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Houzz Tour: A California Farmhouse That Blends Modern and Rustic
A homeowner with a passion for architecture takes on his second project, building this noir farmhouse from the ground up
David Devan moved with partner Brad Nichinson to St Helena in Napa Valley, California, to semi-retire in 2008, but he’s hardly slowed down to smell the grape leaves. Though he never formally trained as an architect or a designer, Devan spent 32 years working for Ritz-Carlton developing properties all over the world, and during that period acquired a profound appreciation for the work. Since moving to St Helena, he has completely renovated one home and most recently built this modern take on a farmhouse from the ground up. His neighbours and friends are now calling him for design consultations as his passion evolves into a new career.
The project’s general contractor, Tom Trainor of Trainor Builders, suggested that Devan use wine cave mesh wire for the fencing. ‘The mesh works as a type of rebar inside wine caves; they are sprayed with gunite to form the inside of the cave,’ says Devan. ‘I love the way the metal oxidises, and thought its copper hue would look great in-between the black-stained cedar posts.’
The open kitchen and family room area was designed in a manner that would allow a future owner to easily turn the family room into a dining area. The built-in entertainment centre was made in the same stained walnut used for the kitchen cabinets, and the island and could easily be transformed into storage for dinnerware.
The polished concrete floors that run throughout the house were not poured and then scored; they were created in individual sections. ‘When, not if, a crack appears, it can only go so far,’ says Devan. ‘This process minimizes repairs.’
Sofa, Nido Living. Eames lounge chair; ottoman, Design Within Reach. Photographs, Bret Lopez.
The polished concrete floors that run throughout the house were not poured and then scored; they were created in individual sections. ‘When, not if, a crack appears, it can only go so far,’ says Devan. ‘This process minimizes repairs.’
Sofa, Nido Living. Eames lounge chair; ottoman, Design Within Reach. Photographs, Bret Lopez.
Devan says he fell in love with the kitchen designs at Henrybuilt when he first saw them, and was tempted to use the company when renovating his earlier 1880 Victorian farmhouse. In the end, he decided the look would be too modern for the space.
For this project, however, the design for the entire house started with its Henrybuilt kitchen. ‘In a house with so much glass, I think it’s important for the interiors and the outside to relate to each other, because they’re so visually connected,’ says Devan. It wasn’t until the stains and surface materials for the kitchen were finalised that he chose the exterior materials to complement them.
Vintage bar stool, Past Perfect.
Check out these great glass-box extensions
For this project, however, the design for the entire house started with its Henrybuilt kitchen. ‘In a house with so much glass, I think it’s important for the interiors and the outside to relate to each other, because they’re so visually connected,’ says Devan. It wasn’t until the stains and surface materials for the kitchen were finalised that he chose the exterior materials to complement them.
Vintage bar stool, Past Perfect.
Check out these great glass-box extensions
A floor-to-ceiling freestanding shelf delineates the kitchen area without inhibiting its openness and flow. Two floating steel shelves from Henrybuilt were added to the kitchen’s board-formed concrete wall, and Devan had the cooker hood wrapped in the same material to match.
Tableware, Heath Ceramics.
Tableware, Heath Ceramics.
The butler’s pantry is the room that Devan says probably gets the most compliments from guests. Located in the house’s northeast corner, it receives the least amount of light. Large solarium windows pull in as much sunlight as possible.
Black worktops composed of recycled paper and petroleum-free resin match those in the kitchen. ‘They might be made of paper, but they’re unbelievably hard,’ says Devan. ‘These worktops are often used in hospitals, labs and schools, because they’re so durable.’
Worktops, Henrybuilt.
Black worktops composed of recycled paper and petroleum-free resin match those in the kitchen. ‘They might be made of paper, but they’re unbelievably hard,’ says Devan. ‘These worktops are often used in hospitals, labs and schools, because they’re so durable.’
Worktops, Henrybuilt.
The open dining and living area features two massive cross-shaped LED chandeliers made by New Zealand-based company Resident. Devan says he initially wanted the lights with a white backing so they’d blend into the ceiling. But the lighting designers did not have white ones in stock, and waiting for new ones to be made would’ve meant missing the deadline for the Kitchens in the Vineyards tour that included Devan and Nichinson’s home. Instead, the company offered to ship out chandeliers with black backings and then exchange them later if Devan wasn’t satisfied. The offer proved unnecessary. ‘I can’t ever imagine replacing them now,’ says Devan. ‘They’re so sculptural, and the black matches perfectly with the window and door casings.’
