Not only was the original home on this Sonoma County 3.7-acre property destroyed by the 2017 Tubbs wildfire, but also over 100 trees surrounding it were fatally damaged.
“When it came time to rebuild, we knew we wanted to honor the majestic pines, bays, manzanitas, and oaks that had once graced the land,” explains interior designer Lucy McLintic, who owns the home with her husband, Morgan, and worked on the project with architect Ryan Knock and Doran Construction and Design. “That goal quickly expanded into a plan to build a home that acknowledged the history of the entire ridge—a former cattle ranch—on which the home stood.”
Lucy says that after the Army Corps of Engineers cleared the site, there was nothing left of the previous home, and even the foundations were compromised. All that was left was rubble—remains of an old brick fireplace, melted glass, and a washing machine. Before the rebuild could start, a lot of work needed to be done to clear the lot. And because the original home was a narrow structure perched on a rocky ridge, earthwork had to be done to create a level building surface.
Along with making the most of the beautiful surroundings and the property’s hillside vantage point, Lucy wanted to retain some of the former home’s humble charm. The new build also had to be serve as an inviting space for entertaining and hosting friends and family, while also being a refuge from city life in San Francisco for Lucy, Morgan, and their kids (they spend their weekends in Sonoma).
“The building had been long and narrow with multiple doors and windows along one side, resembling a stable,” Lucy explains. “In fact, the prior owners had kept horses on the property. Before the house and the neighboring properties had even been built, the land was used for cattle ranching. The plan was to reference this history in the new design.”…