Contento in the Country

I have followed the work of San Francisco-based interior designer, Hillary Thomas for several years, so I was excited to see her country house in Napa Valley published in the July issue of Traditional Home. Appropriately named “Contento”, which means “happy” in Spanish, the house was built just a few years ago on a three acre property in St. Helena, California, right in the heart of wine country.

The house brings together Hillary’s signature style with a rustic, yet sophisticated Napa aesthetic. Soaring ceilings and large-scaled rooms called for the use of “meaty lighting” as Hillary puts it, so you’ll find quite a few dramatic, statement pieces throughout the property. The mostly neutral palette serves as an ideal background for the beautiful surroundings and works perfectly for the quintessential indoor/ourdoor California lifestyle. Seeing Hillary’s “happy place” makes me so excited to be back in Napa Valley next week!

{The breezeway serves as the entrance to the home and leads to the main house through the courtyard in the background.}

{The main living area is large and open with the kitchen on the left, dining area in the center, and living room on the right– perfect for entertaining lots of friends!}

{In the indoor kitchen, Hillary opted for a beautiful La Cornue range and cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore’s Lockport Gray.}

{Symmetry helps to anchor the large living area, while large-scale lighting from Lucca Antiques in Los Angeles helps to frame the space.}

{Hillary has not one, but two fabulous kitchens at Contento. The outdoor version is just as well appointed as the indoor one. Naturally, the outdoor kitchen is one of the busiest areas in the house!}

{Intimate dinners with friends usually take place in the outdoor dining room which features custom lighting fixtures. The property features two acres of grapes which the family sells to the neighboring vineyard, Contento Cabernet, which is only available to Hillary and her friends and is usually served at gatherings at Contento. Hillary, if you are reading this– you are living my dream!}

{A Lovely Courtyard Area}

{The master bedroom is dressed in crisp white.}

{I love the high contrast, graphic quality of the black and white palette in the master bedroom.}

{A Chic Hanging Pendant from Charles Edwards Punctuates the Master Bathroom}

{I love the Katie Leede Papyrus fabric on the custom headboard and the Bunny Williams lamp in the guest bedroom.}

For the full tour of Contento, check out the new issue of Traditional Home!

{Photography by John Merkl for Traditional Home}