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Houzz Tour: Industrial Modern Farmhouse Rises From the Ashes
A couple rebuild after a wildfire claims the Napa, California, home where they host family gatherings
Interior designer Jane Ellison had worked with this Tiburon, California-based couple for eight years as they remodeled their Napa Valley vacation home over time. Unfortunately, soon after the renovations were finally completed, the home burned down in the 2017 wildfires. When the couple decided to rebuild, one small silver lining was that they already had a designer on board with whom they had a great working relationship.
The couple have adult children and grandchildren who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and family gatherings here are frequent. Ellison was ready to create a home that would accommodate the large group comfortably day and night. She also added elements that would help the couple age in place at the residence. “Lately they have been spending about as much time in Napa as they do in their primary home and have made lots of friends here,” she says. A special beverage bar, a refrigerated wine room, a large kitchen island, an open floor plan and several outdoor areas make the home a wonderful spot to gather with extended family and to entertain large groups.
The couple have adult children and grandchildren who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and family gatherings here are frequent. Ellison was ready to create a home that would accommodate the large group comfortably day and night. She also added elements that would help the couple age in place at the residence. “Lately they have been spending about as much time in Napa as they do in their primary home and have made lots of friends here,” she says. A special beverage bar, a refrigerated wine room, a large kitchen island, an open floor plan and several outdoor areas make the home a wonderful spot to gather with extended family and to entertain large groups.
One of the tweaks Ellison worked out with her clients was this arched and trellised entry that lends the local modern industrial farmhouse style. “We wanted to follow a feng shui principle of a sense of transition between outdoors and in,” she says. That transition begins at the arch and continues into a small entry courtyard. Local company Wyatt Studio completed the metalwork.
The transition from outdoors continues into a compressed entry. Ellison had the walls and ceilings painted a warm brown to create a cozy feeling and to highlight the beautiful Logico light fixture and a piece of her clients’ artwork.
The front doors have reeded glass panes that let in natural light while providing privacy. To the right is a refrigerated wine room and a coat closet. On the left Ellison chose a bench that also serves as a sculpture. “These clients have a wonderful art collection that they have collected on their travels,” she says. “And they are so great to work with because they aren’t afraid to take chances.”
Ellison helped them integrate their existing art pieces into the home and to source new furniture. They used Houzz ideabooks to share ideas and shopped in the Houzz Shop for furniture.
Wall and ceiling paint: Eagle’s Meadow, Kelly Moore Paints; trim paint (throughout the house): Cloud White, Benjamin Moore
The front doors have reeded glass panes that let in natural light while providing privacy. To the right is a refrigerated wine room and a coat closet. On the left Ellison chose a bench that also serves as a sculpture. “These clients have a wonderful art collection that they have collected on their travels,” she says. “And they are so great to work with because they aren’t afraid to take chances.”
Ellison helped them integrate their existing art pieces into the home and to source new furniture. They used Houzz ideabooks to share ideas and shopped in the Houzz Shop for furniture.
Wall and ceiling paint: Eagle’s Meadow, Kelly Moore Paints; trim paint (throughout the house): Cloud White, Benjamin Moore
The compressed foyer, seen here on the left, leads directly into the main public areas of the house. “Walking from the entry with its warm color and lower ceiling into this large, light and vaulted room is dramatic,” Ellison says. The main gathering spaces are open to one another underneath a soaring ceiling. The trusses, ceiling paneling and long clerestory along the peak of the roof that Rulon designed add to the industrial modern farmhouse look.
“This kind of clerestory is great for Napa because skylights can make things too warm on hot days,” Ellison says. “This clerestory design lets the light in from the sides, which controls the heat.”
She used warm colors for the furniture, rugs and accessories. “There are a lot of cool whites and grays on the ceiling and the walls. I like to balance warm and cool tones together so it’s not too sleek,” she says.
Wall paint: Pale Oak; Benjamin Moore
Browse coffee tables in the Houzz Shop
“This kind of clerestory is great for Napa because skylights can make things too warm on hot days,” Ellison says. “This clerestory design lets the light in from the sides, which controls the heat.”
