Daniel Hale is that rare designer who deftly combines art, craftsmanship, and architecture; join us on a tour of his Napa Valley home, which he shares with his wife, Chris, and their children. Hale studied architecture on the East Coast, lived and worked in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence for two years, and in 2002 moved to the Napa Valley, where he's worked on projects with private clients and notable designers such as Erin Martin, Mariette Himes Gomez, and Stephen Shubel.
His own house in St. Helena has been (and still is) a work in progress, a laboratory of sorts, featuring an organic use of repurposed materials and layered with texture and handcrafted detail. Every piece and surface tells a story: "My inspiration comes from a variety of sources, including ancient art and architecture and modern works—a synthesis of old and new. I like the idea of taking objects and letting the materials shine for what they are, so that the end result is something greater than the sum of its parts." The house, with its multi-layered patinas, is living proof of this philosophy. For more information on Hale's work, visit Serendipity Rising.
Photography by Daniel Hale.
Above: The cedar-lined entrance to the house evokes thoughts of Tuscany.
Above: The swimming pool is nearby a vegetable garden (not seen in this photo) that supplies the family with seasonal produce.
Above: A pigeonnier tower is reached by a catwalk from the main house.
Above: The terrace overlooking the swimming pool features chairs created from tree trunks.
Above: The front door is made from reclaimed barn siding; the house was originally a barn and was converted into a small home over the years.
Above: The living room opens onto covered terraces on either side of the house, which not only afford views of the neighboring vineyards but also allow for cross breezes. Hale made the table, crate sofa, and bench, largely using reclaimed materials.
Above: Hale made the sofa frame using wooden crates (repurposed from a delivery of stone from Turkey).
Above: The open kitchen features a table and a suite of chairs made by Hale (he also designed the chandelier). Note the inscription on the metal band around the rim of the table top.
Above: Hale's four-poster bed has candle holders atop each post.
Above: Hale covered the walls in traditional stucco concrete in earth tones mixed with dirt from his land. The bedside table in the foreground is made from stacked drawers.
Above: A view into the master bathroom from the closet toward the zinc-clad tub. Hale made the light fixture, cupboard, and perforated sliding window panel.
Above: A terrace off the living room. Much of the house opens to the outdoors, thanks to floor-to-ceiling pocket doors.
Above: The large pocket doors on either side of the house are made from reclaimed redwood inset with panels of raw steel. Hale created a patina with stove-black and then added a coat of wax.
Looking for more reclaimed interiors with style? Check out the Tin Tabernacle Tea Room by Bailey's in the UK as well as the Cafe.