A Devastating Fire Nearly Erased this 1878 Home's Character – After Years of Awkward Renovations, It's Finally Been Brought Back to Life

For generations, the Maxwell-Jarvis House has been one of Mendocino's most recognizable homes. Built in 1878 and sitting in a prime position on the town's historic Banker's Row, the Italianate residence is woven into the fabric of the coastal California community. Today, however, it serves a new purpose: a forever home for an owner whose connection to the property stretches further back than her purchase of it.

To bring her vision to life, the homeowner enlisted designer Juliette Barrett of Atelier Julienne. Drawing inspiration from the home's architecture, its coastal setting, and the owner's love of antiques, Juliette created a house design that feels timeless yet entirely livable for the client with her grandchildren in tow. Striking a balance between preservation and practicality, rather than creating a period-perfect showpiece, her aim was to craft a home that feels warm, welcoming, and ready to be enjoyed for generations to come.

As a child, the client spent summers visiting family on California's North Coast and became captivated by the region's beauty. When the property, which sat within eyeshot of her aunt's home, unexpectedly came onto the market in 2004, she seized the opportunity to buy it, imagining using it as a retreat for family and friends. After living in it for twenty years, she was finally ready to transform the property into a home that reflected both its heritage and her family's way of life. 'Her love of history, the coastal region, nature, and love of antiques (multigenerational antique dealers in the family), created the impetus to breathe life back into this beautiful, stately home,' says Juliette.

Yet like many historic homes, its story has not been without challenges. 'Originally, the Maxwell-Jarvis House was a marvel to behold – a true Italianate piece of architecture with its tall, symmetrical stature, ornamental cornices, and classic hip roof,' Juliette describes. In 1966, a devastating fire caused significant damage to the property, and while the house had to be rehabilitated, much of its original character was gradually lost in the decades that followed. Subsequent renovations focused on practicality rather than preservation, and by the 1980s, the home had been subdivided into multiple apartments.

When Juliette was brought on to the project, the goal was not simply to update the interiors but to reconnect the home with its roots. The owner had spent years imagining what the property could become, and both client and designer shared a desire to see the landmark regain its charm. Before a single paint color was chosen, she looked to the property's Italianate heritage to guide a series of thoughtful interventions that would restore a sense of grandeur to the interiors. Throughout the home, newly introduced millwork, wainscoting, moldings, and rich oak flooring 'give the spaces gravity and warmth,' says Juliette.

'My client wanted to restore the home to its former glory while making it fit her family's lifestyle,' she explains. While the home's architecture looks to the past, the color scheme for the home is inspired by its surroundings. Just a few streets from a dramatic coastline, the home enjoys glimpses of the Pacific through its south-facing windows, and that connection to the landscape became a strong influence throughout. 'Every space was designed with the ultimate goal of fitting with the classic and coastal atmosphere of the home,' she explains. For example, the library is enveloped in a rich green-gray that creates an intimate, 'ultra-cozy feeling' for leisurely reading. Softer coastal tones reappear in the guest suite, and in the powder room, wainscoting painted in an antique bottle green introduces another gentle nod to the sea, bringing a fresh, playful quality to the compact space.

Soft greens and ocean blues appear repeatedly throughout the home, creating a sense of continuity from room to room. In the living and dining spaces, Benjamin Moore's Silken Pine lends the walls a gentle, nature-inspired note, while the kitchen draws directly from the colors of the sea. 'Inspired by the nearby ocean waves, the kitchen features dusky aqua-blue cabinets, with a deeper, true-blue range to complement the ocean hues,' says Juliette. Throughout, crisp white surfaces and traditional millwork provide moments of restraint, allowing the richer colors to take center stage.

Wallpaper also plays an important role in softening the home's formality. A sweeping floral mural transforms the dining room, while patterned wallcoverings in the powder room, guest bathroom, and laundry room introduce moments of whimsy and personality. That same careful balance can be seen in the curated mix of antiques and contemporary pieces throughout the home. A lover of history and antiques, the homeowner was keen to weave collected furnishings into the design, creating a thread between past and present.

