Tour a Century-Old Fruit Farm Turned Family Retreat in Marin County

Kristen Flanagan

November 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.·7 min read

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After raising their three children in the Bay Area, interior designer Peter Dolkas’s parents, Dave and Karen, stayed put, until lockdown nudged them to reevaluate their surroundings. “My family had always talked about owning a ranch,” says Peter, a Palo Alto, California, native and one half of Brooklyn-based firm and AD PRO Directory member Studio Dorion. “In 2020, we found an old fruit farm. There’s a 1920s farmhouse on the property, and it was zoned for an additional dwelling unit to be built.”

Spurred by the idea of multigenerational living, Dolkas’s brother moved his family into the original farmhouse, while his sister purchased a home five minutes away. For Dave and Karen, it was love at first sight. “We were awestruck by the openness, the oak trees, and the magic we felt when we stepped out of the car,” Karen says. To make the most of the farmland nestled in the rolling hills of northern Marin County, just shy of Sonoma, the couple commissioned Dolkas and their long-time friend, architect Dan Garber, to design an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).

“The home’s many sash windows have 10-lite transoms above to allow for extra light and air and an integrated pull-down screen,” Garber explains. The pendant was sourced from Reborn Antiques. The metal bench is by Nicky Kehoe.

“The design was intended to respect both the rural character of the 13-acre property and the existing wood two-story farmhouse that has occupied the site for the last one hundred years,” says Garber, of AD PRO Directory firm Fergus Garber Architects. The challenge, however, was limiting the new home to the 1,200-square-feet requirement of an ADU. “We had long Zoom calls, navigating the site restrictions,” Dolkas recalls. “The key was to create a space that worked for my parents’ day-to-day but could transform for entertaining.”

The result? A perfectly proportioned ADU that feels anything but small. “My parents had a short wish list—two bedrooms, two baths, and a big open kitchen-living area,” Dolkas says. Built-in storage solutions are seamlessly integrated throughout. “With such limited square footage, we designed everything to be multifunctional,” he explains. The guest room, for instance, doubles as a laundry room, with a washer-dryer in a closet and twin beds that serve as convenient folding stations. “It’s like a little puzzle,” Peter laughs. “Everything fits together perfectly.”

Shop out the look of the house here⤵

At nearly 1,800 square feet, the wraparound porch has become a spacious spot to gather with family and friends. The armchairs and sofa are from Designer Wicker, and the Windsor chairs are from Nicky Kehoe. The slate-top stump tables are from Harbinger LA. The gooseneck sconce is Barn Light Electric.

But what makes this home truly special is its connection to the outdoors. A wraparound porch, complete with an open-air living area and screened dining room, effectively doubles the home’s footprint. These outdoor spaces also define the H-shape structure. “The simple form of this single-story home, with its broad wraparound porch, recalls other American rural houses designed for hot, sunny climates,” explains Garber, who shared his historic inspiration for the home—architect A. Hays Town’s Louisiana Acadian cottages—with the homeowners.

“We love to read or watch television in the family room, which has a beautiful bench seat overlooking the property and a large oak tree,” Karen shares. The living area’s floor lamps are by Ace Iron, and the side tables are Serena and Lily. The flushmount lights are from Wayfair.

Inside, warm Douglas fir lines the walls and ceilings, while vintage-inspired checks and stripes add a playful pop. “We didn’t want it to feel too precious,” Dolkas says of the furnishings. “It’s a place where the grandkids and dogs can run around and no one’s worried about mud getting tracked in.”

“I love to hear about parties and dinners my parents are throwing. I always ask them to tell me, ‘Where’d you guys sit?’” Dolkas says. “They sit on the front porch for drinks, and then they go into the screen porch and have dinner, and when it gets chilly they go inside. And what’s great is they’re really using every inch of the house.” On the screen porch, the dining chairs are by Sika Design.

From the family’s favorite hangout—the screen porch where they gather for dinners and long conversations—to the built-in desk designed specifically for Dolkas’s mother, every detail has been crafted to enhance the way Dave and Karen live. “I know how my parents operate, what they need, and what will make their lives easier,” Dolkas says with a smile. “It’s been so rewarding to see them fully embrace every corner of this house.”

Personal heirlooms and family art infuse the home with warmth and character. “The painting over the bed in the guest room was done by my great-grandmother in Copenhagen,” Dolkas shares. “And the watercolor paintings in the family room are by my dad’s college friend.”

As parents, Dave and Karen relished the opportunity to work with their son. “It was amazing and fun. Peter teamed with the architects to coordinate every detail of the design,” Karen says of the process. “Dave was on-site during the construction, but was schooled to check with Peter if the contractor or job foreman had any questions about the plans. There were many calls back to Brooklyn to confirm plan details.”

In the end, Dolkas’s approach—combining new and vintage, form and function—has resulted in a home that feels both effortless and timeless. “Our goal was always to create something that felt like it could have been there for 30 years or would still look great 30 years from now,” Dolkas says. Mission accomplished.