When architect Marc Whitman and his wife, Julia, got married, they had been provided a 40-acre piece of land on the 300-acre Taft family compound and nature preserve, as a wedding present from Julia’s father. Marc, who’s well known for his natural, nature-inspired shapes, extreme curves and art nouveau–inspired layouts, took the opportunity to construct a family home on the land. He believed it had been a chance to construct something that comprised the elements he’d always wanted to create but were too intense for his clientele. Hidden in the trees and designed to reflect the family’s love of nature, the home is a enchanting and uplifting location.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Marc and Julia Whitman and their two puppies
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Thats intriguing: The home includes a beautiful botanical garden.
Shannon Malone
The back exterior, using its nature-inspired grand terrace and large curved windows, is a beautiful representation of art nouveau design, among Marc Whitman’s main resources of architectural inspiration. Another source of inspiration along with other architects and artists who build natural structures, for example Antonio Gaudà and San Diego artist James Hubbell.
When you’re designing your house, Marc advises, spend time in other areas to find out what you like and what is comfortable to you. “Take time and consider what you love,” he states. “Everybody differs. Trust in yourself.”
Shannon Malone
The largest design dilemma was that the giant oak tree. This particular part of the property, which the family adored, is surrounded by limiting geography, such as a creek on both sides. They had no option but to construct in this particular area. “it is a beautiful old imperial tree, and we could not do away with this,” Marc says. With some creativity and ingenuity, he managed to incorporate the shrub to the design and build around it. Even though it’s a spectacular sight, Marc says, “It did break up the home. It might have experienced more open stream without the tree.”
Shannon Malone
The original building on the property was a 1930s cabin that is historic. Because he did not want to remove the narrative and its history, Marc joined the Craftsman-style cabin together with all the new art nouveau addition. The front facade of the house and the kitchen are from the original cabin.
When the couple moved into the property, they lived in the little cabin and started building additions from there. It took several years for the house to finally become what it is now.
Shannon Malone
With regular pools being too high maintenance, Marc created an alternate layout that takes advantage of the adjoining creek. The pool acts as a dam, with creek water knowingly operating through it. They drain it out every once in a while to clean it, allow it to refill itself.
Shannon Malone
The property is really a hidden jewel. A long winding road leads the way to the panoramic Ojai Mountains and into the Taft property.
Shannon Malone
Although the home is remarkably distinctive, it feels very traditional. “Conventional is where we had been to get thousands of years,” says Marc. “We feel a sense of groundedness when in a traditional home that resembles a home.”
Shannon Malone
Located in the original cabin, the kitchen illustrates the entwinement of the two Craftsman and art nouveau styles. The cabinets are timber, with leaf-inspired carvings.
Shannon Malone
Nature’s effect is apparent in each room, with its natural shapes, lines and colours. These enchanting leaf-inspired windows surrounding the dining table blend seamlessly with the surrounding outside scenery.
Dining room table: Down Home Furnishings
Shannon Malone
The couple’s design philosophy is simple: “Discover things you love,” says Julia Whitman. “It is about discovering what’s in yourself, not what’s trendy. It must be your own.” The interior of the house is filled with antiques, family heirlooms and special finds from excursions to Mexico and Bali. Julia says, “Eclectic is great; your personality resonates.”
The classic hutch in the living room from Hacienda in Ojai (currently closed) is just one of Julia’s most beloved pieces. She advises, “Find furniture that you adore and decorate it around.”
Shannon Malone
The couple made “psychological options” when it came into a colour palette. “We resonate with specific colours,” says Marc. The couple based the colours of the house around things they like. From the living room the colour scheme grew from the fireplace tile, from RTK Studios in Ojai.
Coffee table: Hacienda (currently closed)
Shannon Malone
The majority of the artwork is by Ojai artists that are also friends of this bunch. A friend made this ceiling piece in the kitchen for them. It is a metal cutout with multicolored lights shining through it.
Shannon Malone
Framed family photographs line the upstairs hallway wall.
Shannon Malone
The Whitmans’ daughter is away at school, but her room is nicely maintained and filled with hot colors and sunshine.
Shannon Malone
With its curved ceiling and window, the charming Craftsman-style master bath shows Marc’s organic aesthetic. The claw-foot bath overlooks a beautiful and relaxing perspective.
Shannon Malone
Whilst in the building process, Julia fell in love with this carpet. She did not have a bedroom however but knew she needed to style her future room around its deep colors.
Bed: Down Home Furnishings
Shannon Malone
Outside the master bedroom is a balcony overlooking the property and the creek. Marc built these seats to the railing to reflect the natural nature of the home’s design.
Shannon Malone
The master bedroom’s soft curves, warm tones and lavish window bed provide an awareness of meltworthy relaxation and comfort.
Fireplace tile: RTK Studios
Shannon Malone
The house has a perfect equilibrium of colorful and neutral chambers. “Too much color can drive you away,” says Marc. The striking upstairs bath is covered floor to ceiling with saturated blue tiles from RTK Studios.
Shannon Malone
One of Marc’s favourite spaces to hang out and unwind on weekends is the skylight room. With this much light coming in through the windows, it’s an inspiring and ideal location for him to paint. Marc says, “It is important to create a space in which you feel at home, and is relaxing and intimate.”
Shannon Malone
Marc’s influences are evident in every last detail. The timber throughout the home is custom carved into nature-inspired shapes, such like this particular fireplace surround in the den. Some of these fireplace tiles comprise illustrations of wildlife and nature.
Fireplace tile: Alchemy Studio, San Diego
Shannon Malone
The couple takes several trips to Bali and Mexico to collect decor for their two neighborhood inns, the Blue Iguana and the Emerald Iguana. They frequently wind up bringing back pieces to their home too. The majority of the accessories and furniture at the den, like the coffee table along with its decorations, are from Bali. “Everything has a memory,” says Julia. The couch is from friends who used to be couch manufacturers.
Shannon Malone
The back patio is equipped with lights, seats and a fireplace, and with its spectacular views of the outside scenery, it’s the perfect spot for parties or simply relaxing with family and friends.
Patio furniture: Palecek
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