An Authentic Farmhouse in Ojai

exterior of authentic farmhouse in Ojai with white siding and dark blue shutters

Written by Jillian Chapman

Photography by Dominique Vorillon

Styled by Sunday Hendrickson

An East Coast family goes the extra mile to create an authentic working farmhouse in the West.

When you’re moving across the country, you have to decide if you want to keep your hometown’s signature style or make the move complete with décor that reflects your new home. This was the decision designer Maya Williams of Maya Williams Design was called in to help make when a couple was moving from the East Coast to the West.

The breakfast room of the farmhouse is for casual family dining. Gorgeous yellow vintage glassware and throw pillows on the banquette add pops of color perfect for a space used to start the day.

East Coast Western for the Authentic Farmhouse in Ojai

Maya’s clients wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren in California. Coming from a large farm in upstate New York, it was important to them to have a home that felt authentically East Coast. They wanted a working farmhouse, not just an aesthetic one.

The clients purchased an old property in Ojai that sits on two acres with a home that was originally built in the 1890s. It would take years of work and dedication to transform this once uninhabitable property into a dream four-acre working hobby farm and farmhouse.

exterior front view of authentic farmhouse in Ojai

porch swing with mustard yellow throw and white pumpkins outside authentic farmhouse in Ojai — Another classic farmhouse feature, this porch swing is directly outside the breakfast area. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a sunset on a warm evening with a view of Ojai’s famous Topatopa Mountain range.

Timeless Design

The structure of the original building was kept for authenticity but was completely gutted. Maya added a large master suite to the main building, as well as a fully functioning separate guest house and carriage house on the original two acres. On the additional adjoining two acres the clients purchased, they added a barn with ample space for goats, chickens and other livestock.

breakfast room with banquette and additional counter space for food preparation in authentic farmhouse in Ojai — With a working farmhouse complete with livestock and a kitchen garden, the owner of the home needed additional workspace to prepare fresh food and vegetables. Extra counter space was added near the breakfast room for preparing all the fresh food from the farm.

kitchen with hand-painted backsplash tile and exposed shelves — In the kitchen Maya added open shelves, characteristic of farmhouse style, along with the stunning hand-painted tilework of the backsplash behind the stove.

To create an authentic farmhouse for her clients, Maya consistently blended originals and antiques with modern pieces. Throughout the home, she incorporated many characteristic farmhouse style designs. “Whether exterior or interior, it all says authentic farmhouse,” she explains. She chose board-and-batten as the exterior siding, while local contractor Supan Builders and landscape designer Paul Hendershot brought in Ojai stone for many features of the property, including the walls around the stream and pool, on the porch and as partial siding on the house. “There’s a lot of cookie-cutter Instagram farmhouses, which are great—I’ve done those—but these clients wanted something that was truly authentic farmhouse,” Maya says.

vaulted ceiling and exposed beams create authentic farmhouse feel in balcony bedroom — Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and a second-story balcony add space to a cozy guest bedroom full of vintage furnishings, like the 150-year-old trunk at the foot of a four-poster bed.

dining room with French doors opening out onto working hobby farm in Ojai — In the dining room, French doors lead out to the front yard, while a simple farmhouse table and a unique chandelier combine simplicity and elegance.

Custom Materials for the Authentic Farmhouse in Ojai

Some of the signature features Maya added include the stone fireplace and iron accents in many of the rooms of the main house. The clients had a large collection of antique items they brought from their previous home. Maya married those with some more modern items to bring a freshness to the design, while still keeping the authentic farmhouse feel. As a working farm, it has a large barn, an orchard of fruit trees and a section of the kitchen set aside as an area to clean, chop and prepare produce from the garden—all of which adds to the home’s authenticity.

banquette in the breakfast room with yellow glassware and windows — Doors from the master suite and bathroom open to the spacious grounds. In the remote location, the area is still fully private. Blue and gray tones in the bathroom create a calming, spa-like atmosphere.

