This is our kitchen beam
Chelsea Gray by Benjamin Moore The warm shade of gray that covers the exterior of this modern farmhouse in St. Helena, California, picks up the brown tones of the surrounding trees and connects to the roofing material. “The color is pushed further to the warm side by the bronze patina of the corrugated metal roof
entryway to complement the urban farmhouse style of the rest of the home. The builders used reclaimed white oak for the flooring, ceiling detail and dramatic custom-designed staircase. A black door and black sidelight framing pick up the stairway’s metal detailing. The walls are painted in Aesthetic White by Benjamin Moore.
The flow yet separation of spaces
Natural Table and single beam
painted beams, white cabinets, dark island
The mantel is a reclaimed barn timber, and the ceiling beams match it. The painters originally stained the ceiling beams too dark, so we had them sanded down,” Balis says. “They were going to restain them, but I loved the way they looked all raw and imperfect. I had them leave them alone without even putting on a clear coat because I didn’t want to risk them having any sort of sheen or darken. Now they go with the real reclaimed mantel timber perfectly.”
In the courtyard’s rear corner, next to the path leading to the back alley, a Spanish cedar lattice encloses an outdoor shower, continuing the linear motif seen throughout the project.
A sunken spa nestles into the corner of the courtyard, with a metal ring encircling it and concealing the cut ends of the ipe deck. The design team suggested a round tub early on in the project, both to contrast the rest of the courtyard’s mostly square design and to suggest the feeling of a Japanese soaking tub.
In the courtyard, the decking hasn’t been oiled or treated and will continue to gray over time. It contrasts with the interior’s concrete floors and complements the Spanish cedar siding. It also enhances the slightly vintage, Japanese-inspired feel. “If you go to a Japanese spa, you’re going to stand on wood,”
To further blur boundaries, the design team set the tracks of the sliding glass doors into the flooring, keeping the level flush between the interior concrete floors and exterior ipe wood deck. The ipe, left unstained, will continue to weather to a gray hue — creating further visual seamlessness with time.
Shelves next to fp and beam
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