Before passing away this past March, St Helena artist Sherman Nobleman had selected most of the art for Devan’s home from his own collection. One of Devan’s favourite pieces is the large abstract painting on the dining area wall. ‘Sherman was a wonderful artist and a good friend,’ says Devan. ‘We opened our home for a celebration of life for 160 of his friends and family members.’
Dining table, Saporiti Italia. Dining chairs, Series 7.
Dining table, Saporiti Italia. Dining chairs, Series 7.
Through the years, Devan and Nichinson have collected almost all the home’s furniture, including the black leather Le Corbusier seating in the living area.
Leather seating, Le Corbusier.
Leather seating, Le Corbusier.
The master bedroom opens directly on to the pool area, which is perfect for early-morning laps or late-night dips.
Black cowhide rug, Hide House. Art, Sherman Nobleman.
Black cowhide rug, Hide House. Art, Sherman Nobleman.
The gorgeous master bathroom opens up to a Zen-like side garden. The room includes a double basin, a freestanding bath and a rain shower with a chain link shower curtain.
‘I love the chain-link shower curtain. The water runs down it like a rain chain; it creates a wonderful water feature,’ says Devan.
Bath, Victoria + Albert. Cabinets, Henrybuilt. Tiles, Daltile.
Discover how to create spa style and serenity in your home
‘I love the chain-link shower curtain. The water runs down it like a rain chain; it creates a wonderful water feature,’ says Devan.
Bath, Victoria + Albert. Cabinets, Henrybuilt. Tiles, Daltile.
Discover how to create spa style and serenity in your home
Here’s a close-up of the chain-link shower curtain and side garden. After showering, one can opt to open the sliding door and dry off in the sun.
Tiles, Daltile.
Tiles, Daltile.
Nichinson, who serves on many non-profit boards, had one of the bedrooms converted into his office. The office’s furniture once belonged to his father and was used in his office in New York City’s Pan Am Building (now the MetLife Building).
Vintage office furniture, Gunlocke.
Vintage office furniture, Gunlocke.
The guesthouse’s loft bedroom features engineered French oak hardwood floors. A sound-dampening pad under the floors allows the space to easily be converted into a music or yoga studio.
Art over bed, Mimi LaPlant. Eames lounge chair; ottoman, Design Within Reach. Chest of drawers, Ikea.
Art over bed, Mimi LaPlant. Eames lounge chair; ottoman, Design Within Reach. Chest of drawers, Ikea.
The back garden consists of six separate outdoor spaces, including this lounge area featuring an iconic Malm fireplace.
Outdoor furniture, Nido Living.
Outdoor furniture, Nido Living.
Another private area of the garden includes an outdoor shower and a sleek metal lounge chair.
Freestanding shower, Cavendish.
Freestanding shower, Cavendish.
Planters, furniture and sculptures dot the rest of the back garden. St Helena sculptor Adam Wiedmann created this piece.
Devan says he always tries to consult with Nichinson about design decisions, but adds that his partner likes to joke that he wields only a one per cent veto power over the design.
Nichinson did suggest this wood storage alcove. ‘We lined it with steel and lifted the bottom slightly off the ground so water won’t rot the wood,’ says Devan.
Nichinson did suggest this wood storage alcove. ‘We lined it with steel and lifted the bottom slightly off the ground so water won’t rot the wood,’ says Devan.
The shell of the pool was one of the few remaining leftovers from the property’s original design. Devan had the pool trimmed with the same tiles used in the master bathroom and had the base of the pool resurfaced. ‘We added some crushed oyster shells into the plaster that add a wonderful twinkle,’ says Devan.
Yellow stools, West Elm.
TELL US…
What do you think of the modern take on a farmhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Yellow stools, West Elm.
TELL US…
What do you think of the modern take on a farmhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here David Devan and Brad Nichinson
Location Napa Valley, California
Size Main house: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Guesthouse: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Designer David Devan of a.d.d concept + design
The home’s exterior is composed of board-formed concrete and full-length planks (from the ground to the roofline) of clear-cut vertical cedar. Devan used Eco Wood Treatment, a preservative that protects wood from ageing but gives it an aged look. He then applied a mixture of two transparent stains (one brown and one black) that allow the grain of the cedar to shine through.
Before this most recent project, Devan completely renovated an 1880 Victorian farmhouse that he and his partner lived in, only a few blocks from their current home. ‘My neighbours know me as the guy that turned an old house white and a new house black,’ says Devan. ‘I’m going to have find a new colour for my next project.’
Exterior lights, Hinkley.