For all of the attention paid to the home's history, one priority remained constant throughout the project: this was a house designed to be used. Grandchildren, holiday gatherings, creative projects, and everyday living were all considered just as important as preserving the home's historic spirit. 'She wanted the bathrooms and kitchen to be beautiful while also easy to maintain, with materials that were timeless and durable,' says Juliette.

'Over and over again, she would make sure the materials we were using would be “bomb proof” to withstand her four grandchildren,' she continues. 'However, she never chose pure function over beauty.' Gathering spaces were prioritized, with generous seating arrangements encouraging conversation and connection, while the dining room was envisioned not only as a place for entertaining but also as somewhere grandchildren could spread out and do crafts when visiting. 'Lots of seating for eating, art projects, and visiting were key, and a flow that would feel cozy and natural,' she adds. 'This design reflects the family's personality and will be enjoyed for many years to come – a wonderful union of dreams and a real-life outcome.'

As with much of the house, the kitchen balances the home's original character with a palette inspired by Mendocino's coastal setting. Painted in Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue, the cabinetry introduces a fresh wash of color, while the plaster range hood, glossy tile backsplash, and pale countertops bring lightness to the room. Adjoining the eat-in kitchen, a cozy breakfast nook 'invites gathering around a home-cooked meal, with a cozy built-in bench and tall, custom wall shelving to display family heirlooms,' says Juliette.

Rather than creating a space children might quickly outgrow, Juliette leaned into timeless materials and a soft coastal palette for the twin room that feels appropriate for guests of any age. 'For the guest bedroom, which is the grandchildren's bedroom when they're in town, a custom closet for clothing and extra bedding provides ample storage,' she explains. Painted in Benjamin Moore's Seacliff Heights, the bespoke cabinetry introduces another reference to the coastline, while vintage pine furniture and layers of soft pink bedding lend the room a gentle character.

The primary suite shows the home's quieter side. 'In the primary bedroom, a dreamy white-on-white color scheme conjures a sense of peace and quiet, while creating the feeling that there's room to breathe in the small space,' says Juliette. Layered textiles, antique finds, and warm wood tones ensure the room feels inviting rather than stark. That sense of serenity continues into the adjoining bathroom, which 'exudes femininity with soft pink walls, shiny nickel, and classic tile details,' in order to creatively work around the constraints of an already-approved floor plan. 'It would have been even more magical with a window, but adding a window was not doable. Because of this, I kept the room light, grounding the room with accents of black on the vanity and statement clawfoot bathtub,' she explains.

In the home's further bathrooms, Juliette used color, pattern, and millwork to ensure even the smallest spaces felt full of personality. Rather than treating these rooms as purely functional, she viewed them as opportunities to introduce moments of whimsy. 'The powder room feels playful with its colorful knobs, unique sconces, bold wallcovering, and wainscot painted a light, seafoam blue-green to match, she says, while the guest bathroom was designed around what she describes as 'an adorable blue polka-dotted wallpaper.'

The functional spaces speak to the client's desire for both practicality and personality. In the mudroom, simple paneling, a herringbone brick floor, and classic millwork create a welcoming transition between indoors and out. Nearby, the laundry room embraces a more playful mood, wrapped in a rich floral wallpaper that became one of the homeowner's favorite moments. 'My client and I fell in love with this wallpaper and just had to find a spot for it,' says Juliette. 'The sunny laundry room was the perfect space.' Ensuring the cabinetry perfectly complemented the pattern became an obsession, with multiple paint samples tested before arriving at the final shade. In this house, beauty wasn't reserved for the main rooms alone.

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What began as a childhood fascination with Mendocino's rugged coastline eventually led to the purchase of one of the town's most beloved historic homes, followed by twenty years of imagining what it might one day become. Today, that vision has finally been realized. Thoughtfully restored and deeply personal, the house feels as though it has reclaimed its place in Mendocino's story while opening a new chapter of its own. Quite worthy of the postcard's it appears on to this day.

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Design: Atelier Julienne

Millwork: Revival Millworks

Styling: Mood & Measure Styling

Florals: Wild Hare Floral Design

Photography: Salt Haus Photo

Builder: AUM Construction, Inc.