"Seeing the hand of the maker gives homes a sense of soul,” says interior designer Heather Hilliard, who channeled that philosophy into a newly built multigenerational residence. Set behind steel-framed windows and doors, the dwelling opens with drama at the entry. A hand-carved tulipwood table introduces the artisanal theme and is joined by a sculptural, ribbonlike stair rail in darkened bronze. A cascading metal-and-glass chandelier—“The orbs look like drops of water,” Hilliard notes—draws the eye upward and gently tempers the soaring 24-foot-high ceiling.
This focus on craftsmanship continues in the living room, where a coffee table topped with wood and milled stone rests on a base made with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery. And in the dining room, a light fixture fashioned from ebonized wood and gold leaf casts a luminous glow across the bespoke white oak table below. With everything set against a backdrop of blue, gray, taupe and ivory, Hilliard says, “It’s a tonal palette that allows the artisanal details to sing.”
The homeowners, a couple with three children, two lively Labradors and a revolving door of visiting friends and relatives, turned to architect Eric Nyhus for a modern farmhouse design that worked with their lifestyle. A standing-seam metal roof, board-and-batten siding and generous glazed openings speak to the style’s common characteristics, but, Nyhus says, “What elevates this residence to the highest end of the modern farmhouse spectrum are the high-quality steel windows and doors.”
Home Details
Architecture:
Eric Nyhus, Nyhus Design Group
Interior Design:
Heather Hilliard and Patrick Chuenjai, Heather Hilliard Design
Home Builder:
Andrew Vanni, AV Builders
Landscape Architecture:
Michael Callan, Michael Callan Landscape Architect
A fixture by Eric Schmitt lights the living room conversation area, assembled on a Safar rug. Armchairs by Charlotte Biltgen and a Laura Gonzalez sofa surround a wood-and-stone coffee table by Kerstens. Above the fireplace is a piece by Ethan Cook.
Artwork by Julian Charrière, a Christopher Kurtz table and a Faithful Roots credenza greet guests in the large foyer. An Ochre chandelier and Colefax and Fowler window treatments soften the scale of the space. The metal windows and doors are by Euroline Steel Windows & Doors
Benjamin Moore’s sultry Ashland Slate on the dining room walls and Anke Weyer’s An Ordinary Day establish an intimate mood. Jean-Michel Frank chairs gather around the white oak table by Thomas Fetherston Custom Furniture Design. Tiarra Bell designed the ebonized-ash-and-gold-leaf light fixture.
Countertops and a backsplash fashioned from Calacatta Oro marble complement the kitchen’s stained white oak cabinets. The hardware is by Ashley Norton, and the white oak floor is Allwood.
An expanse of ribbed plaster houses the La Cornue range’s hood, while Eric Schmitt pendants hang above the kitchen island. Casual dining takes place at the Studio Emblématique table surrounded by oak Pendhapa chairs.
A favorite gathering place, the family room’s Liaigre sofa and Jardan lounge chairs strike a relaxed note. The oak coffee table is by Huniford, the leather credenza is by Croft House, and the artwork is from Fraenkel Gallery.
Dubbed the entertainment room, this cozy space features a Holly Hunt sofa and velvet lounge chairs by Kimberly Denman, all lit by an Entrelacs pendant and a Meredith Metcalf table lamp. Artwork from Fraenkel Gallery overlooks a Vincent Dupont-Rougier for Delcourt Collection coffee table.
With its private patio, the primary bedroom enjoys views of the grounds by landscape architect Michael Callan. The retreat includes a custom bed upholstered in Great Plains fabric as the centerpiece. Beneath the Mark Alexander-covered armchairs and leather Liaigre ottoman is a Safar rug.
A study in softness, the daughter’s bedroom features a cotton linen-upholstered bed by The Citizenry and a hand-knotted wool rug from Lulu and Georgia. Joining the Gubi floor lamp and Arteriors side table is a swivel chair upholstered in a Holland & Sherry wool bouclé.
Topped by a custom wedge pillow, the primary bathroom’s Baker + Hesseldenz ottoman is an ideal resting spot. The side table is by Hollis+Morris, and the vanity sconces are by Garnier & Linker.
To his point, the grand foyer features an assembly of 20-foot windows that frame views to the expansive property designed by landscape architect Michael Callan. The commodious space also acts as a central spine. “On the first level, it divides the kitchen and family room from the more formal living and dining rooms,” Nyhus explains. “On the upper level, it separates the primary suite from the children’s domain, which has its own social gathering room.”
Meanwhile, Hilliard, working with designer Patrick Chuenjai, incorporated subtle agrarian accents—most notably wood ceiling beams in the kitchen, family room and primary bedroom—while selecting furnishings with an eye toward balancing new designs with well-established makers. In the main seating area, for example, a contemporary sofa shares space with a Deco-era oak cabinet by Jean-Michel Frank and a black-sandstone-and-gilded-glass mirror. “The curved lines of the furniture add softness,” Hilliard says. “The pieces feel collected, not curated.”
Faced with an ambitious timeline that included balancing an array of craftspeople, Hilliard credits general contractor Andrew Vanni as being instrumental in making it all happen. “It was a tight schedule, and Andrew kept things on track,” she recalls. “He was on site every day, crafting our designs to perfection.”
Color, while restrained, is used to expressive effect. In the dining room, moody blue-gray walls establish a sultry tone, while dark navy leather chairs amplify the blue end of the spectrum. The pleasing hue extends to the family room with a plush indigo sofa and into the primary suite, where a pair of chairs reupholstered in deep blue are part of a quiet fireside haven. “The blue accents add energy and depth—it’s grounding yet fresh,” the homeowner says. “It feels California and classic without being formal, which really suits our family.”
Throughout, art provides additional texture and color. In the entry, a heliograph on stainless steel by Julian Charrière—lit by the space’s skylight—glistens, and a large-scale abstract by Anke Weyer anchors the atmospheric dining room. “The art became an extension of the home’s personality,” the owner says. “Every piece feels intentional but brings quiet reflection.”
And while the residence is layered with design intelligence and elevated materials, its greatest success is in how seamlessly it lives. “The house effortlessly accommodates everyone from grandparents and teenagers to friends and dogs,” the owner says. “There’s space for all of us, and everyone loves being home.”
Countertops and a backsplash fashioned from Calacatta Oro marble complement the kitchen’s stained white oak cabinets. The hardware is by Ashley Norton, and the white oak floor is Allwood.