An Art-Filled Napa Valley Home Pushes the Envelope for Prefab Design
A Bay Area family harnesses the power of prefab to build a weekend hideaway replete with custom finishes.
A Bay Area family harnesses the power of prefab to build a weekend hideaway replete with custom finishes.
Nearly a decade ago, interior designer Alison Damonte met a couple who would be among the first clients of her namesake business. They had just moved from New York to Berkeley, and they asked her to personalize their new home. A few years after they were settled, the pair had an idea for the next phase of their family’s life.
"By using a hybrid model that includes both prefab and site-built construction, we were able to push the architectural vocabulary of prefab construction beyond the expected, with a bold, new visual vocabulary," Denton says.
Photo by Bruce Damonte
"The owners wanted a laid-back weekend retreat where they could unwind from their busy lives in the Bay Area," Damonte says. "They desired a place where their kids could hang out with friends in the pool, and they could host big dinner parties and jam sessions for their family and friends."
They prioritized the open spaces just outside the Bay Area as the backdrop for this hideaway, and settled upon the Mayacamas Mountains between Sonoma and Napa. A parcel dotted with trees and streaked with a nearby stream offered a calm departure from the East Bay, although downtown Calistoga was only a few minutes’ drive away. Alongside Damonte, the couple hired Jarrod Denton, a partner at Signum Architecture, to determine how to capitalize on the setting with a quiet yet party-ready plan.
"The clients’ art collection is so inspiring and engaging that we wanted to make sure that our design decisions enhanced the collection and didn’t overpowered the artwork," Damonte says. The living room and deck were constructed on-site.
Photo by Bruce Damonte
"The appeal of working with the owners included seeing their beautifully renovated home in Berkeley that Alison Damonte completed, and the location they chose to build on," Denton says. "This little valley is one of my favorite bike rides, and even though it is so close to Calistoga, it feels wonderfully remote."
The couple wanted an indoor/outdoor living space that made it easy for their kids and guests to gather for parties and jam sessions.
Photo by Bruce Damonte
See the full story on Dwell.com: An Art-Filled Napa Valley Home Pushes the Envelope for Prefab Design
Related stories:
