Designed as a weekend retreat for a Marin-based family, this single-story home sits on three scenic acres in Sonoma County. Surrounded by mature oak trees and mountain views, the property offers a peaceful escape and a place for connection. The 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom and five-bathroom home, designed by Kentfield-based architecture firm Holder Parlette, is centered around indoor-outdoor living.
Its H-shaped layout creates a natural flow between public and private spaces, forming intimate courtyards that preserve the site’s existing oak trees and seamlessly blend architecture with nature. Adding to this serene retreat, there is also a one-bedroom, one-bath ADU to host overnight guests, along with a sumptuous swimming pool and a fabulous pool house.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTURE Holder Parlette CONTRACTOR Fairway Design & Construction INTERIOR DESIGN Julie Baker LANDSCAPE Totem Landscape Services
Above: In the great room, the fireplace surround is finished in plaster. Adding warmth to the space, the ceiling is clad with European oak planks.
“Our goal was to create a strong connection between the house and the land,” says principal architect Chris Parlette. “We carefully sited the home to take in views of the oaks and mountains, and the layout was shaped by the trees we wanted to preserve.”
Above: Glass pocketing doors create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection with the pool deck.
At the heart of the home is a spacious great room anchored by a large sliding pocket door that opens to the pool terrace, framing distant mountain views. Inside, the material palette balances natural and refined: polished concrete floors meet warm white oak ceilings, and hand-troweled integral plaster walls add texture and warmth
throughout.
Outdoor living is central to the design. A pool house, guest suite, and outdoor kitchen extend the home’s communal spirit without overwhelming the natural landscape. “The goal was never to dominate the site,” says Parlette. “We wanted the architecture to feel like it grew from the land.”
The project was a collaboration with Fairway Design and Construction and San Francisco interior designer Julie Baker, whose attention to detail shaped the home’s warm, inviting interiors.
Above: The kitchen features a plaster hood.
What We Love: This Sonoma retreat was beautifully designed as a comfortable home for family weekend getaways and entertaining friends. The living spaces feel cozy while inviting the outdoors in. We love how this home was thoughtfully sited to take full advantage of the views of the oak trees and the distant mountains. The preservation of those oak trees on the site informed the unique shape and layout of this home, creating a strong connection between architecture and nature.
Tell Us: What details in the design of this weekend retreat do you find most inspiring? Let us know in the Comments below; we enjoy reading your feedback!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other incredible home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of California: Warm and contemporary Sonoma home set amongst a grove of oak trees and Tour this tranquil retreat in California Wine Country: Sonoma Farmhaus.
Above: On the opposite wall of the pool, a custom wine chiller and bar. Adding a touch of luxe is a metallic tile backsplash.
Above: Highlights of this en-suite bathroom include waterproof plaster walls, Neolith countertops, and a steam shower.
Above: Behind the pool house is a cozy fire pit area with comfortable teak chairs, shaded by native oak trees.
Above: This stunning Sonoma wine country residence showcases a gabled-roof design with dark-stained cedar siding.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Zaruba
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