26 Jun Tour a Sprawling Napa Valley Estate That’s a Dream for Those of All Ages
The structure was fully designed when Dunham joined the project, and Barnett employed a material palette that “would have been indicative of a farmhouse built 100 years ago,” the architect says. This includes a stone base that matches retaining walls found elsewhere on the property, white-painted cedar siding, and wood windows with mullions. Designing within this framework, Dunham outfitted the interiors with a mix of new furniture, custom pieces, and vintage finds (French brutalist candle holders, Italian textiles, fireplace surrounds from the 1930s) that blur the lines between decades and give the home a comfortable, lived-in feel. “I wanted people to think, Is this a new house, or was it renovated?” says Dunham.
With the backdrop in place, the designer layered color and pattern in certain areas, using upholstery and textiles in the family room and guest room and paint in the dining room and kitchen (a vibrant jewel-toned turquoise), the potting room (soft, sage green), and the wet bar (a red that pays homage to the traditional barn). Other places, such as the living room and the book-lined library, are anchored in soft, neutral tones in a palette of stained-oak flooring and materials such as vintage French linens, jute, and wicker. The living room is the client’s favorite place in the home, where a row of French doors opens to a terrace with sweeping views. Punctuating the decor are works of art—a series of drawings by Sol LeWitt, a hanging neon piece by Andrea Bowers, wall rugs by the Haas Brothers—that underscore the clients’ creativity and free-spirited style.
“Everyone worked to make a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors,” notes Dunham, who, along with Barnett, worked closely with landscape architect Scott Lewis on the grounds. Starting from the house, where a back porch provides a space for outdoor dining, one can meander along a series of tree-and-shrub-lined paths, which unfurl to reveal a swimming pool, a pond with a rowboat, lush flower and vegetable gardens, patios with a fireplace and pizza oven, and an original barn converted into a basketball court. “We find the house functions so beautifully,” says the client, “and we love spending time there—inside and out. Any view of the barn and ponds is our favorite vista, at any time of the day.”
