White walls, gray cabinets and copper pots is our new favorite cozy-kitchen combo.
With a low-key palette inspired by the backyard orange grove, this retreat designed by Frances Merrill of Reath Design embodies Ojai's no-hurries, no-worries vibe.
Interview by Tim McKeough | Produced by Doretta Sperduto
In the dining room, Pierre Frey's Espalier wallpaper hints at the verdant landscape outside, while a Serena & Lily hanging rattan chair helps define a separate seating area. Metal chairs from Restoration Hardware are topped with Ikea sheepskins. "That's a trick you see on Scandinavian blogs," Merrill says. "When it gets cold, a sheepskin makes things super cozy."
"The mandate was to get the biggest, most comfortable and indestructible sofa that would fit in the space," says Merrill. The perfect solution was a Fulham leather sectional, paired with a Martens round coffee table, both by Restoration Hardware.
In the kitchen, Merrill kept the home's existing countertops and white Viking range but gave the base cabinets a more relaxed vibe with new doors painted in Benjamin Moore's Duxbury Gray. She also installed hexagonal terra-cotta floor tiles and open shelves of reclaimed wood. CB2 counter stools in leather reflect the decision to focus on natural materials.
A breakfast nook with built-in seating is painted in Benjamin Moore's White Dove. "It's a white that's not too stark but still reads nice and clean," Merrill says. The pendant light and bench, fitted with a custom cushion, are both from West Elm.
Merrill embraced the lack of natural light in the powder room, painting the walls in Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue. "The bold color makes the room feel velvety and soft," she says. The soapstone countertop and uncoated brass fittings from California Faucets will take on a rich patina over time.
To create a calm atmosphere in the master bedroom, Merrill stuck to neutral colors, including a floor painted in Benjamin Moore's Rockport Gray. She brought in texture with a Blu Dot Dodu bed in oatmeal wool felt and boudoir pillows in Kerry Joyce's Rigoletto velvet. The bedside lamps are from West Elm.
A relaxed seating area with a fire bowl allows the family to linger outdoors on cool evenings.
The Ojai Valley is famous for its orange groves, one of which surrounds the house, providing pleasing sights and scents.
Read more about Frances Merrill's inspiration for the home here.
See something here you like? Check out our shopping guide for where to find it.
This story originally appeared in the September 2016 issue of House Beautiful.
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