Buttery stove: In a sweetly retro shade of "Lemonade," the Viking range ups the sunny factor of the space.
Dining Room
10. Textured furniture. In the dining room, casual woven chairs (palecek.com) in a gray finish strike a California chord, while the custom-made walnut table evokes a farmhouse feel.
Kids' Loft
11. Salvaged storage. Whether it's a "nightstand" made of stacked luggage in the kids' loft or a trunk at the foot of the guest room bed, antique travel pieces offer sensible spots to hide unsightly stashes.
Bedroom
12. Oodles of shiplap. The laser-cut lantern (vaughandesigns.com) casts soft shadows on the shiplap walls at night. "You'll never second-guess a four-poster bed in mahogany wood," adds Maya.
Master Bathroom
13. Organic elements. Maya looked no further than the Topatopa Mountains for inspiration in the master bathroom. The earthy limestone floor (floroflosi.com) is embedded with fossilized rocks and shells. Hand-embroidered linen draperies in a soft shade of sand (chelseatextiles.com) add polish without distracting from the stunning scenery.
Patio
14. Beautiful views. The stone patio offers a beautiful spot to eat an alfresco breakfast—and watch the horses graze.
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