Farmhouse Meets Vineyard

Written by Brenda N. Klug

Interior Photography by Stephanie Russo

Exterior photography by Fours Media

A vacation home in Sebastopol, California is transformed into a farmhouse style wine country retreat.

Tama and Lauren Bell, mother daughter team of Tama Bell Interior Design Studio, renovated this home in a farmhouse meets vineyard style for a young family who now relish coming here with their two daughters and a Labrador named Whiskey. From day one, the homeowners desired a modern farmhouse style to host friends and visitors with ease. The designers got to work creating a country exterior. For the inside, they went in a unique direction, combining farmhouse style with a contemporary, Sonoma County vibe. By changing the footprint of the preexisting home and focusing on a curated design, this dreamy escape is now perfect for any occasion.

back porch of farmhouse meets vineyard home

exterior of farmhouse meets vineyard home — The exterior showcases new windows, doors, siding and exterior lighting. “We wanted to create a proper entry that you could see when you drove up,” Tama says. The inviting covered front porch and a wide front door say ‘Welcome!’ to all who enter

Fully Reimagined into Farmhouse Meets Vineyard

To bring farmhouse charm to the exterior, the designers built a covered entry porch to make an inviting entrance with steps leading up to double Dutch doors. “Dutch doors are the epitome of a welcoming country home,” Tama says. The designers also put white siding on the exterior to cover the old beige paint. The inside felt cramped with a closed off floorplan, so they made space for a new living room by creating a “bump out” in the exterior. Tama and Lauren also rearranged the location of the entry, dining room and kitchen to increase space and functionality.

living room with modern farmhouse and vineyard style touches — The living room is a bump-out addition strategically designed for extra gathering room. Tama and Lauren used lots of textures and colors in this space as a nod to the surrounding wine country. “Pops of navy, pink and green add just enough interest,” they say. To boost farmhouse charm, the designers used an antique French trunk as a coffee table.

The homeowners love to entertain, and the kitchen became a very important part of the renovation. Tama and Lauren set to work creating a bright and functional space out of the preexisting tiny kitchen. By moving it to the back of the house and placing the range in an alcove in the wall, space for a large country island emerged.

The white counters and backsplash are porcelain in a marble finish. “The client liked the look of marble but wanted a forgiving surface,” Tama and Lauren say. The design duo added Douglas original skylights to the adjacent dining room to bring in lots of natural light.

dining room with long chandelier and abstract floral painting on the wall — The original Douglas Fir beams pair beautifully with the reproduction vintage dining table and chairs. “We wanted to have some of the furniture feel old and curated,” Tama says. “The room is what you see upon entry, and we really wanted the furniture to pull you into the house.” Fun fact: The dining chairs are made from solid mango wood and woven banana leaves for the seats.

Sonoma County Farmhouse Vibe

Tama and Lauren combined farmhouse charm with California cool to reflect Sonoma County ease and elegance. For this home they picked warm white tones with a slight yellow undertone and settled on a color palette inspired by the natural surroundings. Bringing the outdoors in is a trademark of California design. The pinks and greens found throughout the interior echo the surrounding vineyards. “We wanted to add warmth in colors and textures to create a timeless farmhouse look,” they say.

bench seating in farmhouse meets vineyard home — The inviting bench seat is cleverly sandwiched between built-ins along the wall, providing additional seating for family and friends. “We loved the idea of the kids seeing who is driving up, reading or watching a family movie,” Tama says. “If we can add a window seat, we always do!”

Tama and Lauren are known for their curated style with classic elements that defy cookie cutter trends. The dining room is a great example as it showcases a mix of classic furniture, farmhouse warmth and a feel of California mission. The warmth of the dining table, ceiling beams and brass candlestick holders juxtapose nicely with the farmhouse inspired sideboard and linear chandelier. In keeping with the farmhouse and wine country feel, Tama and Lauren used lots of natural fibers and woods. Tama explains the wide array of natural materials she and Lauren used: “Jute, seagrass and wool for the rugs,” she says. “The wood species range from French oak, reclaimed pine, mango and lots and lots of linen, cotton and ticking.”

Simply Vintage Home at Christmastime

farmhouse meets vineyard style kitchen — “The kitchen is both modern and farmhouse with its clean lines, warm wood floors, ceiling beams and wooden paneling,” Tama says. The countertops and backsplash are from a large, en masse installation of Magnifica Encore Porcelain in Calcutta Super White. The designers describe the pendant lights hanging over the island as “gorgeous” and a classic from Visual Comfort. “We specified them oversized to make a statement,” the designers explain.

The designers embraced some fun with contemporary elements in the daughters’ bedroom and playroom. Farmhouse style serves as a backdrop for bright pops of color and fun wall art. Tama and Lauren love the results of the renovation. “It is the epitome of a welcoming country home but not in a cliché way,” they say.

nook with impressionistic painting and neutral color scheme — The front porch addition to the exterior of the house made room for a proper entryway on the inside. “The natural light from the new entry makes the space and draws you into the house,” Tama says. A warm jute rug grounds the airy and warm off-white space. Fuzzy white poufs add more levity.

shelves in kids room with baskets and skateboard art above — This bedroom and playroom belong to the homeowner’s young daughters. “We wanted the children’s room to be fun but lasting,” Tama says. “We used more white, mixed with rustic wood and then repeated the punches of color in textiles and art.” The eye-popping art in the girls’ bedroom is actually plexiglass skateboards. “They are called ‘Love is in the Air’ and are fabulous!” the designers say.

kids room with playful art and chairs in renovated farmhouse style home

bunks beds in renovated farmhouse style home

farmhouse bedroom with landscape painting and beige headboard — I The master bedroom is a soothing retreat with many layers of natural materials. A mix of patterns in the bedding brings an element of fun while the landscape picture on the wall mirrors the verdant greenery beyond the window. The wall of upholstered fabric squares behind the bed makes a unique headboard and adds to the cozy feel.

farmhouse style bathroom with neutral color scheme

master bathroom with soaking tub and neutral color scheme

soaking tub in neutral modern farmhouse bathroom — The master bathroom has a luxurious soaking tub and a walk-in shower. The designers chose a neutral crackle subway tile along with a modern, large penny round in matte white for the flooring. Tama and Lauren used a trough sink with two faucets for the vanity in lieu of separate sinks. A more contemporary white oak vanity is used in the guest bathroom.

Tama Bell Interior Design mother and daughter

If you loved this farmhouse meets vineyard home, you may also like Modern Barn Home in Napa Valley and Modern Farmhouse California Retreat. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!