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Collection by Kelly Dawson
Editor’s Pick

A LEED Platinum Family Home Takes the Place of an Abandoned California Farmhouse

Set outside Petaluma, California, an idyllic property is a site for sustainable living.

When a young couple found a run-down homestead on 160 acres of Northern California’s Chileno Valley, it wasn’t exactly a place where they could raise their three children. The structure had been left to decay for more than 30 years, and the land was littered by a rickety shed, a crumbling well, and a series of old bathtubs. And yet, the rolling hills in the distance and community of ranchers and farmers nearby appealed to them. They wanted their kids, who are all under the age of 10, to grow up with a sense of place. They partnered with the architecture firm Turnbull Griffin Haesloop to create a home that honors the area’s homespun roots and welcomes the presence of the outdoors. Now, the property is a comfortable retreat for the family.

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The dark Tufty-too sofas by Patricia Urquiola from B&B Italia contrast with the living room’s abundance of light.
The dark Tufty-too sofas by Patricia Urquiola from B&B Italia contrast with the living room’s abundance of light.
The owners shared Turnbull Griffin Haesloop’s dedication to green design, and agreed to modifications—like solar panels and passive heating and cooling elements—to earn the property LEED Platinum certification. The living room’s oversized fan is by Big Ass Fans. Ultra-Tec created the cable system on the stairs and guardrail.
The owners shared Turnbull Griffin Haesloop’s dedication to green design, and agreed to modifications—like solar panels and passive heating and cooling elements—to earn the property LEED Platinum certification. The living room’s oversized fan is by Big Ass Fans. Ultra-Tec created the cable system on the stairs and guardrail.
Designer Casey Gunschel hand-tooled and dyed the leather coffee table in the living room, which sits on concrete flooring that flows into the kitchen.
Designer Casey Gunschel hand-tooled and dyed the leather coffee table in the living room, which sits on concrete flooring that flows into the kitchen.
Carrara marble countertops by Franke spread through the kitchen around two sinks. Custom doors by Liberty Valley connect the common rooms to the backyard.
Carrara marble countertops by Franke spread through the kitchen around two sinks. Custom doors by Liberty Valley connect the common rooms to the backyard.
The overall design objective was to create a home that used the surrounding landscape as a dominant feature. Blomberg Window Systems panes open the master bedroom to the outdoors.
The overall design objective was to create a home that used the surrounding landscape as a dominant feature. Blomberg Window Systems panes open the master bedroom to the outdoors.
Benjamin Moore’s “Mountain Peak White” coats the western red cedar walls in the master bathroom, which is detailed with the same Carrara marble countertop seen in the kitchen. Waterworks tile covers the floor, and an Agape tub stands across from a vanity light fixture custom-made by the firm’s interior designer, Erin Martin.
Benjamin Moore’s “Mountain Peak White” coats the western red cedar walls in the master bathroom, which is detailed with the same Carrara marble countertop seen in the kitchen. Waterworks tile covers the floor, and an Agape tub stands across from a vanity light fixture custom-made by the firm’s interior designer, Erin Martin.
The backyard pool house is comprised of western red cedar, just like the main home, and spans 13-feet-by-26-feet.
The backyard pool house is comprised of western red cedar, just like the main home, and spans 13-feet-by-26-feet.