WOOD STONE AND WATER

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A CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY RETREAT MERGES NATURAL BEAUTY WITH THE ARTISTRY OF LOCAL CRAFTSMEN

Text: Lotus Abrams, Photography: Adam Potts

 

What started as a remodel of a Victorian home on the St. Helena historic register turned into a much bigger project when the homeowners purchased the adjacent property behind their home. With the purchase, an opportunity arose to create a unique wine country guest house.

 

“The clients wanted to create a California Modern retreat for visiting parents, children, and friends,” says Charles Covell of Covell Architects. “The goal became tying the two properties together cohesively, even though the styles are very different.” Taking cues from local agrarian archetypes, as well as mid-century modern and contemporary forms, the new structures built by Borges General Contracting appear intimately connected to the site’s natural setting. “The existing heritage walnut tree and swimming pool became organizing elements for the design, and they also set the themes of wood and water,” says Dave Roche of Roche + Roche Landscape Architecture.

The result is not only visually stunning, but also invites moments of quiet contemplation. “Each space and opening

frames the views, whether it’s a piece of art or the landscape,” Covell says. “Every turn offers another moment that feels grounded and calm.”

 

When designing the interiors, interior designer Erin Martin emphasized simplicity and connection to the surroundings. “Early on, we decided to keep the materials minimal, focusing on concrete, plaster, metal, and wood,” she says. “Furniture in the main space echoes those materials in tone, which allows the exterior surroundings to be the focus.” The homeowners’ passion for supporting local artisans and commitment to sustainability is easily apparent throughout the compound. In the great room, the focal points are a towering clay tile wall in the kitchen crafted by local artist Kelly Farley and a 27,000-pound reclaimed eucalyptus log that was carved into an integrated piece of furniture by acclaimed wood artisan Evan Shively at Aborica. Concrete floors, custom-fabricated by SC Fabrication, morph organically into the kitchen’s custom concrete casework, and reclaimed Monterey cypress features prominently inside and on the exterior of the home. “Nearly every element in the house was sourced and crafted by skilled local artisans, with the entire team also being local,” Martin says. “This deep commitment to supporting local craftsmanship allowed us to create a truly unique and personalized space for the clients, with each detail reflecting the expertise and artistry of our community.”

 

Outside, a modern lily pond with a custom reclaimed eucalyptus water feature is set within a serene courtyard garden; limestone pavers guide guests around the compound; and reclaimed Monterey cypress decks, steps, and seating add an earthy element. “By applying rigorous restraint to the family of hardscape materials and the planting palette, the landscape serves to pull together the variety of buildings, forms, and finishes while creating distinctive outdoor experiences,” Roche says. “We considered carefully how these spaces would be seen, heard, and experienced from all angles—and even while passing through them.”

 

Originally envisioned as a guest retreat, the home’s calming spirit and artful craftsmanship have now inspired the owners to begin using it as their primary residence when they’re in town—a quiet testament to the project’s thoughtful design.