How Designer Jaimie Belew Gave a Brand-New California Home the Soul of an Old-World European Estate

Located in California's Los Altos Hills, this newly built home achieves what many modern homes aim to do: impart a sense of character and a collected feel. Across its expansive 3,500 square feet, it blends sunny California living with farmhouse-inspired design sensibilities.

'It wasn't necessarily the farmhouse style itself that the client loved,' says designer Jaimie Belew, founder and principal designer at Maison Jaimie Belew Interior Design. 'It was the warmth, authenticity, and understated sophistication of old European country homes – the feeling that a house had been lived in, loved, and collected over generations.'

To realize the vision rooted in European style, Jaimie turned to light neutral color palettes that give the home a bright and welcoming feel, while vintage furniture and decor bring historic charm to each room. 'We wanted to create a home that felt established and rich in character, yet entirely suited to modern California living,' she recalls. Ultimately, the goal was for this modern home to feel as if 'it had evolved naturally over generations rather than having been created all at once.'

Working alongside the project architects at Architecture Allure, Jaimie spent three years bringing the interior vision to life, which included many stages, 'from developing the architectural character and material palette to designing custom furnishings, sourcing antiques, and curating the final details', she says. 'That time allowed us to be thoughtful about the pieces we selected, the artisans we collaborated with, and the details that would ultimately give the home its character.'

'One of the greatest challenges – and most rewarding aspects – was developing a convincing sense of history within an entirely new home,' says Jaimie. 'The architectural shell provided the foundation, but much of the character we envisioned came through the interior architecture and detailing that we developed as the project progressed.'

'We looked carefully at each room and passageway, searching for opportunities to introduce architectural elements that would create depth, rhythm, and a sense of discovery,' the designer says.

One of the standout architectural details that gives this home a sense of history is its arched doorways – softening the modern building and nodding to modern European style. 'The challenge wasn't simply to introduce traditional details,' she says. 'It was to make each one feel as though it naturally belonged to the home.'

Decorating with vintage was fundamental to the interiors, as was incorporating a mix of materials and textures. 'What brings those influences together isn't a particular design period, but a shared sensibility,' says Jaimie. 'We paid close attention to proportion, texture, patina, and the relationships between objects.'

And while a large focus was on bringing a collected feel to the interiors, it was equally important that it worked as a practical home for daily life. 'Comfortable gathering spaces, practical everyday rooms, thoughtful storage, and durable materials were all important,' Jaimie recalls.

Across the home's room color ideas, the overarching theme is calm. While soft neutrals lead the way, blues and greens add depth without detracting from the serene feel. 'The palette is grounded in natural, earthy tones: soft creams, limestone, warm oak, and the subtle variations found in handmade materials,' the designer explains. 'I wanted those quieter tones to create a sense of calm and allow the architecture, craftsmanship, and collected furnishings to take center stage.'

'The blues and greens introduce depth, personality, and a connection to the surrounding landscape,' she adds. 'I particularly love incorporating color through textiles, upholstery, and collected pieces. It allows a room to feel as though it has evolved organically rather than following a prescribed decorative palette.'

Texture was equally important. 'We selected reclaimed wood flooring because it already carries the marks and character of another life,' says Jaimie, who sourced it from Exquisite Surfaces. 'It brings a sense of history that is difficult to reproduce in a newly manufactured material.'

The light and airy entryway sets a calm welcome to the home. Rather than relying on color to bring interest, texture is the star here, from the rustic stone flooring to the linen-blend window treatments.

Entryway lighting ideas add a decorative touch to the space. 'The chandelier draws inspiration from the organic movement of climbing ivy, bringing a sculptural, almost whimsical quality to the space,' says Jaimie.

A similar sentiment is embraced in the powder room – where texture leads the way – not least with the custom limestone sink designed by Maison Jaimie Belew. 'Hand-finished limestone creates a sense of permanence and connects the home to traditional European architecture,' she adds. 'We paired it with opaline glass and brass sconces from Obsolete Inc., creating a soft, intimate atmosphere.'

'I love using beautiful natural materials in smaller rooms, where their texture and craftsmanship can be appreciated up close,' says Jaimie.

'The living room was designed to balance architectural character with genuine comfort,' says Jaimie. While creamy neutrals form the base of the open-plan space, the deep blue sofa brings contrast to the room's rich wood tones. 'I wanted the furnishings to feel substantial enough to complement the architecture, while remaining comfortable and inviting for everyday living.'

Smaller details bring a collected quality to the room, with a display of antique Turkish rice jars next to the fireplace. The 'aged surfaces, sculptural forms, and subtle variations bring another layer of history to the room,' she says.

Encapsulating the essence of modern farmhouse, the kitchen layers wood tones with off-white walls, stone flooring, and brass fixtures. 'The kitchen needed to feel like a natural extension of the home's architecture rather than a separate contemporary installation,' Jaimie explains.

'The grain and texture of the wood were particularly important,' she adds, opting for wire-brushed oak cabinetry by Reclaimed West. 'We wanted the cabinetry to feel beautifully crafted without appearing overly polished.'

