When our friends Stephen Williamson and his wife, Alexandra, stumbled on a half-acre lot in Sonoma, they saw potential: a location to use as a case study for building a modern Napa farmhouse.
Houseplans, Williamson's company, is based on a simple concept—it's an online source for architectural plans. As anyone who has ever built a house knows, construction is never simple. Here's where Houseplans comes in: clients choose a plan from the company's catalog; if needed, they can enlist the services of in-house architect Nicholas Lee to modify and refine the plan. For more information, go to Houseplans.
Above: The house is oriented to face the western hills of Sonoma, to take advantage of the views.
Above: The overhanging porch is in keeping with the local farmhouse architecture. The Barn Light Warehouse Pendant is from Barn Light Electric; $99.
Above: The polished concrete floor extends to the outside breezeway; both the interior and exterior are painted in Benjamin Moore's Simply White Paint.
Above: The cantilevered wood hearth along the fireplace wall doubles as extra seating. Alexandra picked up the rug on a trip to Morocco; she sourced the chairs at a local thrift store and had them refurbished.
Above: For sourcing information on the kitchen elements, consult Houseplans' notes on the project, including the Rondo Pendant by Eglo; $70 from Lumens.
Above: The countertops are made of zinc, with marble slabs for prep work.
Above: The far wall houses built-in cupboards for storage.
Above: The plan includes skylights that wash the long hall with light, an idea inspired by Luis Barragan.
Above: Each bedroom opens on to the porch.
Above: The master suite features a bedspread from Sue Fisher King; Williamson made the oak headboard from leftover wood scraps.
Above: In the distance, one can see the steel container (reminiscent of a silo) used for water storage.
Above: The pool was inspired by Donald Judd's raised pool (admired by the couple on a trip to Marfa).