The DeBarge Home

When approaching the DeBarge home, guests encounter a flagstone pathway that leads to the front door. A French motif is immediately recognizable with the use of chalet windows, and board-and-batten-style wooden siding is paired with natural stone for an appropriately rustic aesthetic. 

A standing seam metal roof is a durable option, and a set of beautiful arch-top French doors flanked by warm lantern-style sconces beckon visitors inside. 

Upon entering the DeBarge home, visitors immediately find themselves in the heart of the home – the great room. Here, bringing the outdoors in was the primary goal.

“When I built this home, I was really thinking about the longevity of the property,” says DeBarge. “I wanted to create a structure that would feel like you were outside but with the security of an enclosed space. Trying to make the space as open as possible led to this.”

Acid-washed concrete floors cloak the space while natural knotty pine runs up the walls and across the tongue-and-groove ceiling. Chalet windows stretch to the top of the vaulted ceiling and pay homage to a winemaker’s paradise. Picture windows run along the left side of the room and are topped with transom windows, maximizing the natural light and scenic views.

Rough-hewn trusses build on the rustic atmosphere, and their rich colors tie in with a primitive oversized European-style fireplace that houses a woodstove. 

Sliding glass doors open to a terrace that again is positioned for prime views. A gently curved, stone-slab bartop is the perfect place for DeBarge to enjoy the fruits of his labor. 

“I wanted to create a structure that would feel like you were outside but with the security
of an enclosed space.” –Raymond DeBarge

From the living room, guests can round the corner to gain access to the master suite. Pine encapsulates the room, and casement windows can open for a breath of fresh mountain air. A low-profile metal bed frame supports a queen-size bed, while a tufted accent chair and sofa in the corner of the room provide even more space for rest and relaxation.

“The views from the living room are really amazing, but I also like the scenery you get from this room as well,” explains DeBarge. “In here, you’re basically eye level with the vines that are to the side of the house, and it provides a different perspective.”

In the master bathroom, the stone found around the home’s exterior makes its way inside, and with the help of corrugated galvanized metal, makes up a corner open shower. A stone-slab countertop and natural rock vessel sink bring in even more earthly materials, providing a nod to the home’s surroundings.

Walking back through the living room, guests can access the back of the home by passing through a large threshold, which also serves as DeBarge’s main eating space. Here, a wooden table comfortably seats six with its slat-back dining chairs, and a sliding barn door provides continuity in the style of the home while granting access to a storage room. 

In the kitchen, the rustic French country style found throughout the rest of the home becomes more chic in nature. White shiplapped walls brighten the space, which is dotted with stainless-steel appliances and fixtures. An apron-front sink on one side of the room and a vent hood on the other repeat the materials, while thick pine open shelving works to tie this space in with the living and dining areas.

Traveling upstairs takes visitors to the guest suite. Nickle-gap, white-washed pine covers the walls, while a pale pine similar to that on the main floor can be found in the tongue-and-groove ceiling. Cedar shake shingles can be seen above a peek-through window, and a built-in dining nook can be found to the right, while a small kitchenette rests to the left.

“I really wanted this house to be versatile, and since I didn’t have a need for this space, I figured turning it into a self-sufficient place for guests to stay would be an ideal solution,” says DeBarge. 

A sleeping area to the right is mirrored by a bathroom on the left, which is complete with an outhouse-style crescent on the door, and several armchairs and loveseats provide a place for guests to sit and relax.

Surrounded by vines and wide-open skies, DeBarge’s mountainous marvel is one-of-a-kind. A true product of its surroundings, this French chalet-inspired home is sure to serve as a rustic retreat for generations to come. CS