master bathroom with grays and blue accents and view to trees and mountains

Surrounded by so much nature and searching for an authentic feel, Maya pulled her color palette for the home from the world around her. “This was a farmhouse,” she says. “I wanted to pull colors that felt like nature.” For Maya, this translated into a lot of sage greens and bright yellows and oranges. She sought to harmonize the interior colors with the outside, which meant using the beautiful rich neutrals of turmeric, cream and earth. With the thoughtful architecture and expansive acreage, this authentic farmhouse in Ojai will stand the test of time.

collection of vintage books in built-in shelves of guest room — Vintage Nancy Drew books adorn a built-in triangular bookshelf in the loft bedroom of the guest house, which the homeowners’ children and grandchildren use when they visit.

sitting room with antique stone fireplace and rocking chair in authentic farmhouse in Ojai — A small sitting room boasts multiple vintage pieces, such as the 1890s stone fireplace and antique rocking chair. With no TV, this space is meant for quiet relaxation.

outdoor dining area with white pumpkins and apples and view to barn outside master bedroom of authentic farmhouse in Ojai — This quiet patio area is of the master suite andperfect for a cozy morning coffee on the grounds with a view of the barn and livestock in the distance.

pergola and bucket of apples on working farm in Ojai — A stunning pergola marks the path for a walk to the chicken coop, surrounded by luscious grapefruit trees along the way.

mini horse and chickens outside barn with red weathervane — You wouldn’t know from looking at it, but the barn was an entirely new structure paired with vintage touches like the antique weathervane to give it an older, well-used look.

goats on authentic farmhouse in Ojai — This wouldn’t be an authentic hobby farm without animals. Goats, chickens and horses provide the family with milk, cheese, eggs and other essentials. The sprawling farmhouse sits on four acres, allowing plenty of space for the animals, orchards and vegetable garden.

Vintage Book

Whether inexpensive editions or rare finds, vintage books are the perfect touch to any room.

The owners of this Ojai farmhouse brought with them a large collection of antique items that now serve as décor in their new home. Among the items are vintage books, many collected by one of the owners, who is a writer. They are used in lots of spaces throughout the home, adding unique vintage flair.

If you’re interested in collecting vintage books yourself, know that the price range is wide. Many vintage books can be found in bookstores for just a few bucks, but certain rare finds sell for thousands of dollars.

Thanksgiving Tablescape With Elegant Neutrals

The price of vintage books is driven by multiple factors, including the book’s popularity, rarity and condition. For example, the rare first edition of the Harry Potter series originally titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and credited to Joanne Rowling (later J.K. Rowling) can sell for up to $55,000. Online sites like AbeBooks and Biblio can help you identify rare books.

Natural Inspiration

Fall colors are a versatile palette perfect for your farmhouse this season.

Color Palette in the Authentic Farmhouse in Ojai

For the Ojai farmhouse, Maya focused on earthy tones. With the home nestled near the Topatopa Mountains, nature is a constant presence. The front porch, back patio and master suite all open directly onto the grounds. Maya drew inspiration from the mountains themselves and the area’s well-known sunsets, which locals refer to as “pink moments” because of the orange and pink glow that occurs when the sun’s light hits the mountains.

Nature at Its Best

When selecting design colors for your own home, drawing inspiration from the world around you is a great way to go. “The colors you choose to design with all depend on the house, the style and your preference,” Maya says. And fall colors can easily be incorporated into any style home. Mixing different shades of green, orange and yellow creates a natural, harmonious palette. Throw in some earthy neutrals like cream and brown for an inviting and comfortable autumn feel. Deepen or lighten colors to your personal taste, with darker shades for more drama and brighter shades for a cheerful feel.

If you loved this authentic farmhouse in Ojai, you may also enjoy A Michigan Vintage Fall Farmhouse and Down on the Georgia Farm. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!