Many decorating professionals claim Mother Nature as their muse; few translate her inspiration so fully as one design team did for a sprawling family compound set on 140 acres in California’s Sonoma Valley. Overlooking rolling hills and terraced vineyards, the new-build ranch takes its cues from the land, quite literally. The site was chosen as much for its physical attributes as for its habitability—a spectacular giant oak tree, a stately weeping willow, and an ancient rock outcropping delineate the footprint of the home.
“The elements form a triangle, with the main spine of the house falling on one side of it,” says Ani Wade of Wade Design Architects in San Anselmo, California, who worked with husband and partner Luke Wade to establish the kitchen, living room, library, and master bedroom along that fault. “The house acts as a bridge between these outdoor elements but is also meant to be transparent, so we were mindful of the sun’s orientation in each room.” To achieve a sense of lucidity, the architects incorporated walls of windows and, per the clients’ wishes, lowered the roofline during construction, which prevents the structure from obstructing or limiting the view. Exterior wood was stained instead of painted, giving the impression of a house that emerges fully formed from the hillside. “There’s an earthiness to the home; the clients didn’t want anything too precious or pretentious,” says Wade.
Santa Monica–based designer Tim Clarke took a similar approach in the interiors, uniting natural references and eclectic flourishes. “Out of every window looks like a plein air painting,” says Clarke, citing the changing landscape as the catalyst for a more colorful take on the typical greige mountain home. “In the summer everything turns golden and green. I knew the teal in the bedroom would be a nice complement. And in the winter, when it’s all gray, the strong color feels cozy and inviting.” Such is the case in the kitchen, where pendants that resemble acorns pop against blue-hued cabinetry. “That was more of a happy coincidence,” acknowledges Clarke, noting the reference to that pivotal oak tree. “But it works.” In the dining room—a light-filled space dominated by three walls of windows and a table made from a felled tree on the property—a Lindsey Adelman chandelier gives the appearance of clouds on the horizon. And in the bedrooms, the designer incorporated textiles made by local Native American tribes, a nod to what Clarke calls “the real California.”
To temper the contemporary color scheme, natural textures come in the form of grass cloth wall coverings in the bedrooms, a rustic Sonoma stone fireplace in the living room, and terra-cotta floor tiles in the powder room. “The point was not to compete with the view, but to accentuate it,” says Clarke. “As the house ages, it will blend even more seamlessly with the landscape.” After all, Mother Nature always trumps human intervention.
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