She used warm colors for the furniture, rugs and accessories. “There are a lot of cool whites and grays on the ceiling and the walls. I like to balance warm and cool tones together so it’s not too sleek,” she says.
Wall paint: Pale Oak; Benjamin Moore
Browse coffee tables in the Houzz Shop
The metal fireplace and surrounding bookshelves anchor the living room end of the space. Wyatt Studio hand-rubbed the metal fireplace surround with a chemical to give it a mottled patina. The built-ins surrounding the fireplace include cabinets and display shelves with lighting inside, as well as quartzite countertops that match the bar and kitchen counters.
The house has two wings off either end of this large, open area. The primary suite, guest bedroom and children’s sleepover bedroom are in the wing beyond the fireplace. To the left, large glass doors open fully to a covered outdoor lounge and dining area. They also provide views to the backyard.
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The house has two wings off either end of this large, open area. The primary suite, guest bedroom and children’s sleepover bedroom are in the wing beyond the fireplace. To the left, large glass doors open fully to a covered outdoor lounge and dining area. They also provide views to the backyard.
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A dynamic light fixture delineates the dining area. “The light fixture works well because it’s like a mobile. It’s fun and playful and has a lot of movement,” Ellison says. “It draws the eye as soon as you walk into the room.”
She and her clients did a lot of the sourcing and shopping together. “I just love these clients because they aren’t afraid to take risks. On our search for chairs, the wife fell in love with this fabric that’s kind of a global mix between ikat and a flamestitch. She has a great eye,” Ellison says.
Light fixture: Celesse pendant, Hubbardton Forge
She and her clients did a lot of the sourcing and shopping together. “I just love these clients because they aren’t afraid to take risks. On our search for chairs, the wife fell in love with this fabric that’s kind of a global mix between ikat and a flamestitch. She has a great eye,” Ellison says.
Light fixture: Celesse pendant, Hubbardton Forge
The 108-inch-long wood dining table has a live edge and a sculptural wishbone-like brass base that plays beautifully off the light fixture. “We needed a really long dining table to stand up to the scale of the space,” Ellison says.
She designed a special beverage bar off one end of the dining table. It includes a bar sink with a purified-water tap, two refrigerator drawers for beverages, a fizzy water maker and the coffeemaker. This makes it easy for guests of all ages to grab a drink while staying out of the cook’s way in the kitchen.
The bar’s backsplash is composed of Moroccan zellige tile and the countertop is quartzite. These elements add an earthy feel that suits the wine country landscape. The upper cabinetry’s reeded glass doors and interior lights show off the bottles and glassware inside.
Beverage bar shelving: Wyatt Studio
She designed a special beverage bar off one end of the dining table. It includes a bar sink with a purified-water tap, two refrigerator drawers for beverages, a fizzy water maker and the coffeemaker. This makes it easy for guests of all ages to grab a drink while staying out of the cook’s way in the kitchen.
The bar’s backsplash is composed of Moroccan zellige tile and the countertop is quartzite. These elements add an earthy feel that suits the wine country landscape. The upper cabinetry’s reeded glass doors and interior lights show off the bottles and glassware inside.
Beverage bar shelving: Wyatt Studio
The kitchen recedes nicely into the background with its simple Shaker-style inset cabinetry. The paint on the kitchen cabinets matches the paint on the beverage bar cabinets. Ellison also tied the beverage bar to the kitchen by repeating the zellige backsplash tile and quartzite countertops. The vent hood design is custom. A high window over it brings more natural light into the space.
Just as the large, open space called for a large dining table, it also called for a long island — this one is 10 feet long. Ellison was able to source one long quartzite slab to top it off. She painted the island a darker color, Sherwin-Williams’ Sommelier, for contrast. This creates a nice transition between the dining area and kitchen. It’s also a great paint color name for wine country.
To the left, a hallway leads to a large food pantry. The homeowners also opted to place the microwave in there.
