Sonoma, California
Sonoma Residence
Rustic Modernism · Wine Country · Farmhouse · Courtyard · Contemporary Interiors
Set on a twenty-acre property along Napa Road in Sonoma, this 7,779-square-foot residence carries the firm's Rustic Modernism into a quieter, more contemporary register. The plan is organized around a central courtyard, with primary spaces oriented southwest toward the pool, gardens, and vineyards beyond. Circulation is kept deliberately simple — public rooms occupy the ground floor, private rooms gather upstairs. Six bedrooms, seven baths.
Designer, 2017–2020 · Backen and Backen Architects (formerly BGK)
Worked the project from schematic design through construction documents and into the interior design phase. Drew the bulk of the drawing set — plans, sections, details, and coordination drawings. Sat in on consultant meetings with the structural engineer and other outside disciplines, and was present in client meetings as the design progressed. Project led by principal Kirby Lee and project manager Joe Nowell.
- Revit 3D modeling and the full construction document set
- SketchUp space and massing studies
- V-Ray client renderings
- AutoCAD early concept work only
A statement fireplace, tonally aligned with the rest of the room so its presence stays quiet. The television sits in a custom niche that closes into a cabinet when not in use, keeping the wall as one composed piece of millwork.
Just inside the front door, a double-height volume opens up — the circulation hub where the three wings of the house meet: the living room on the public side, the mudroom toward the leisure wing, and the stair to the private rooms above. A skylight overhead brings daylight into the space, so the volume reads differently as the sun moves across the day.
Floor Plans
