This ground up new construction for an active, outdoor loving Bay Area family is designed for its first of two planned lives. First, as a weekend getaway for the family now while their two boys are young, then as a full time home for empty nesters. So for life number one, designer Jennifer Macdonald of Jennifer Robin Interiors focused on creating a home that welcomes rambunctious young ones (and two dogs!) while not sacrificing on style. She shares more below and in the slideshow!
What were your overall design goals with this project?
One of the overall design goals on this project was to create a home that would honor quintessential wine country style, while weaving in some subtle moments of glamorous design to reflect the wife’s more feminine style.
We blended these elements to create a tough but elegant home – durable enough for the family to enjoy their active indoor/outdoor lifestyle, but sophisticated enough for entertaining family and friends. The interiors needed to stand the test of time both practically and stylistically – we wanted pieces that were both fresh and timeless to ensure that the home would remain relevant over the years (when it would eventually transform into a more permanent residence).
We strove to harmonize all of the furnishings, finishes and overall color palette of this project within the context of the home’s architecture and the surrounding landscape –e.g. we wanted the interiors to harmonize with the jaw dropping views, not compete or distract from them.
Where did you start with this project?
The kitchen, dining, and living room combine to create a wonderful great room with enormous sliding pocket doors that open to views so spectacular, they border on being overwhelming!
It was therefore really important that the interiors be a grounding force to maintain a comfortable space that would not be overtaken by scale and those soaring views. Properly scaling furniture is always important, but even more so in this case. We chose a combination of large stable pieces mixed with lighter and more refined ones to create that grounding effect.
What is your design philosophy and how does it apply to this project?
My design philosophy has always emphasized the importance of carefully weaving together a home’s architectural elements, interior details and natural surroundings. We create cohesive spaces that work in harmony with their environment – designs that celebrate the very best of indoor/outdoor living.