Top Real Estate Projects 2012: Howard residence, Santa Rosa

[caption id="attachment_66427" align="alignnone" width="595"] Rear view of the Howard residence in the Mayacama neighborhood of Santa Rosa, showing the terraces, pool and floor-to-ceiling dining room window. (photo credit: Nordby Signature Homes)[/caption]

Location: Mayacama Club Drive, Santa Rosa

Design: struture -- Farrell Faber & Associates; landscape -- Firma Design Group; interior -- Petersen Design AssociatesEngineering: civil -- Pope Engineering; structural -- Johnson, Debois & Forrest; soils -- PJC & Associates

Contractors and suppliers: general -- Nordby Signature Homes; casework and millwork -- Acapella Construction; framing -- Robert Kline Construction; electrical -- Summit Electric; welding -- The Welding Shop; painting -- Streamline Painting; kitchen cabinets: Bulthaup of San Francisco; other cabinets -- WNT Design; Building Green products -- Paul Balatti of NorCal Development Co.; lighting -- Ironware International, Holly Hunt, Boyd, Jean de Merry, Policelli Lighting and Porta Romana; fire suppression -- Alpha Fire Suppression Systems; roofing -- AnC Roofing; pool -- Bertram Pools; grading -- George E. Young & Sons; front door and dining room window -- Portalais; fireplace -- Blaze Fireplaces; doors -- Curtis & Sons Doors; windows -- Portofino Fine Doors & Windows; garage door -- Don’s Garage Door Co.; masonry -- Masonry Contractor Installers and Sonoma Cast Stone; waterproofing -- North Coast Waterproofing; drywall -- Luke Construction; tile -- Dennett Tile & Stone; heating and plumbing -- Rogers Radiant Heating & Plumbing and Swan Plumbing; plumbing fixtures: Duravit Bathroom Fixtures and Waterworks; sheet metal -- Simpson Sheet Metal; appliances -- Standards of Excellence

SANTA ROSA -- The Howard residence in the Mayacama Timbers Resort community in the Shiloh Hills is a magnificent single-family home built on a two-acre lot that has been sited to maximize valley vistas of Windsor and Santa Rosa.

This premier custom home, located along Cottage Ridge Road, is modeled after a weathered Tuscan stone barn that has been added onto over the years. 

The structure is an elegant blend of wood and stucco with various earthtone finishes wrapped in native stonework.

Paul Balatti, of NorCal Development Company, served as the owner’s representative. He formed a team of professionals, including contractors and an interior design firm, to develop the project.

Petersen Design Associates, LLC, of Novato was chosen to select interior styles and finishes. Constance Petersen, principal, and Karen Douglass, senior designer, worked closely with the homeowner, architect and contractor to achieve the owner’s vision.

 In addition to the main indoor kitchen, there is a kitchenette in the lower floor granny unit, another on the patio outside the main floor kitchen and dining area, and yet another in the pool house area used for barbecues and al fresco dining.

“Kitchen cabinets are a contemporary blend of walnut and dark grey anodized aluminum crafted by Bulthaup of Germany, and kitchen and hallway floors are a modern form of exposed concrete,” said Ms. Petersen. “Countertop surfaces are made from unique composition of finely ground quartz.”

Floors in other parts of the house are made of reclaimed white oak. Centuries old French bricks have been laid in a herringbone pattern in the sunroom, laundry and loggias.

Reclaimed white oak beams are also used as lintels over doors and windows.

An antique 18th century walnut double door, provided by Portalais, Inc., and restored by Boiseries et Decorations, serves as the entrance portal.

Ironware International, Holly Hunt and Boyd provided custom lighting fixtures.

The fireplace is a replica of a limestone original once owned by Maurice Chevalier, crafted by Francois & Co.

Pool house cabinets were created from reclaimed barn wood.

The master bath is a complementary mix of new and old world styles. White Thassos marble was deployed on shower walls and countertops, and silver cream travertine was used on the floor.

Duravit plumbing fixtures, exposed rain showerheads and faucets, along with retro 1920’s-era Waterworks polished nickel lever handled faucets, complete the lavatory.

Austrian-made walnut windows by Silber, that can both tilt and swing open, were installed throughout the house.

A custom iron-framed, floor-to-ceiling arched window with beveled glass panels forms the centerpiece of the dining room.

Downstairs, the wine room features unique wooden racks positioned over a brick floor illuminated by a “Birdsnest” chandelier by Jean de Merry.

The entire concept of this 3,800-square-foot, three-bedroom home with separate guest quarters and a granny unit has been developed to showcase both past and present.

Shaun Faber, principal with Farrell Faber Architects, was the conceptual designer of the residence. The general contractor was Nordby Signature Homes under the direction of Project Manager David Schroeder.

The landscape in the front is very Old World, while plantings in back of the house are very new world. All plants are drought tolerant and 95 percent are indigenous to a Mediterranean climate.

“Overall, this residence is a testament to having the right team of designers, consultants and contractors – and we had them all on this project,” said Michael Cook, principal, with Firma Design Group, the site planners and landscape architects. 

The owners were committed to sustainability, preserving the site, maintaining renewable resources and keeping the land in its natural state.

The house was positioned to fit between most of the existing trees. However, three large Oregon white oaks were relocated from the building site to the perimeter of the lot to provide a privacy shield.

Stately olive trees were planted in the courtyard along with ornamental pears and citrus to enhance the Italian village motif. Hanging plants provide a verdant accent to patio areas.

Italian planter pots -- hand selected by the owners -- were crafted using 18th century designs.

A smart irrigation system was installed that saves 40 to 50 percent of the water typically needed to support the landscape.

The access driveway from the main road winds its way around native trees, so they would not have to be removed. 

Energy efficient exterior lighting, controlled by a computer and remotely accessible using tablet computer or smartphone, has been deployed throughout the grounds. 

Fire-safe construction techniques were deployed in building the main residence and a separate detached garage.

The hilltop home has a two-story front and three stories on the back with balconies that offer 180- to 200-degree views of the valley.

Grids of three-foot square travertine tiles surround a 24-by-48-foot outdoor pool that includes a water feature.  

Work on this one-of-a-kind home began in the summer of 2011.

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