Where arches, shadows, and texture tell the story of home.

Address / Type / Completion / Design House

Rancho San Mateo, California
Private Residence
Completed Fall 2025
Designed by Tavain Studio

A Home That Speaks in Whispers

Some homes impress you at first glance. Others take their time—unfolding with silence, texture, and light.
This house belongs to the latter. Designed by Tavain as a study in restraint, this residence doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, it invites you to listen—to the softness of a linen bedspread, the arc of a plaster ceiling, the rough grain of reclaimed wood under your fingertips.

Entry & Passage

From the moment you step through the pointed archway, light and shadow begin their quiet dance. Slim stained-glass windows diffuse sunlight onto a pale runner and sculptural console. Every object feels like it has earned its place—no excess, no clutter, only intention.

Living Room

The main gathering space is vast yet deeply grounded. Anchored by a double-height fireplace and wooden beams, the living room pairs vintage silhouettes with raw finishes.
Textured wool rugs soften the acoustics. Velvet armchairs and a primitive coffee table create a kind of contrast that doesn’t compete, but rather coexists—soft and solid, refined and raw.

Kitchen

The kitchen feels carved more than constructed. Vaulted plaster curves meet squared steel-framed windows, while smooth-veined marble wraps the counters like folded linen.
Custom oak cabinetry warms the palette, while minimal pendant lighting and open shelving keep the space visually breathable.

Dining

The dining room speaks in hushed tones. A round walnut table sits beneath an organic chandelier, grounded by a dark-toned rug and surrounded by low-slung chairs in sand suede.
It’s a space meant for long meals, dim light, and listening.

Study

In a tucked-away corner, sunlight filters through a gothic arch window onto a pink terracotta rug. A burl wood desk, hand-carved chair, and curved reading chair complete the picture—offering a refuge for stillness, creativity, or simply rest.

Bedroom

The bedroom strips everything back to texture and tone. Earthy linens drape across low beds, grounded by olive upholstery and a straw-woven rug.
There is no ornamentation. Just rest, light, and the rhythm of breath.

Bath

Finally, the bath feels like a retreat within a retreat. Smooth marble, curved plaster, and weathered wood meet in equal measure. An elevated soaking tub sits beneath gentle pendants, while unlacquered brass fittings age gracefully alongside time itself.

Materials & Palette

• Lime plaster and arched stucco walls in natural clay tones

• Reclaimed oak, burl wood, and ash cabinetry

• Honed Calacatta marble with soft veining

• Velvet, linen, boucle, and woven textures

• Bronze, wrought iron, and unpolished brass accents

• Blush, taupe, umber, and washed green color accents

A Home Made of Patience

This house isn’t about spectacle. It’s about serenity.
At Tavain, we believe the most powerful spaces aren’t built to be seen—they’re built to be felt.
And this home feels like exhale.