It was only going to be two rooms: the kitchen and the master bathroom,” laughs designer Stevi Michner about taking on a renovation project in Sonoma for a San Francisco couple, who had enjoyed the home for a few years but were ready for an update.
That lasted until reclaimed limestone from a 200-year-old French chateau was specified for the kitchen floor. It was a turning point that erupted to taking everything down to the studs in a process that architect Robert Baumann says was “like pulling a thread on a sweater” and building it back up to include what builder Thomas Bridges refers to as a bounty of “bells and whistles” and the “most sensational” job he’d ever done.
In the end, organic old-world sensibilities, materials and elements mixed seamlessly with soft, warm, streamlined furnishings. The topper? The inclusion of state-of-the-art technology going far beyond the typical smart home highlights. “It’s a completely different world,” says the husband of the new abode, “a sanctuary to rest and recharge.”
