Napa Home Tour Offers Modern Estates, Rustic Charm & 360˚ Views

On Saturday, April 24, 2010, five stunning homes in the Napa Valley will open their doors to the public for the 13th Annual Kitchens in the Vineyards home tour. The tour runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and features kitchens, dining rooms, entertainment areas and gardens of the five, exclusive homes with spectacular views, eco-friendly design, infinity pools, surrounding vineyards and museum quality art and antique collections.

Each home is styled by noted designers and florists and enhanced with springtime table settings. Homes will also feature tastings courtesy of well-known, Napa Valley chefs from restaurants including Angèle, Trinchero Winery, invisible chef, Neela’s, Hurley’s Restaurant & Bar, Zinsvalley Restaurant and Jonesy’s Steak House & Supper Club as well as caterers Sarah Scott and Melissa Teaff. Local authors Hugh Carpenter, James McNair, Molly Chappellet, Carol Firenze, Stacey Printz, Cate Conniff, Deborah Burnes, Teri Sandison and Jeffrey Starr will also be on hand at each home to autograph exclusive copies of their books.

Kitchens in the Vineyards is the ideal place to find inspiration for unique construction, state-of-the-art appliances, floral designs and décor. “Every year, our house selection committee manages to compile a spectacular collection of five, vastly different homes – each of which is impressive for its own unique style,” said Natasha Biasell, Public Relations Manager of Music in the Vineyards. “This year, tour patrons get to see a 130-year old historical farmhouse, a modern estate with 360˚ views, a barn style complex with rustic décor, an artists’ retreat nestled in a redwood grove and a brand new, LEED certified home made entirely of sustainable elements.”

An exclusive Preview Party, sponsored by First Republic Bank and Anne and Matthew Golden, will take place on Friday, April 23, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Guests board luxury mini busses for an intimate champagne tour and sneak peek of the homes and will return to the Napa Valley Country Club for a poolside reception with wine tasting and a gourmet, three-course dinner party complete with unique raffle prizes.

Tickets for Saturday’s tour are limited, cost $65 and are now on sale. Preview Party tickets, also limited, are available for $185. Proceeds from both events benefit Music in the Vineyards, a non-profit chamber music festival held each August at Napa Valley wineries. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 707.258.5559, write to mitv@sonic.net or visit www.musicinthevineyards.org.

360˚ VIEWS IN NAPA

This hilltop home in West Napa was built from 2004-2008 on a 37-acre property. The sleek yet comfortable design utilizes open spaces and large glass windows throughout to take full advantage of the breathtaking 360˚ views. The kitchen was prominently placed as the focal point of the home with an open layout and views of the valley in every direction. Modern, visually impacting art highlights the home including a James Stagg painting, a series of Dale Chihuly Persian glass sculptures and several Gordon Huether pieces including an exterior wall fountain lining the stairway entry to the home. The exterior offers a pool and infinity spa as well as a complete outdoor kitchen with a fireplace, barbeque, wine storage and a beer tap. The kitchen features fossilized travertine countertops from Germany, a fireplace and a built-in wok.

HISTORICAL FARMHOUSE IN NAPA

This historical farmhouse was built in 1880 and was originally owned by Nathan Coombs II. The home beckons visitors with a three-sided porch ideal for entertaining and setting an inviting atmosphere. The overall layout of the home and the scale of each room create an intimate and friendly environment for the family. The interior utilizes traditional furnishings combined with modern art and vibrant color schemes to help modernize the traditional aspects of the home. The newly remodeled kitchen features Vetrazzo countertops, Solida cork flooring and custom cabinetry made from certified renewable lumber.

ARTISTS’ RETREAT IN NAPA

Completed in 2009, this home is reminiscent of a 1905 Napa farmhouse with pine lap siding and a broad front porch. The main residence and outbuildings are located on a one-acre parcel amidst a redwood grove, olive trees, lavender plantings and view of the Napa Valley Country Club golf course. The outbuildings, positioned around a lap pool and newly planted cabernet sauvignon vines, offer a pool house with guest quarters, an artist studio and a writing office.  The owners, an artist and a chef, designed their home like a giant piece of furniture with a layout ideal for casual entertaining. The kitchen features Kashmir white granite countertops, quarter-sawn white oak flooring and a 1200-bottle wine closet.

BARN STYLE COMPLEX IN YOUNTVILLE

This barn style complex was designed by Howard Backen to integrate an open living space into the surrounding vineyards. Each rectangular building, crafted from a combination of plaster, wood and steel, offers entry to the central courtyard with sliding barn doors. The main residence offers an open floor plan with openings to the exterior patios and vineyards views. The homeowner, an interior designer, uses contrasting décor utilizing a mix of vintage pieces. Traditional touches add warmth while contemporary accents add life. Flooring in the main area is hand-chiseled limestone from India, beams of reclaimed lumber line the ceilings and a handmade Italian mantel frames the fireplace. The kitchen features Carrera marble countertops and custom cabinetry with hammered metal hardware from France.

LEED CERTIFIED HOME IN NAPA

This newly remodeled home is constructed using only sustainable and recycled materials. The design provides a feeling of being out of doors while enjoying the warmth and comfort of a lodge setting. A 10-foot-tall reclaimed wood entry door greets guests and invites them to enter the Great Room with 25-foot-tall ceilings and coordinating stone and glass walls. The ultra-green construction features FSC certified wood, American Clay walls and solar energy. Interior green components include recycled countertops, tiles and reclaimed copper sinks. The exterior offers two fountains an organic garden and more than 20 fruit trees with eco-friendly elements such as reclaimed redwood patios and planter boxes. The kitchen utilizes Cambria maple countertops, hand scraped hickory hardwood flooring and a custom hood built with silicone bronze, copper and brass.

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