My Houzz: Enchanting Nature-Inspired Home in Ojai
Organic shapes, art nouveau and all things nature influence an architect while designing his family's home on a spacious plot in California
Design lover, contributing home tour photographer/writer for Houzz, blogger at www.o-live-design.com
Design lover, contributing home tour photographer/writer for Houzz, blogger... More »
When architect Marc Whitman and his wife, Julia, got married, they were offered a 40-acre piece of land on the 300-acre Taft family compound and nature preserve, as a wedding gift from Julia's father. Marc, who is well known for his organic, nature-inspired shapes, drastic curves and art nouveau–inspired designs, took the opportunity to build a family home on the land. He believed it was a chance to build something that contained the elements he had always wanted to create but were too extreme for his clients. Hidden in the trees and designed to reflect the family's love of nature, the home is an enchanting and inspiring place.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marc and Julia Whitman and their two dogs
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Thats interesting: The property contains a beautiful botanical garden.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marc and Julia Whitman and their two dogs
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Thats interesting: The property contains a beautiful botanical garden.
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by Shannon Malone
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| The rear exterior, with its nature-inspired grand patio and large curved windows, is a beautiful representation of art nouveau style, one of Marc Whitman's main sources of architectural inspiration. Another source of inspiration are other artists and architects who build organic structures, such as Antonio Gaudí and San Diego artist James Hubbell. When you're designing your home, Marc advises, spend time in other spaces to find out what you like and what is comfortable to you. "Take time and contemplate what you love," he says. "Everyone is different. Trust in yourself." |
by Shannon Malone
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The biggest design dilemma was the giant oak tree enclosed by the home. This particular part of the property, which the family loved, is surrounded by limiting geography, including a creek on one side. They had no choice but to build in this particular spot. "It's a beautiful old majestic tree, and we couldn't get rid of it," Marc says. With some creativity and ingenuity, he managed to integrate the tree into the design and build around it. Although it is a spectacular sight, Marc says, "It did break up the house. It would have had more open flow without the tree."
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by Shannon Malone
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| The original building on the property was a historical 1930s cabin. Because he didn't want to take away the story and its history, Marc combined the Craftsman-style cabin with the new art nouveau addition. The front facade of the home and the kitchen are from the original cabin. When the couple first moved to the property, they lived in the small cabin and started building additions from there. It took many years for the home to finally become what it is today. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| With standard pools being overly high maintenance, Marc came up with an alternative design that takes advantage of the adjacent creek. The pool acts as a dam, with creek water actively running through it. They empty it out every once in a while to clean it, and let it refill itself over time. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The property is truly a hidden gem. A long winding road leads the way into the scenic Ojai Mountains and to the Taft property. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| Although the home is remarkably unique, it still feels very traditional. "Traditional is where we were for thousands of years," says Marc. "We feel a sense of groundedness when in a traditional house that feels like a house." |
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by Shannon Malone
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| Located in the original cabin, the kitchen illustrates the entwinement of both Craftsman and art nouveau styles. The cabinets are all wood, with leaf-inspired carvings. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| Nature's influence is apparent in every room, with its organic shapes, lines and colors. These enchanting leaf-inspired windows surrounding the dining table blend seamlessly with the surrounding outdoor scenery. Dining room table: Down Home Furnishings |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The couple's design philosophy is simple: "Find things you love," says Julia Whitman. "It's about finding what's in yourself, not what's trendy. It has to be your own." The interior of the home is filled with antiques, family heirlooms and unique finds from trips to Mexico and Bali. Julia says, "Eclectic is good; your personality resonates." The antique hutch in the living room from Hacienda in Ojai (now closed) is one of Julia's most beloved pieces. She advises, "Find furniture you love and decorate around it." |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The couple made "emotional choices" when it came to a color palette. "We resonate with certain colors," says Marc. The couple based the colors of the home around things they like. In the living room the color scheme grew from the fireplace tile, from RTK Studios in Ojai. Coffee table: Hacienda (now closed) |
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Most of the artwork is by Ojai artists who are also friends of the couple. A friend made this ceiling piece in the kitchen for them. It's a metal cutout with multicolored lights shining through it.
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Framed family photographs line the upstairs hallway wall.
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| The Whitmans' daughter is away at college, but her room is well kept and full of warm hues and sunshine. |
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With its curved ceiling and window, the charming Craftsman-style master bathroom shows Marc's organic aesthetic. The claw-foot tub looks out over a beautiful and calming view.
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| While in the building process, Julia fell in love with this rug. She didn't even have a bedroom yet but knew she wanted to design her future room around its deep hues. Bed: Down Home Furnishings |
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| Outside the master bedroom is a balcony overlooking the property and the creek. Marc built these chairs into the railing to reflect the organic nature of the home's design. |
by Shannon Malone
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The master bedroom's soft curves, warm tones and plush window bed provide a sense of meltworthy relaxation and comfort.
Fireplace tile: RTK Studios
Fireplace tile: RTK Studios
by Shannon Malone
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The home has a perfect balance of colorful and neutral rooms. "Too much color can drive you away," says Marc. The striking upstairs bathroom is covered floor to ceiling with saturated blue tiles from RTK Studios.
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by Shannon Malone
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| One of Marc's favorite spaces to hang out and relax on weekends is the skylight room. With so much light coming in through the windows, it is an inspiring and ideal place for him to paint. Marc says, "It is important to create a space where you feel at home, and is relaxing and intimate." |
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by Shannon Malone
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| Marc's influences are evident in every last detail. The wood throughout the home is custom carved into nature-inspired shapes, such as with this fireplace surround in the den. Some of the fireplace tiles contain illustrations of nature and wildlife. Fireplace tile: Alchemy Studio, San Diego |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The couple takes many trips to Bali and Mexico to gather decor for their two local inns, the Blue Iguana and the Emerald Iguana. They often end up bringing back pieces for their home as well. Most of the furniture and accessories in the den, such as the coffee table and its decorations, are from Bali. "Everything has a memory," says Julia. The couch is from friends who used to be couch manufacturers. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The rear patio is equipped with lights, seating and a fireplace, and with its spectacular views of the outdoor scenery, it is the perfect place for gatherings or just relaxing with friends and family. Patio furniture: Palecek More: Visit a Hobbit House in Pennsylvania |
Ideabook updated on April 25, 2012.
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I like anything like this as it brings nature and a building together in a unique way. Great idea!