In Praise of Stillness, Simplicity, and Softwood Living

Address / Type / Completion / Design House

Sonoma, California
Single-Family Private Residence
Completed Spring 2025
Designed by Tavain Studio

A Quiet Arrival

There is a particular kind of light that belongs only to early afternoon—a kind that filters through sheer curtains, lands on pale wood, and seems to pause time.
In this Sonoma residence, Tavain embraces that stillness. This is not just a house—it is a gentle expression of balance: between indoors and outdoors, between softness and structure, between what is essential and what can be let go.

Passage

The arched hallway welcomes you in with a rhythm of repetition—arches, beams, pendants. Daylight floods through the glass, landing softly on the blonde oak floors and travertine steps. Indoor plants trace the stair's ascent like silent companions. Every material is allowed to breathe. Nothing is forced.

Kitchen & Dining

The kitchen is modest in volume, but generous in feeling. A white oak island anchors the space, with stools tucked like punctuation beneath.
The adjacent dining area, framed by gridded windows, is illuminated with nothing more than natural light and the soft presence of a branch in bloom. The table is intentionally raw. The chairs are humble. Together, they host the kind of meals that require no occasion.

Living

In the living room, two cream sofas face one another across a low table—a quiet invitation for conversation, or simply for watching the sun shift across the rug.
A mix of linen and cotton upholstery softens the corners, while matte-black fixtures add just enough edge. The room is a lesson in restraint. It doesn't seek to impress—it allows you to exhale.

Bedroom

The bedroom continues the calm. Vaulted ceilings and painted beams open the space upward, while pale neutral tones pull you inward.
A textured throw and layered pillows in flax, oatmeal, and chalk whites create dimension without noise. Morning light pours in without needing to ask.

Bath

In the bathroom, twin vanities in natural ash wood sit beneath square-edged mirrors and simple sconces. A freestanding tub near the window catches soft shadows of leaves.
Everything feels intentional, but nothing feels precious. It’s not about luxury—it’s about living with ease.

Materials & Palette

• Wide-plank oak floors in natural finish

• Off-white lime-wash walls and matte paint

• Black iron fixtures for subtle contrast

• Linen window treatments and cushions in ecru, stone, and bone

• Organic ceramics, rattan baskets, and unfinished wood accessories

• Accent lighting in aged brass and woven textures

A House That Honors the Everyday

This is a home designed not to impress, but to soothe. It is quiet, sun-drenched, and generous in its simplicity.
At Tavain, we believe beauty lives not in what you add, but in what you allow space for. And in this house, there is space for light, for nature, for rest—and for you.