Wine Country Casual

Author:Lindsey Shook

Tama Bell Design conjures up an idyllic Wine Country guest home

“Our core belief at Tama Bell Design is that the spaces we inhabit and spend time in truly matter. Our design goes beyond aesthetics and is about creating spaces that feel good because our well-being depends on it,” says Tama Bell of Tama Bell Design on her Sebastopol-based firm’s overarching design approach. They applied this way of thought when creating a cozy, guest home for clients located in the heart of Sonoma.

“The clients are busy professionals in the construction and medical fields. They have mostly grown children and in normal, non-COVID times, entertain often and wanted to have a finished guest space for friends and family,” says Bell. After working with the family on their main home over five years ago, the firm was enlisted to make the 1,300-square-foot “barn” as her clients call it, a welcoming guest home equipped for extended visits. “Though we did not do any major renovation, this meant sprucing up the kitchen and bathrooms with some material changes and furnishing the entire unit to create a comfortable, elegant space,” says the designer.

“With construction just completed on the guest house, it was a blank slate in need of warmth and character,” says Bell. The focus was placed on upgraded the wall and window treatments, and adding personality to the blank slate. “I think people are still traumatized by the wallpaper of the 70s and 80s, but when done right, it adds color, texture, and something so special to a space,” says Bell.”We chose Schumacher’s Haruki Sisal in Peacock, a strong, generous blue for the Jack & Jill bath and Thibaut’s Wild Silk, a non-woven vinyl, in blue for the powder bath.”

Bell’s team introduced pops of texture and color through mirrors, rugs and pillows to balance the casual, white backdrop. “I love the play between light and drama, elegant and rustic, and I think we hit the mark between the two,” says Bell. “Texture, color, and interest go a long way to set up the spaces for furnishings.”

While the final installation was delayed due to the shelter-in-place orders, once complete, the client was thrilled with the result. Bell notes, “Their son was able to move in, get settled, and they’ve been happy ever since!”