Cabinet paint: Dry Dock, Sherwin-Williams; cabinetry: Gamma Cabinetry
Just as the large, open space called for a large dining table, it also called for a long island — this one is 10 feet long. Ellison was able to source one long quartzite slab to top it off. She painted the island a darker color, Sherwin-Williams’ Sommelier, for contrast. This creates a nice transition between the dining area and kitchen. It’s also a great paint color name for wine country.
To the left, a hallway leads to a large food pantry. The homeowners also opted to place the microwave in there.
Cabinet paint: Dry Dock, Sherwin-Williams; cabinetry: Gamma Cabinetry
Off the right side of the kitchen is this cozy breakfast room. “I always recommend banquettes to my clients because they are so comfortable. And with how easy laptops make working from anywhere in the house possible, they can serve as spaces for office work and projects,” Ellison says.
The door leads to a covered outdoor eating area. This wing also includes a flex room and the pool bathroom. The flex space is a fourth bedroom. The homeowners mainly use it as a home office and workout space, but it also has a Murphy bed for when they have a full house.
Wall paint: Ancestral Gold, Sherwin-Williams
The door leads to a covered outdoor eating area. This wing also includes a flex room and the pool bathroom. The flex space is a fourth bedroom. The homeowners mainly use it as a home office and workout space, but it also has a Murphy bed for when they have a full house.
Wall paint: Ancestral Gold, Sherwin-Williams
This full pool bathroom also serves as a guest bath for the flex room and as a powder room. “We had just completed the pool bath before the house burned down, and my clients had loved it. So I was glad I was able to find the same finishes for the new pool bathroom to give it a similar look,” Ellison says.
The finishes they loved so much include a river stone floor tile and large-format digitally printed tile that resembles concrete for the shower walls. It’s a balanced mix of natural and industrial materials.
More natural light comes into the room from a high window over the mirror. The vanity color plays off the colors in the floor tile.
Out on the covered patio, Ellison helped her clients source comfortable outdoor furniture and add bold splashes of color to the space.
The casual outdoor dining area seats six. The glass door leads to the breakfast room.
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“Originally we thought we’d find a ready-made fire pit for the patio, but we couldn’t find one that was a good fit,” Ellison says. So she had the landscape architect, Chris Hedberg, create one from concrete. He also created the planter on the other side of the pool in the same style.
This photo also shows the clerestory over the main part of the house and the windows along the sides that flood the interior with light. Another important element is the long screen that protects the outdoor covered lounge and dining areas. The screen rolls down from a casing electronically.
This photo also shows the clerestory over the main part of the house and the windows along the sides that flood the interior with light. Another important element is the long screen that protects the outdoor covered lounge and dining areas. The screen rolls down from a casing electronically.
In the homeowners’ bedroom, they requested a pair of cabinets. Ellison created a window seat and flanked it with the cabinets for a cohesive look. They’re covered in an Italian veneer that resembles white oak. The cabinets are topped with quartzite, bringing a natural element into the room. Ellison also notes that the bedroom wasn’t quite completed on photo shoot day, and one thing she’s still working on is a custom cushion for the window seat.
In addition to the large windows and leafy views, the primary bedroom has a beautiful vaulted ceiling. Its beams lend the modern farmhouse feel. The glass door opens directly onto the covered patio.
Wall paint: Glass, Devine Paint
Wall paint: Glass, Devine Paint
In the en suite bathroom, a large bathtub enjoys a spot surrounded by windows. There are hidden shades in casings above for privacy when needed.
Ellison encouraged elements that will help the couple age in place in the home. Ample lighting and lever faucets are two of the elements seen here. “Lever handles are easier to use than cross handles, and long drawer pulls are easier on the hands than knobs,” she says.
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Ellison encouraged elements that will help the couple age in place in the home. Ample lighting and lever faucets are two of the elements seen here. “Lever handles are easier to use than cross handles, and long drawer pulls are easier on the hands than knobs,” she says.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Click here to learn the basics
The vanity has deep drawers for storage and a quartzite countertop and backsplash. To the left is a linen closet with a bronze mesh door, and to the right is a cozy seat. Every bathtub in the house has some sort of bench or seat nearby, making it easy to keep an eye on little ones in the bathtub.
