Living the Dream
A California tract home is refashioned into an extraordinary rustic retreat thanks to a keen eye for country design and exceptional woodworking talent.
California homeowners harness their woodworking and decorating talents to give their once builder-grade tract home a warm and welcoming rustic farmhouse vibe.
Although Tammy and Mike Zito are not trained interior designers, a peek around their 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home is enough for even a casual observer to conclude they’ve got the talent and skill needed to go pro. From the furnishings to the accents to the structure itself, the inviting, cohesive design of the Zitos’ home not only reveals the couple’s affinity for country decor, but also suggests an authenticity not often found in historic homes, let alone a present-day neighborhood tract home in Sacramento, California.
Facilitated in part by Tammy’s lifelong appreciation for rustic farmhouse design and Mike’s passion for woodworking, the couple’s shared love of pastoral decor dates back to before they were married. When the couple bought their home in 2014, “it was a basic, all-standard-options home,” Tammy says. But for the couple, whose aesthetic is rooted in what Tammy calls “rustic modern country,” a standard home simply wouldn’t do. Almost immediately after moving in, the Zitos went to work, tackling one room at a time in order to “bring our country dreams to life,” Tammy recalls.
The neutral interior did not require repainting, but the wall color was the only thing about their home that the Zitos left unchanged. They started the transformation in the living room, where one of their first projects involved installing a shiplap wall, which Mike crafted from wood pallets recovered from an old factory. After stripping the pallets, the couple stained, painted and weathered each plank before assembling the pieces for the wall. Mike also refurbished reclaimed fence wood to create exposed beams in the front entry.
Moving on to the kitchen, the couple removed the tile backsplash and replaced it with red brick, which Mike cut to fit the depth of the space and treated to give an old appearance. He also handcrafted a thick island countertop from black walnut, which he sealed with tung oil to protect it and give it luster. As for the cabinets, the Zitos sanded, painted, glazed and distressed them until they were suitably countrified. And Mike replaced the builder-grade pantry door with one he constructed from pine, which he then aged to give it a rustic look. “Mike does all our projects,” Tammy says with pride. Indeed, his masterful woodwork—a talent nurtured from a young age by his father, a woodshop teacher, and his stepfather, who has a woodworking business—is exhibited in some way, shape or form in every room of the house.
Tammy’s decorative touch is visible in the way rooms come together. A predominantly monochromatic palette consisting of neutrals and earth tones not only complements Mike’s woodwork throughout the house, but also adds a dash of sophistication to the entire scheme. Each room blends seamlessly into the next, thanks to similar decorative accents, including vintage bottles; antique books; baskets; mudcloth pillows; antlers; and, of course, a variety of Mike’s woodwork, such as benches, side tables and other items. When it comes to decorating, Tammy’s motto is simple: “I decorate a room around things I love,” she explains. “I don’t think about whether it will fit the style of a room. If I love a piece, I fit the space around it.”
Putting such a personal stamp on their environment has given the concept of “home” a special meaning for Tammy. “Home creates feelings of warmth, coziness and happiness,” she says. “And, because of our style, that is exactly what we have. It’s not just a house and a roof to live under—it’s a home to grow old in.”
The heart of the Zitos’ home boasts designer-showcase quality. An impressive kitchen island commands attention thanks to its wide walnut work surface. Punctuating the piece are industriallooking pendant light fixtures, which cohabitate with wood-topped metal stools. Open space above the cabinets and above-window shelves show off decorative accessories, including ceramic dishware, vintage olive buckets, wire baskets and pitchers.