Houzz Tour: A modern-rustic farm family in California

Houzz Tour: A modern-rustic farm family in California - There are three years, Michelle Pattee watched property tax documents for its four-acre property in Sebastopol, a tiny farming community in northern California. She and her husband, Bill Albright, had put a lot of work on the farm in 1904, and as she scanned the spread on his desk bills, she thought, "How are we going to pull this off this year?" Just then the phone rang, and the call provided the answer. A creative director of Pottery Barn Kids was on the line; he would reserve his home for a week photo shoot -. and the rate it offered was enough to take care of taxes this year

Pattee (photographer upscale events and Decor Archives co-owner) and Albright (main West Wood County ) does not intend to create the perfect setting for companies like Pottery Barn, Serena & Lily, Pendleton and QVC; their goal was to make a forever home to their families. It is their house tells a story we want to buy all.

Houzz at a Glance
Location Sebastopol, California
Who lives here Michelle Pattee, husband Bill Albright and children Eli and Kansas
Size 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Photography by Michelle Pattee Photography

Michelle Pattee

old farms still uses Pattee. "I am attracted by the style of architecture, she said. "There is something genuine about them." Perhaps this why she and Albright decided to buy this house seven years ago, even if they were not looking for a project.

The whole family gravitates to the huge walnut tree in the courtyard. "It is a kind of touchstone, said Pattee. "It is poetic and statuesque." She used the fallen trees and branches on the property to make a stacked-log fence. "We have lots of trees, and it seems that we are losing one in almost every storm," she said. "I like the way the fence looks like, but I'm just using the material I had on hand to build it."

The house, with its gracious to gear structure is visible background. "It takes a lot of love when we saw, said Pattee. "The second floor was accessible only by a steep ladder." The couple has replaced the aluminum windows with wooden models appropriate era. When the couple spotted dependencies in neighboring farms with rows of square windows, they were inspired to add portals that reflect that construction on the upper level of the house.

Michelle Pattee

They removed the walls surrounding the kitchen, using reclaimed wood for support beams, the ceiling and floor. "I am a minimalist, Pattee said, explaining the open shelves and rare furniture arrangements. "I prefer to have an open space in my house -. It is also very convenient for photoshoots Albright built the kitchen island, the door of the office and the desk next to the beach. "I did add a brown kraft paper dispenser below, Pattee said. "I use it for all sorts of things, and my son's used for art projects.

Wood: Heritage Salvage

Michelle Pattee

the highest shelves are held in place by hooks Pattee found in an antique store. Although she identifies as a minimalist, Pattee admits to being an inveterate treasure hunter.

Michelle Pattee

Because kitchen faces north and is the center of the house, it is the darkest room. The couple installed simple blisters on the tops of the rafters to make it brighter. "He not only throws light up there, it really brings out the beauty of wood, said Pattee.

Discover ways to use natural wood to great effect

Michelle Pattee

island used to be twice as wide, but when the family decided it was too big to comfortably reach through, Albright cut in two and wood used in excess to make a table. In the new empty space, the couple put in a comfortably worn leather sofa, which instantly became a favorite gathering place for family and guests. Eli here, ages 6, chills while listening to music.

Michelle Pattee

A stack of cutting boards marks a display that is beautiful and fully functional.

Michelle Pattee

Among the objects usable yet attractive is the old school pencil in the kitchen. Pattee like the way she looks, and she photographed to represent the spirit of his house.

Michelle Pattee

Through sofa in the room is a pair of vintage Pattee libraries found in a car boot sale for £ 25. "they clearly belonged to a family, because they have children's drawings and scribbles on them, said Pattee, who left the tracks as she found them. "I loved that when we stacked them they have almost reached the ceiling.

Michelle Pattee

unlike kitchen, the living room is painted bright white. "I'm doing everything I paint, Pattee said," so I chose a single color in a semi-gloss finish. Between photoshoots, children and life, I need something that is easy to wipe or retouch 'The chimney was originally raw fields, but Pattee did not like the color of it, she painted and painted again. - Then again. "For two-tone white and black now, and I plan to give it a gray coat, she said. "It is easy to paint surface and contained, and it can change the look of the room instantly.

mural: Bright White, Kelly Moore

Michelle Pattee

in accordance with its "simple is best philosophy, Pattee selected two sofas bulk coated white (they can be removed, washed and replaced quickly). The black and blue carpet came pre-distressed, an attractive feature for Pattee because, as she points out, they live in the country and distress would occur anyway. The long narrow bench was found along the road to Sebastopol

Rug :. West Elm; sofas: Nantuckit Furniture Company

Michelle Pattee

The chandelier was with Pattee since she was single and living in San Francisco. "I tend to find things that I like and then carry with me a long time, she said. 'This is the fourth house of the luminaire.

Michelle Pattee

the couple decided to make the existing bathroom in a laundry room and create a new bathroom on the ground level. "Having a bathroom for a family of four requires us to deal with the needs and progress. It teaches us to cooperate, "said Pattee. "I am sure that having a bathroom for four people is against the status quo, but it works for us." The bathroom has a shower (no photo) and a vintage bathroom. A long shallow pool, which was supposed to be a bar sink, is in a vanity made by Albright.

Michelle Pattee

The main bedroom is large and also serves Office of Pattee. Visible pine knots are not intentional. Since the couple wanted the look of painted planks installed Albright knotty pine, the cheapest material they could find. Pattee, tired of painting, has hired a professional to apply the same white used elsewhere. He used the wrong bait, and after a few weeks, units began to show through. "We like the way it looks, said Pattee. "We consider it a happy accident.

A mixture of found tables, chests of drawers and a safe take care of the couple's storage needs. "I really do not like symmetry, said Pattee. A duvet is made from an old tablecloth she discovered in an antique shop and stored for a decade before landing on the right use.

Their daughter, Kansas, named after the state of the house Albright Reclines two floor pillows produced by archive Decor (all textiles have Pattee of photography). They are printed with maps of San Francisco and New York City

Floor pillows :. SF and NY Map Pillows, Archival Decor

See 12 wonderful ways with wood

Michelle Pattee

a huge fan, find another route, fits perfectly with the neo-industrial farm family style. Pattee said although it looks almost like a work of art, it is quite functional. "It sounds like a plane taking off, but it does its job, she said.

Michelle Pattee

Another accessories Pattee, a lamp with a reel base, has been with her so long she can not remember where she bought it. Its composition articles on her dresser chamber reveals his photographer's eye. "I like to move things around, she said. "I do it when I have a problem at work; it is soothing. "

Michelle Pattee

Before the family moved into this house, and Kansas Eli shared a room. Here, children have their own room (although the space of Eli is so small, Pattee called a half room). 'waited a long time for Kansas get her own space, she takes her time and making it his own, said Pattee. to give their daughter a blank canvas to fill with its own brush strokes, the couple chose a basic white furnishings from Ikea.

Michelle Pattee

pictures cornice framed poster the Pattee-Albright family, whose members had to learn to be comfortable with the chaos of the big picture productions. "now, we had over 40 photoshoots in the house, said Pattee. "As a photographer myself, I understand what is necessary. The house is a popular choice because of its style and its surroundings, but also because we are a cooperative and relaxed "She describes days when children have stepped off their school bus and a set of photo -. Even occasionally serve as models. "We live here through it all, she says, laughing. "During the shoot, it can feel like camping in a catalog.

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