Santa Rosa Serenity

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Designer Lori Henle helps a couple find a fresh start in their forever home

The countertops by Euro Stone complement the subtle blue island covered with Deep Secret by Benjamin Moore. Photos by Michelle Drewes.
In the breakfast nook, Klismos fabric side chairs surround the Russian Oak Parson rectangle table from Restoration Hardware. Photos by Michelle Drewes.

“My design philosophy is to create homes that are not only beautiful but represent the very essence of my clients through careful curation of finishes and materials that are timeless, harmonious and above all, comforting,” says designer Lori Henle. It is this philosophy that was applied inside a Santa Rosa home for clients who lost their last home in the Santa Rosa Tubbs fire of 2017. They craved a forever home that provided many moments of respite with functionality and durability top of mind. “My clients are both working professionals and have recently become grandparents,” says Henle. “In that sense we opted for high performance finishes and materials that would be durable and withstand the wear and tear that will come from having visits from the grandchildren.”

The chandelier is from Restoration Hardware. Photos by Michelle Drewes.

The client’s enlisted Henle to assist with selecting custom finishes and creating a furniture plan for the 3,800-square-foot farmhouse-style, new-build home. “The design finishes, furnishings and layout also needed to be able to accommodate their love of cooking, entertaining with friends and their appreciation of the wine country and the natural beauty surrounding their home,” she says. The kitchen features a custom hood, trimmed in reclaimed Oak, with flanking wood shelves. “The hood adds to the modern farmhouse character and the shelves help create symmetry and provide the perfect place to display and feature dishware and accessories,” says the designer. “The deep blue paint finish on the kitchen island adds a wonderful contrast against the white shaker cabinets and countertops.”

A pair of 1950s Italian Shelter Arm sofas covered in vintage velvet slate blue sit in the living room. Photos by Michelle Drewes.

Customization continued in the office and media room where built-in entertainment bookcases in an Oak wood finish with custom sliding barn doors, conceal the AV components. “I believe that light and the flow of a home plays a huge role in creating the sense of calm people crave and am always looking for clever ways to take advantage of natural light and create better flow through space planning and unique storage solutions,” says Henle.

Having lost all of their accessories in the fire, Henle had to start from scratch, finding treasures to fill shelves in the kitchen, office and media room. “I incorporated a favorite forged iron bowl and mixed in collections of ivory modern vases, boxes and other objects that would lighten the space while creating a sense of history, and making it feel curated over time,” she notes.

Custom barn door cabinets hide the TV and AV equipment in the media room.
Photos by Michelle Drewes.
A Tompkins Shelter Box tufted fabric bed sits in the primary bedroom.
Photos by Michelle Drewes.

The final result is a light and elegant that was created with the collaborative goal to build a haven for peace and harmony. “My clients were very happy to see it all pulled together and shared the finished home with their friends and family, who were all also pleased to see a home that they could start fresh in and grow with.”