Architectural Style Series: Rustic Modern
This Woodacre, CA kitchen offers opened up space for the owners: a chef and a baker, while drawing inspiration from the outside forest. Photo: Helynn Ospina
It’s effortless and worn-in. Clean yet never sterile. Nature-inspired and contemporary. Meet Craig’s favorite style: rustic modern.
The rustic modern movement became popular in 2011/2012 on the southern coast of California, but its roots developed far earlier. The term was first mentioned at Marilyn Monroe’s funeral, where onlookers described the chapel as “rustic modern”, and in 2000, author Ali Hanan released the book: Modern Rustic: Natural Ideas for a Contemporary Lifestyle. The style began popping up in bars and restaurants in every hip neighborhood from SoCal to New Jersey – think cedar plank high tops with the tree’s natural shape intact, exposed brick and heavy stone, and simple hanging light fixtures that give a hint of an old-world library. The style boasts more earth tones than bright hues to give an ambience of comfort, laid-back style and ease – a truly California experience.
“Inspired by living near the redwoods in Woodacre, California [just 30 minutes from the coast], traveling to favorite destinations like Big Sur, Sea Ranch, Bali and Antigua, Guatemala, and my evolution over 20 years in the industry – with many modern projects during my early years in San Francisco – rustic modern architecture has become my favorite style,” says Craig. “Don’t get me wrong. I love modern design elements that are clean and balanced, but I like to take that modern template and add feeling through the varied tones and textures of rustic materials that have been weathered or not totally polished and brand new. This results in creating spaces that have soul and that inspire interest, warmth, and welcoming, comforting vibes.”
Reclaimed sycamore wood was used in this rustic modern design in Woodacre, CA. Photo: Helynn Ospina
And in using natural elements, sustainability comes to mind: you’ll see lots of beautiful, reclaimed wood that make up the cabinets, shelves and floors in many of Craig’s designs.
Working with many homes that were built in the 1950s and ‘60s, Craig uses inspiration from the mid century modern era, the land around the home, and its unique (and sometimes quirky) elements to make up a mix of modern and rustic.
“I’ve always loved the cabin feel, and I’m a more casual person by nature,” he says. ”I do think California culture is a bit more on the laid-back side, not so buttoned-up, so there’s more space to dive into whimsicality and take more chances – like throwing a piece of wood at the mantle.”
Reclaimed Wood: A Rustic Modern Staple
The Calistoga modern farmhouse is a great example that features natural, rustic elements and keeps things modern and eco-friendly with a Tesla-powered wall, cooling concrete floors and a solar energy system. Built as a family vacation home and a corporate retreat Airbnb rental, the two-building space retains modern elements of a glass breezeway, brand new amenities and white walls while tuning to the rustic feel of wood flooring used upstairs that doubles as a wood ceiling for the downstairs.
This Calistoga modern farmhouse incorporates many rustic elements with an eco-friendly twist: like cooling concrete floors, a solar energy system and a Tesla-powered wall. Photo: David Duncan Livingston
Reclaimed wood flooring from Black’s Farmwood was used upstairs and placed on the ceiling for a rustic element on the the main level. Photo: David Duncan Livingston
“That was reclaimed wood with little polish from Black’s Farmwood in Petaluma, CA, where they only do beautiful reclaimed wood pieces,” says Craig.
Earth tones of cream, tawny and charcoal were chosen throughout the house to complement the beautiful rolling hills of the wine country that surround it.
A much earlier project in San Francisco that uses rustic modern design draws from the Scandinavian tradition of craftsmanship. This Victorian remodel has custom site-built cabinetry, concrete countertops and a rustic redwood ceiling made for a beautiful modern-yet-natural design.
“We put reclaimed wood planks on the ceiling of the sunroom and a cast-in-place sink,” says Craig.
This San Francisco Victorian got a rustic modern makeover with a redwood ceiling.
And lastly, in the West Marin Organic Modern project, Craig designed a a more spacious and organic experience for owners Arielle and Nick Giusto, a chef and a baker. They wanted a bigger, brighter, lighter and more functional kitchen where they’d spend a big majority of their time, and wanted something to reflect the beauty of the woods outside their door.
“The beautiful pieces of reclaimed sycamore on the custom cabinet faces fabricated by HOPE BUILT say it all,” says Craig.
A custom concrete sink made by Craig’s friends at [RE] Union Creative, pristine when first installed, has aged well with beautiful wearing that’s a bit more natural and well-loved. The ceiling beams were milled from reclaimed old piers that had been buried in the San Francisco Bay.
Craig designed a custom copper hood above the stovetop, and a jutting sycamore live edge wood piece serves as the kitchen island and remains Craig’s favorite element.
Craig designed a custom copper hood above the stovetop in this rustic modern kitchen in Woodacre, CA. Photo: Helynn Ospina
“You go in there and say ‘okay — now this is a kitchen that’s well used and loved and interesting to experience — the room feels like it’s living and breathing’. It’s not pristine and shiny and perfectly white. Instead of a marble countertop and a white porcelain sink, which is the current trend, we used organic materials like reclaimed wood and concrete, giving the home a more alive feel.”
A custom concrete sink made by Craig’s friends at [RE] Union Creative, pristine when first installed, has aged well with beautiful wearing. Photo: Helynn Ospina
All the wood for this project came from local reclaimed-wood “whisperer” Evan Shively of Arborica. And the amazing result couldn't have happened without a synergistic collaboration with the owners as well as the general contractor, Spyder Petersen
“I enjoy and have designed many styles throughout the years – but as a reflection of my personality, my goals of working with sustainable materials and improving lives through architecture, my designs will always have some rustic, organic elements to complement the modern or contemporary,” says Craig.