Cover An archway leading to the living room of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
An archway leading to the living room of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
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Blending rustic charm with modern elegance, Hommeboys Interiors infused a sustainable touch into this Sonoma, California home and studio
Amid the modern demands for efficiency, Hommeboys Interiors is taking a different approach: seeing the undeniable potential for beauty in certain properties. In Sonoma, California, the design team transformed a derelict barn into a multifunctional space. At once a studio and showroom, a private residence and a working laboratory, this California home is an effortless blend of rustic charm and modern elegance, connected to the verdant landscape around it.
Originally, the building served as storage for collectable cars before becoming a woodshop, with two apartments on the upper level. The Hommeboys team completely reimagined what the structure could become, transforming the lower level into their own studio and showroom, whilst converting the upstairs into their home. Most notably, they kept the barn exterior true to its agricultural origins, creating an “element of surprise” for the deliberate contrast with the home’s refined interior.
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Above The earth-toned hues in the living room of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
Above The outdoor patio of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
The earth-toned hues in the living room of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
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The project began with what most designers dream of and rarely receive: a genuine blank slate. This freedom allowed extraordinary creativity in how individual spaces were carved from the shell of the Sonoma, California, property. Rather than impose rigid divisions, the team established what they describe as "a throughline of curves and texture, both adding warmth and organic quality to the home." From the sculptural plaster staircase to the seamless flow between rooms, the home now engages in spatial sequences that feel intentional rather than merely functional.
The barn sits at the property's rear, mediating between the vineyard and the carefully-cultivated gardens. Drought-tolerant varieties surround the structure, nestled within Corten steel and natural Sonoma fieldstone planters that echo both the region's agricultural heritage and contemporary environmental consciousness. The plants feature a hearty combination of desert and native species, all selected for resilience that prevents the landscape from competing with architecture.
Above The staircase of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
The staircase of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
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The same limestone flooring running through the interior extends outside to create a patio, dissolving boundaries between the interior and exterior of the home. Within the barn, three entrances correspond with its distinctive uses. The first walks directly into the office, which leads to the curved plaster staircase ascending to the residence. The second entrance opens into the showroom, designed to open entirely and connect the interior space to the patio beyond. The third door accesses the showroom, currently undergoing renovation to display the new bed design they're developing.
Ascending to the residential level, the long hall leads to the bedroom and private deck in one direction, and to the open plan of the living room in the other. The living spaces showcase what the Hommeboys Interiors team describe as a balance of form and function. Because the home is relatively compact, everything must justify its presence through utility, but utility alone proves insufficient. “Things need to be practical and useful, but they also need to bring us joy and inspire us,” they mused.
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The kitchen of the Hommeboys Interiors' home in Sonoma, California
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Many favourite pieces are prototypes and one-off designs. “It tells a story of how far we have come and how our inspirations and skills are always changing and growing,” they shared. This integration of their own work transforms the residence into a living portfolio, complemented by the materials that develop a patina naturally. The natural limestone flooring is paired with walls of plaster and Roman clay, creating textured surfaces that shift with the changing light throughout the day. Quartzite counters and natural woods introduce further material richness in the California home.
What Hommeboys achieved in this Sonoma barn is proof that adaptive reuse can coexist with aesthetic ambition, creating spaces where sustainability manifests through material intelligence rather than merely technological systems. As a result, they have created an interior that authentically engages with the distinctive California landscape over time.
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Credits
Photography: Bess Friday
Photography: Adam Potts
About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
