Having raised their now high school-age children in a traditional Colonial house in a Marin County, California, suburb, Robyn and David Dabora were ready for a change of scenery and style. On a new location high atop a hill, the Daboras enlisted a talented team to build their modern dream home and decorate it with a mix of midcentury and one-of-a-kind furnishings.
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The modern wood-framed house with its metal gable roof sits on a 3-acre property surrounded by coastal oak and redwood trees. Interior designer Steve Justrich was brought in during the early phases of construction to work with architect Kevin Killen. Justrich recommended a bold orange for the front door to add an alluring touch to the serene exterior.
The orange on the door reappears in the entryway on a floor-to-ceiling ombré wool tapestry that runs up the 25-foot-high wall. “The way the dye fades into the tapestry reminds me of a Rothko painting,” Justrich says. Paired with a modern Windsor bench, the tapestry adds warmth to the nearly all-white space.
The home has few interior doors. Instead, wood-clad partition walls separate rooms without closing them off. “The whole house flows from one space to the next. Both from room to room and from interior to exterior,” Justrich says. “It’s a great example of California indoor-outdoor living.”
In the living room, a custom “sofa” is composed of two separate seats and a central table, all of which can be rearranged. A padded window seat provides additional seating.
A stained oak partition wall incorporates a gas fireplace. In front of the fireplace, a ledge of poured concrete creates a seat for warming by the fire. A continuous ceiling rail on the south wall of the home supports the drapes. “The panel of drapes are obviously functional, but aesthetically, they look more like a piece of architecture to me,” Justrich says.
The dining room features a nearly 10-foot table of live-edge sycamore designed by woodworker Evan Shively, owner of Marin County-based Arborica. Justrich says he paired the table with six minimalist dining chairs to “add a softness without distracting from the table.”
The kitchen includes oak perimeter cabinets in a light honey stain and an oak central island in a darker coffee stain. “Breaking up the stains in a room adds interest and keeps it from looking too monotone,” Justrich says.
The granite countertops have specks of red that are picked up by the burgundy leather-topped counter stools.
Justrich designed a faceted breakfast table and bench that fit together like a puzzle. The table is topped with inlayed tile from Heath Ceramics, which is also based in Marin County. The glass-enclosed breakfast area features stunning views looking out toward Mount Tamalpais.
The family room off the kitchen includes an angular leather sofa and an organic coffee table designed by Justrich. The table has a cast concrete top from Concreteworks of Oakland, California. A large abstract painting by Los Angeles-based artist Michael Illes infuses the room with rich color.
The master bedroom includes a custom daybed with a spindle back designed by Justrich and a classic Platner lounge chair from Knoll. “I like to mix up vintage pieces and new designs. It keeps a home alive and not limited to any particular time period,” the designer says.