This contemporary farmhouse was designed as a retirement home by Gast Architects, nestled on several acres in the rolling hills near the coast outside Arroyo Grande, a city in San Luis Obispo County, California. The residence comprises a sequence of gable-roofed board and batten pavilions interconnected by lower units featuring flat roofs and horizontal lap siding (all constructed using resilient fiber cement panels). 

This helps to define the outdoor spaces and views towards the surrounding hills. Low-maintenance and fire-resistant materials, solar water heating and photovoltaics, trellises and sunshades, and plantings to control heat gain and loss contribute to a sustainable and healthy home.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Gast Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR Semmes & Co. Builders LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CM-Design STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Craig A. Dobb

The couple envisioned a modern farmhouse aesthetic that pays homage to the traditional agricultural structures of the region while favoring a design that would maximize indoor/outdoor living mainly on one floor. Step inside to find 3,277 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.

What We Love: This contemporary retirement farmhouse appears like a collection of buildings that allows for an interesting aesthetic. The white is crisp without being sterile. The natural light makes it feel very homey. Overall, the architects did a fabulous job of designing a resilient, simple-to-maintain, energy-efficient dwelling that is modern yet timeless. This abode enables the homeowners to enjoy the rural lifestyle while aging gracefully.

Tell Us: What do you think of the overall design aesthetic of this dwelling? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!

Note: Check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of California: See this stunningly beautiful coastal style farmhouse in Manhattan Beach and Beautifully crafted mountain style farmhouse retreat in the Sierra Nevadas.

Above: The exterior siding is CertainTeed. For the paint colors, the gabled structure is Sage Mountain 1488 – Benjamin Moore and the flat-roof structure is Winterwood 1486 – Benjamin Moore.

One of the most interesting design challenges with this home was the site. It is on a west-facing hillside, hindering the team’s ability to maximize the southern exposure and increase the passive solar performance. Appropriate glazing, insulation, ventilation, and interior blinds all contribute to keeping the home comfortable throughout the seasons.

The built-in ledges, or light soffits, contribute to the wonderful light throughout the space as they reflect sunlight up to the ceiling for a soft indirect glow.

Above: The windows and doors throughout this home are by Marvin. The outdoor patio furniture was sourced from Gloster.

Above: Solar panels on the roof help to transform sunlight into electrical power.

Above: In the living room, the vintage California linen flag is circa 1940s or 50s. The framed postcards elegantly displayed on the mantel were collected during the homeowners’ cherished trip to the South of France.

Above: The pendant lights over the kitchen island are the Haverhill by Hudson Valley Lighting.

Above: In the great room, the dining table was sourced from Restoration Hardware, while the raffia seat chairs are from Pottery Barn. The light fixtures over the table are the Caravaggio pendant lamps designed by Cecilie Manz for Lightyears.

Above: The homeowners love white, which is evidenced by this crisp, clean bathroom design. The shower was made with universal design principles that include a curbless shower and grab bars.

Above: The bathroom includes Hansgrohe hardware, a Ronbow Kara Ceramic Sink Top and a Americh Beverly Tub. The light fixture is the Basic Strip wall light by Artemide.

Above: The trellis is composed of hog wire — a mesh that is used for farm fencing). There are planted vines that grow along the trellis during the summer months to offer shading.

Above: The slatted benches serve as a patio rail and are intended to enhance the view rather than obscure it.

MATERIALS:

Auto Charging Station
Built-in Composting Bins
Formaldehyde-free Cabinets
Heat Pump Water Heater
Highly Reflective Roofing
On-Demand Recirculating Pump
Permeable Grass Driveway Pavers
Solar Electricity
Solar Hot Water Pool
Whole House Fan

PHOTOGRAPHER Elliott Johnson Photographer