Though American midcentury modern design exists all over the country, it arguably shines brightest in California, where such renowned architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, and John Lautner created everlasting masterpieces. While many of those gems were tragically torn down in the last several decades, there are still quite a few left, including Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson’s 1979 three-bedroom home in Calistoga, California. Since Johnson started C&C to help millennial women build their careers and grow their professional networks, the entrepreneur prioritized her home office. She enlisted Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer, founders and lead designers of Sonoma, California-based Hommeboys Interiors to help her create a home fit for work and play.
"Having an inspiring and calming office was extremely important to me, so creating such a gorgeous space was a top priority," Johnson says. "The Hommeboys did such a good job of creating a highly functional space that also was comfortable and serene." As one of two rooms that underwent a large-scale gut renovation, the office takes a totally different aesthetic approach than its surroundings. For starters, unlike the rest of the home, which is finished in a bright white, every inch of the office’s walls and ceiling is swathed in a sumptuous shade of blue. "Our initial thought was to drown it in a singular color theme. Painting was an obvious choice, but we wanted to take a risk and use lime wash in a very uncommon application: across millwork," Carrier explains. "The color, Wellfleet by Portola Paints, was an incredibly powerful hue, and blue evokes imagination and inspiration."
The result is an executive-inspired space well-suited to a high-powered CEO. One element that conveys the C-suite swagger of the space is the desk, which The Hommeboys designed themselves. "It was built in our furniture atelier. The legs are solid travertine, and the top is white oak with a custom stain and brass inlay," Mutter-Rottmayer adds.
The outdoor area of the home was also in desperate need of a refresh. "The outside was a kids' play area, so we changed it to make it more of an entertaining space," Johnson explains. "We spent a lot of time figuring out the floor plan because we knew we wanted to have a place to sit and enjoy the vineyard views. The plush semicircle-shaped couch was the perfect solution!"
While the designers were fixing up the office and outdoor space, they also decorated the rest of the home, including the kitchen, living room, and primary sleeping quarters. Though each room features its own special look, they make a cohesive and stylish statement about the woman who lives among them, a "true boss," as The Hommeboys call her. But along with reflecting the personality of its owner, the newly refinished home echoes the principles by which the architectural greats of the mid-19th century worked, from the muted earthy palettes to the simplistic yet sharp lines. As Carrier says, "We love that the interior and exterior spaces are a true homage to California and its natural beauty and iconic architecture."
Exterior
When it comes to the unique wall surrounding the A-frame house, Johnson explains, "One of the original homeowners was a stonemason, which explains why the stonework is super special. The structure is really solid, but we added fireproofing items along the way."
Living Room
Pictured above.
"The lighting is unbelievable. With the A-frame windows and skylights, the whole room gets washed with sunlight all day," Johnson says. Sofa: Industry West. Ottoman: custom. Art: Brian Coleman.
"I wanted the space to feel modern yet cozy," she adds. "The art that fills the white walls and the greenery outside makes it feel like home." Rug: Vintage. End table: Industry West. Leather chairs: Industry West.
Kitchen
"I love this kitchen because it's small but well designed," Johnson says, "I can cook while guests hang-out and I'm not separated into another room." Black pendant: Allied Maker.
"The outset cabinets provide a lot of space for cooking equipment," she adds. Art: Dan Hobday. Gallery light: Lightology. Hardware: Emtek.
Dining Room
"I love hosting," Johnson says. "This space is perfect for a dinner followed by cocktails at the fire pit.” All dining room furniture: Industry West.
"Formal dining and larger hosting is best done outside overlooking the vineyards, but I wanted a space where, if the weather was too chilly, we could get cozy and eat dinner inside," Johnson adds. Cabinet: Vintage. Rope art installation: Casa Trama. Basket: Pottery Barn.
Bedroom
"The skylights make the lighting in here so magical,” Johnson says. "The bedrooms are quite large so there is tons of space to spread out." Sconces: Worley’s Lighting. Bedding: Parachute. Nightstands: Pottery Barn. Bed: Crate & Barrel. Bench: Shoppe Amber Interiors.
Bathroom
Johnson found the painting pictured at a flea market. Light: Allied Maker. Marble: Carrera. Art: Flea market.
Office
"Lime-washing the millwork in the office really paid off and it ended up being one of our favorite details in the space," Carrier explains. "We wanted the pieces to feel warm and welcoming, so we chose custom-finished white oak millwork to help ground the blue tone and transform this space into a cozy retreat that felt calming and relaxing in order for creativity and workflow to be at their peak." Paint: Wellfleet, Portola Paints. Pendant: Duo. Lampshade: Ferm Living. Desk: Custom. Chair: Interior Define.
Patio
"This is perfect for hosting dinner parties, playing bocce ball, or snuggling up by the fire pit," Johnson says. Table and chairs: Lulu and Georgia.