One of the best features is the slim pullout cabinets that flank the vanity. The top areas of these cabinets have outlets for hair appliances, electric shavers and toothbrushes, as well as smaller compartments for makeup. The bottom portions of the pullouts provide space for larger bottles.
One of the best features is the slim pullout cabinets that flank the vanity. The top areas of these cabinets have outlets for hair appliances, electric shavers and toothbrushes, as well as smaller compartments for makeup. The bottom portions of the pullouts provide space for larger bottles.
More age-in-place elements are seen in the shower: curbless entry, a bench and grab bars. The lighting includes a long light well that runs along the top of the ceiling and washes light down the long shower wall.
One of the doors seen off the shower leads to the water closet, where Ellison installed grab bars disguised as toilet paper holders. Due to past knee operations, these bars are especially handy for one of the homeowners. The other door leads to their walk-in closet.
Note: If you aren’t interested in installing grab bars during a remodel, consider having the contractor create support for them behind the walls and leaving you a map of the locations. This will make it easier to install them in the future.
One of the doors seen off the shower leads to the water closet, where Ellison installed grab bars disguised as toilet paper holders. Due to past knee operations, these bars are especially handy for one of the homeowners. The other door leads to their walk-in closet.
Note: If you aren’t interested in installing grab bars during a remodel, consider having the contractor create support for them behind the walls and leaving you a map of the locations. This will make it easier to install them in the future.
Gathering with their adult children and their grandchildren is one of the couple’s favorite things about spending time here. They wanted to outfit one of the bedrooms for fun cousin sleepovers for their four grandchildren. Ellison and her clients shared Houzz ideabook photos that inspired this bed configuration. One of the beds has a trundle. The designer also added lights over the beds for reading. The wall opposite the beds has storage for toys and a TV.
The guest room continues the global theme with a bed upholstered in a playful pattern and a colorful area rug. Ellison added reading lights on either side of the bed.
A bathroom serves both guest bedrooms in this wing. On either end of it are two small rooms that contain a toilet and sink, with pocket doors between them and the main part of the bathroom. One of the rooms can be seen at the back of this photo.
Hexagonal floor tiles in earthy colors add a playful touch to the space. Another bench provides a spot to visit with young bathers and provides extra storage.
Hexagonal floor tiles in earthy colors add a playful touch to the space. Another bench provides a spot to visit with young bathers and provides extra storage.
The guest bathroom also has a tub and separate shower. “During the design phase of the project, we used Houzz ideabook photos for inspirations, especially for the side-by-side tub-shower details,” Ellison says.
The tub surround is composed of porcelain slabs with marble-like veining. The shower walls are covered in a 3D tile. Like the couple’s bathroom, this shower has a light well that runs along the top. “The light well highlights the 3D pattern on this tile beautifully,” the designer says.
Though the couple suffered a devastating loss in the wildfires, the experience made them appreciate gathering with family and friends here in their new home even more.
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The tub surround is composed of porcelain slabs with marble-like veining. The shower walls are covered in a 3D tile. Like the couple’s bathroom, this shower has a light well that runs along the top. “The light well highlights the 3D pattern on this tile beautifully,” the designer says.
Though the couple suffered a devastating loss in the wildfires, the experience made them appreciate gathering with family and friends here in their new home even more.
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple who often host extended family
Location: Napa Valley, California
Size: 3,550 square feet (330 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Interior designer: Jane Ellison
Architect: David Rulon
Landscape architect: Chris Hedberg
The couple hired architect David Rulon to design a home with distinctive Napa Valley industrial modern farmhouse style. “David Rulon worked for architect Howard Backen for years. And Backen was the architect who came up with this look and designed local wineries in this fashion,” Ellison says. “It was quite a departure from their former tract house that had burned down.” Rulon designed the home and Ellison helped the couple tweak it to suit their style and function for their needs. Also, the new home was built to new California codes for fire safety and resilience.
Exterior gutter and metalwork paint: Urbane Bronze, Sherwin-Williams; front door paint: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore
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