Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Crisp White Californian Home With an Equestrian Twist
The neutral shades, exposed rafters and natural timbers of classic stables informed the style of this home built for horse-lovers
Before this Californian home was built, the owners told architect Ken Linsteadt that the property had served as the horse pasture for long since gone estate. Because he’s familiar with the region’s history, Linsteadt knew the story to be true, but the owner turned up physical evidence to support the claim. ‘He found a large, old horse jawbone while digging in the garden,’ the architect says.
The equine back story was fitting, as the family members – all riding enthusiasts – hoped to build a house that loosely resembled a horse stable or farmhouse. ‘They wanted a house with an iconic sense of home,’ says Linsteadt. ‘They wanted a home that was light and bright, one that felt a little modern and very happy.’
Houzz at a Glance
Architect Ken Linsteadt Architects
Location Mill Valley, California
Size 4 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
The equine back story was fitting, as the family members – all riding enthusiasts – hoped to build a house that loosely resembled a horse stable or farmhouse. ‘They wanted a house with an iconic sense of home,’ says Linsteadt. ‘They wanted a home that was light and bright, one that felt a little modern and very happy.’
Houzz at a Glance
Architect Ken Linsteadt Architects
Location Mill Valley, California
Size 4 bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Open the front door and you find the first of many revelations. The house is constructed in an L shape. One leg is composed of a two-storey structure that holds a foyer, a family room, an office and bedrooms. While the street-facing front of the house is pleasing but doesn’t give much away, large windows and doors completely open the rear of the structure to a long, grassy lawn any bygone horses would surely have appreciated. ‘After you enter, the large floor-to-ceiling window is a terrific surprise,’ says Linsteadt. Another unexpected element awaits – a green roof separates the second-storey bedrooms.
Steel windows: Architectural Ironworks
Steel windows: Architectural Ironworks
Behind the steel doors, a combined living room, dining room and kitchen leads up to a loft hangout for the kids. ‘We wanted there to be a relaxed feel that was both masculine and feminine,’ says interior designer Patrick Printy. The neutral palette runs the gamut from the white walls to the warm wood tones of the recycled oak beams and floor, to the blackened steel doors.
Sofa: Verellen
See more ideas for open-plan living
Sofa: Verellen
See more ideas for open-plan living
Shelves in the living room hold accessories and books. The shelves that run along the wall in the dining area have a more utilitarian purpose. ‘We decided to put the glassware and plates the owners use daily right here,’ says Printy. ‘The idea is that the table can be quickly set.’ Construction necessitated that a tree be felled on the property; the wood was milled and used to construct the dining room table. ‘The table is narrow, making dining intimate,’ says Printy. Windows in both sets of shelves lighten things up and add a connection to the outdoors.
The lower level of the other wing is home to a family room with a wall of shelves painted a soft grey-green. ‘We wanted an area that was not white,’ says Printy. ‘This is where the family spends time together; it’s where they relax, watch television and do homework. They wanted something that was a little cosier.’ You can see the edge of the office through a doorway set within the shelves.
Shelving paint: Heather Gray, Benjamin Moore
Shelving paint: Heather Gray, Benjamin Moore
A barn door separates the master bathroom from the bedroom, and a touch of orange adds some fun.
Be inspired by stylish white schemes
Be inspired by stylish white schemes
Photography by Paul Dyer