'Behind the kitchen, in the butler's pantry, an opaline glass pendant from Obsolete Inc introduces a more delicate quality,' says Jaimie. 'These contrasts – industrial and refined, rustic and elegant – are part of what makes the home feel collected rather than decorated.'

Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors leading to the garden give the dining room an abundance of natural light, making it a relaxed space for gathering. And while the architecture feels contemporary, the vintage decor adds balance.

'An English pine dining table dating to approximately 1880, sourced through Obsolete Inc, brings an immediate sense of age and authenticity, while the oak ceiling treatment and beams reinforce the warmth of the architecture,' says Jaimie.

'I love the idea that a dining room can feel both elegant and informal – a place where beautiful objects become part of everyday life,' she adds.

The rustic look of the decorative pale green walls by Linda Horning gives the mudroom a distinctly farmhouse feel. 'It introduces warmth and texture, while beautiful textiles and a vintage rug create a relaxed, established feeling,' says Jaimie. 'It is a practical space that accommodates everyday life, but one where materials, craftsmanship, and collected details remain important.'

'The primary bedroom was designed as an intimate retreat that feels collected over time,' says Jaimie. 'A custom upholstered bed in Rose Tarlow's 'Pamina Grecian Clay' anchors the room, complemented by a Gregorius Pineo bench upholstered in Holland & Sherry's 'Cadence' hair-on-hide.'

'I particularly love the balance between the refinement of the upholstered pieces and the more primitive antiques,' she says. 'There is a quiet tension between them that makes the room interesting.'

'The dressing room is one of the most personal and romantic spaces in the residence,' says Jaimie, who paired pale khaki cabinetry with unlacquered brass hardware to bring warmth. 'Nineteenth-century French doors introduce history and character, while custom cabinetry provides beautifully integrated function.'

'The Taj Mahal stone island countertop from Da Vinci Marble, opaline lighting, and carefully layered textiles contribute to the room's sense of intimacy,' she says. 'I wanted the dressing room to feel like a beautiful private room rather than simply a place for storage.'

A marble bathtub in a light and airy window nook makes the bathroom a serene retreat, while the architectural details were designed to add interest. 'We nestled the vanities into elliptical arches, transforming what could have been a straightforward arrangement into something much more architectural and intimate,' explains Jaimie.

While the color palette is restrained here, texture keeps the space feeling dynamic. 'The handmade Moroccan zellige and bejmat tiles create beautiful variations in surface and light,' while the 'Waterworks fittings in vintage brass add warmth and character,' she says. 'I wanted this room to feel luxurious through the quality of its materials, craftsmanship, and atmosphere rather than ornamentation.'

'The children's rooms needed to be practical and comfortable while remaining connected to the character of the rest of the home,' says Jaimie. To do so, Jaimie designed custom bunk beds, pairing them with a vintage rug to add warmth and character.

In the bathroom, the 'handmade Moroccan zellige and bejmat tiles bring beautiful irregularities and variation,' the designer explains. 'Their imperfections are part of what makes them so compelling.'

'The guest bedroom is intentionally relaxed and layered,' says Jaimie. 'A custom headboard in Kerry Joyce 'Adagio' fabric provides a soft foundation, while vintage and re-edition furnishings give the room individuality.'

'I wanted guests to feel as though they were staying in a thoughtfully collected home rather than a conventional guest suite,' she adds, achieving this vision by layering a French industrial luggage stand at the end of the bed with a vintage wooden desk from Spain.

The home office stays true to the texture-rich and vintage decor found throughout the home, with a vintage Hermès lamp sourced at a flea market in Paris and salvaged French doors restored by Linda Horning.

'Even in the more functional areas of the home, we wanted the materials and detailing to feel considered,' Jaimie says of the laundry room. 'A custom zinc sink designed by Maison Jaimie Belew introduces a beautiful utilitarian quality, while Conrad window treatments soften the room. I love when practical spaces have the same attention to craftsmanship and materiality as the principal rooms.'

The home also includes a guest house, complete with a kitchen and dining area alongside the bedroom and bathroom. 'It continues the collected sensibility of the main residence while feeling slightly more relaxed,' says Jaimie.

Earthy neutrals lead the way in the light-filled bedroom with layered textiles for coziness and modern sculptural furniture that feels in keeping with the architecture.

'We wanted the guest house to feel like an extension of the home rather than an entirely separate design experience,' Jaimie adds. She brought texture to the space with Tabarka tiles in the bathroom and a wicker dining table in the kitchen.

Designing a new home to feel rich with character isn't easy. But when close attention is paid to material choices, vintage decor, and layered textures, it proves that modern homes can feel just as interesting as older ones. 'I'm incredibly proud of the interior architecture, materials, craftsmanship, and collected furnishings throughout this residence,' says Jaimie.

And the beauty of designing a home with this intention is that they're never truly finished. 'I believe the most successful homes continue to evolve with the people who live in them,' she adds. 'Knowing that this home has become such a meaningful part of our client's everyday life is incredibly rewarding.'

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