Farmhouse fresh
Forestville’s agrarian-chic retreat adds luxe new barn suites, spa
In west Sonoma County, small-town Forestville boasts an unofficial yet undeniably inviting motto: “The Good Life.” Those who don’t live in this tiny town — where fine wine, artisanal food and natural beauty are a trinity of attractions — can find a taste of it just off River Road at the Farmhouse Inn.
Anchored by the original 1879 farmhouse that contains the inn’s Michelin-starred restaurant, the property was once a run-down B&B that wasn’t revered for any version of luxury.
But fifth-generation Forestville native Catherine Bartolomei Smith toured the property when it was for sale and convinced her brother, Joe Bartolomei, that they should buy the place and transform it into a high-end inn for west Sonoma County. The siblings, inspired by the inn’s location and historical charm, did a swift remodel and dove head first into plans for a fine-dining restaurant, knowing that good food attracts people.
As the Farmhouse Restaurant generated buzz, demand for the inn’s historic cottages increased. “People started talking about us, and that began filling the inn,” says Smith. They expanded for the first time in 2006, adding four luxury suites housed in a brandnew structure referred to as the Barn.
“This was before the ‘modern farmhouse’ aesthetic even existed,” says Bartolomei. “We just wanted clean architecture that had a farmhouse vibe. For the exteriors, I focused on simple farm elements and shapes that seem purposeful and reminiscent.” For the interiors, Smith focused on ele- gant, neutral color palettes and natural textures like wool and linen.
They hired renowned Healdsburg designer Myra Hoefer to finesse the rooms and give them a level of sophistication that felt authentic to the farmhouse vibe. “Myra has fabulous vision, and she takes our vision and really pushes the envelope — larger scale, more sweeping color, bigger fixtures, higher ceilings, cleaner lines, oversize accessories,” says Smith. “And it always works.”
The Barn addition worked so well, in fact, that demand for the luxury suites it houses skyrocketed, and Smith and Bartolomei began talking about expanding once again. But they knew the biggest challenge of any further growth would be in retaining the overall feeling of intimacy on the property while still supplying enough rooms to meet the requests for reservations.
They hired San Franciscobased SB Architects, a firm whose roster includes some of the world’s top hotels, and went about reimagining the property to accommodate two new buildings — each of which would house new luxury suites — and a new, full-service spa. The grounds got a face-lift as
well, with a thoughtful landscape design intended to help create flow from one space to another.
“We really wanted it to feel as if the property had always existed in this configuration,” says Bartolomei. “So with each of the new buildings, we were careful to use materials that worked well with — and mirrored — aspects of the existing buildings.”
Nine new guest rooms are housed in structures whose exteriors look like agrarian buildings. “We ended up with a lot of white-washed trim, miles of rock work, tin roofs, and board-and-batten siding, a mix of 75 percent traditional, 25 percent modern.”
Consistency of design was key to making all the spaces feel connected — and original — to the property, something that Bartolomei and Smith were passionate about all along. Certain details repeat themselves across the property, such as barn doors with iron hardware, galvanized milk bucket light fixtures, and white marble bathrooms that look clean and fresh. Most of the buildings’ exteriors boast a cupola and corrugated metal roofing. “Every day, guests ask us, ‘What did these buildings used to be?’ ” says Bartolomei, who considers that question the highest compliment.
The new spa, modeled after a stable, is situated alongside the inn’s pool. Treatment rooms have high ceilings, horizontal paneling and Dutch-style stable doors that open onto an indooroutdoor hallway, where breezes drift through the plantation shutters and invite in abundant natural light. Large, industrial lanterns echo those that light the rest of the property. Smith had artist Tina Wainwright paint realistic horses on the walls, a nod to the equestrian theme. “She used house paint and really rubbed them out,” says Smith. “We wanted it to feel as though we’d uncovered the paintings in a remodel.”
With 25 beautiful rooms, a first-class restaurant, and a devoted and loyal guest list, Farmhouse has created a refreshing, relaxed version of luxury in Forestville. “Our guests want to live the Wine Country lifestyle,” says Smith. “They want the experience of an independently owned property that still offers all of the luxury and amenities of a much larger property. We have the Michelin star, the concierge team, and all the connections in the world. They can come and meet our friends, eat where we eat, drink the wine we make, and do what we do. We love to share a little bit of the good life with all of our guests.”