5 min readAcross a picturesque acre in Los Altos Hills, California, a modern home boasts a backyard that would make anyone want to move outdoors for the season: meandering gardens, a pool, and a tennis court stretching beyond the windows. But for Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer of the design firm Hommeboys Interiors, the challenge wasn’t giving the 6,000-square-foot house the same expansive feel as the rest of the property—it was imbuing all that space with a comforting intimacy to suit a young family.
The team essentially rebuilt the four-bedroom, five-bathroom home from the inside out, undertaking a gut renovation while reworking the exterior and adding a separate ADU. Throughout, they focused on creating a sense of rhythm between sweeping, light-filled rooms and quieter, moodier spaces.
“We obsessed over the flow between those rooms,” Carrier says of the main living areas. “Every decision was about creating moments that feel effortless, even though they required an incredible amount of consideration.”
That careful calibration is evident in the materials, too. Plaster, natural stone, wood, handmade tile, and richly tactile textiles recur throughout the house, joined by vintage pieces, artisan-made objects, and bespoke furniture from the designers’ own Haus of Hommeboys collection. “That mix creates interiors that feel collected over time rather than decorated all at once, which is always something we're striving for,” Mutter-Rottmayer notes.
Some details, however, demand to be noticed—and require extra meticulous planning. Chief among them is the living room’s sculptural plaster fireplace, which began as an early sketch and became one of the home’s defining architectural gestures. With little margin for error in its construction, Mutter-Rottmayer recalls watching it take shape as “both exciting and a little terrifying.” Elsewhere, custom millwork, a one-of-a-kind dining table, and the homeowners’ growing art collection add personality without overwhelming the space.
That expertly applied sense of restraint may be the subtle signature of this entire project. “The architecture, furnishings, art, and materials all support one another, allowing the natural textures and the incredible setting to take center stage,” Mutter-Rottmayer adds. Rather than designing a showpiece around the property’s generous proportions, the Hommeboys team created an inviting home meant to ebb and flow with the family’s needs. As Mutter-Rottmayer puts it, “It was designed first and foremost to be lived in.”
FAST FACTS
Designers: Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rottmayer of Hommeboys Interiors
Location: Los Altos Hills, California
The Space: A four-bedroom, five-bathroom home across 6,000 square feet
FAMILY ROOM
This central gathering spot has an easygoing, collected feel.
“The family room features an eclectic mix of art, furnishings, and hues,” the design team notes. Handmade sculptural vases adorn the built-in shelf, while low-slung, generously cushioned seating keeps the space feeling relaxed and inviting.
KITCHEN
A show-stopping chandelier crowns a cook space that’s ready for any occasion.
A full kitchen renovation meant that the design team could reshape the area around the household’s epicurean interests. “People want spaces that support cooking and gathering but also feel beautiful enough to live in,” attests Mutter-Rottmayer. “Rooms that can transition seamlessly from everyday life to entertaining.”
The cook space centers on a monumental Calacatta Monet marble island, outfitted with stools for casual seating, while directly above, a bespoke Ovature Studios chandelier nearly mirrors the stone surface’s expansive footprint, adding a sculptural counterpoint. The streamlined cabinetry and museum-worthy decor details throughout help the space integrate with the adjacent lounge and living room.
LIVING ROOM
An airy yet artful sitting area anchored by a custom fireplace.
The home’s living room, though visible from the attached kitchen, has a vibe all its own. The central feature, which is the aforementioned plaster fireplace, has the refined smoothness of an art installation. “Seeing it finally completed—and watching it anchor the entire room exactly as we'd envisioned—was incredibly rewarding,” Mutter-Rottmayer says.
Plus, in a home peppered with so many vintage finds that boast the perfect amount of weathered patina, the living room’s Stahl + Band sofa brings gorgeous contrast with its crisp, tailored lines.
DINING NOOK
In this corner, everyday meals have a distinctly alfresco feel.
Neighboring the kitchen is a calm and airy dining nook, with a view of the pool and changing scenery outside. The custom travertine table and ethereal fiber Pinch Studio pendant overhead echo similar biophilic elements in this tonal space.
DINING ROOM
Large-scale hosting calls for a lodge-inspired dining surface.
The Hommeboys team custom-built a larger version of their Dogwood Table design to function as the dining room’s substantial centerpiece. The arboreal pattern around the lip of the table complements the razor-back-style chair design.
OFFICE
Tailor-made for maximum productivity, this home study is appropriately enveloping.
This home office is the ideal place for tuning out the world and all its distractions to get work done. A rich wallcovering and slim window minimize distractions, while a stately Soho Home desk and vintage sloped-back seat offer the perfect spot to lean into inspiration. The burnt orange accent chair opposite the desk adds unexpected color and texture, perfectly finishing the space.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Subdued tones pair with sumptuous texture.
Though the primary bedroom’s palette is restrained, layers of organic texture make the space feel exceptionally cozy. A vintage wicker chair and castellated wooden planter create a calming corner opposite the bed, while an Armadillo rug’s earthy, rippled pattern echoes sand shaped by a receding tide.
PRIMARY BATH
Dramatic, veined stone and smooth, warm wood are a match made in material heaven.
To enter the primary bath is to be immersed in marble. The richly veined Arabescato Baglia stone takes on a mural-like quality that couples harmoniously with the warm oak of the vanity. Meanwhile, a freestanding tub by Vast Studio, outfitted with an unlacquered brass faucet, offers a serene respite for mind and body.
BOY’S BEDROOM
Depth and tactility comprise a sophisticated sleep space.
Designed for one of the client’s sons, this bedroom boasts a studied maturity spiked with youthful verve. The custom wall color makes its numerous geometric elements—like those in the Citizenry rug, Toast bedspread, and Soho Home nightstand—stand out, creating a space that’s wise beyond its years.
GUEST BATHROOM
A washroom this serene guarantees guests will never want to leave.
With a luxe yet meditative style, this guest bath could easily be mistaken for the primary. Every detail, from the custom-tinted Tadelakt plaster finish on the walls to the Chipolino Ondulado marble vanity with hand-notched oak drawers, begs to be admired.
