His life is dedicated to creating buildings, but architect Luke Wade is keen to get people out of them. “My message is, ‘Go outside; it’s better out there,’ ” he notes. When designing this St. Helena house with interior designer Jennifer Robin, a long-time collaborator, that concept was front of mind. Working with general contractor Tom Trainor, the team made a home where the landscape beckons while the inside is, depending on the day, ideal for listening to live music and dancing or for quiet evenings curled up with a book. No matter what’s on the agenda, this house isn’t your typical agrarian-inspired Napa Valley dwelling. The owners, a real estate developer and a fashion stylist/luxury retailer, not only have a taste for rock music, but they also have an art collection inspired by urban graffiti—style preferences that give this country house a healthy dose of city sophistication.
Upon entering the lofty great room, that quintessential Napa Valley view of seemingly endless grapevine rows stretching to distant rolling mountains catches the eye, causing people to unconsciously move toward the mammoth retractable doors. From there, they drift onto an elevated, well-appointed terrace built to hover over the vineyard and surrounding plantings by landscape designer Paul Rozanski like a ship floating on the water. “When inside the house, those windows are an aperture that dramatically frames the view,” Wade says. “Our clients tell us that, even though they’ve seen it many times, the appreciation of that beauty never gets old.”
Home Details
Architecture:
Luke Wade, Wade Design Architects
Interior Design:
Jennifer Robin, Jennifer Robin Interiors
Home Builder:
Tom Trainor, Trainor Builders
Landscape Architecture:
Paul Rozanski, Rozanski Design
Styling:
Allegra Hsiao
The kitchen cabinets by Feist Cabinet & Woodworks Inc. are topped with black granite and accented by a Calacatta Monet marble backsplash, both from TriStone & Tile. Riloh pendants illuminate the Mandy Graham stools from Garde.
Calacatta Monet marble from TriStone & Tile tops the bar by Feist Cabinet & Woodworks Inc. Glass-and-metal stools by Debra Weninger Design play to the Riloh pendants.
The bar and music lounge lie just behind a partial wall in the great room. Artwork by Retna animates the space.
When the sliding glass door by Euroline Steel Windows & Doors opens in the primary bedroom, the B&B Italia bed is just a few short steps away from the pool. Daikon Studio pendants flank an artwork by Retna; a Jim Dine piece is on the adjacent wall. In the corner, a wingback chair by Lawson-Fenning wears a Dedar fabric.
The interior of the party barn is lined with wire-brushed wood. One side of the Living Divani sectional looks to a mirrored bar area with Allied Maker pendants, Phase Design barstools, a painting by Robert Mars and an Isabella Furniture pool table; the other faces a Poliform coffee table, De Padova chair and Stark rug.
From the terrace, visitors can soak in the vineyard views. Holly Hunt chairs surround both the B&B Italia table and custom fire pit designed by Wade Design Architects.
Glass doors by Euroline Steel Windows & Doors line the great room. In the dining area, a custom table by Statsky Design is joined by Poliform chairs. Just beyond, a Montauk Sofa sectional, Maxalto swivel chair and Jean Dubuffet artwork rest on the living area’s Mark Nelson Designs rug.
That’s not to say the interior is without appeal, quite the opposite. The great room contains a kitchen, living and dining areas, and, behind a partial wall, a bar and piano lounge. Such open-plan rooms (a staple in country estates) can feel cavernous, but thanks to exquisite detailing, a moody-hued material palette and a mix of scales, this space errs on the side of cozy. “The owner had a strong desire to include high-end Italian furnishings,” Robin says. “Because that type of furniture often carries a smaller, lower profile, it was essential to add larger custom furnishings and lighting to both create a sense of comfort and complement the volume of the architecture.”
Robin gave the great room what she describes as a “modern aesthetic with rich textural finishes,” and a color palette relying primarily on black, charcoal and white. The designer says that this backdrop not only accents the views outside but is also a foundation for the couple’s colorful art collection, like the work by Jean Dubuffet in the living area. “I wanted to ensure the interiors were a reflection of my client’s fashion sense,” she notes. “It’s tailored, chic and comfortable, but edgy with subtle moments of bling.”
The scale shifts in the primary bedroom, a space that, although smaller, feels spacious thanks to its high ceiling. From the bed, the couple can enjoy the views visible through the large sliding glass door, including the pool, just a few quick steps away. Muted colors and materials, like the wall of wire-brushed wood paneling, give the space a snug nature.
The main house is one side of a loose square completed by a party barn, guest quarters and garage, all connected by terraces to create a courtyard. It is design meant to spark joy. “As people pass from one building to the next, it allows them to feel sun on their skin for a moment and breath fresh air,” Wade says. “It’s a dose of dopamine and charm.” And once guests reach the party barn, the fun begins. For these music-loving owners, Robin created a flexible space that includes a double-sided sofa providing seating for both an ample tequila bar area outfitted with a pool table and (when a few pieces of furniture are moved aside) a stage for live music. Overhead, a loft holds a gym and a DJ platform.
It’s the perfect mix for the owners, who love both hanging out together with their dogs and hosting large-scale celebrations. “Friends, family and music are our secret sauce,” the wife says. Adds Wade, “For Jennifer and me, the goal was to create a wonderful, elegant home that’s filled with luxurious things— but this is also a place where anyone can feel comfortable.”
Calacatta Monet marble from TriStone & Tile tops the bar by Feist Cabinet & Woodworks Inc. Glass-and-metal stools by Debra Weninger Design play to the Riloh pendants.