“The home’s many sash windows have 10-lite transoms above to allow for extra light and air and an integrated pull-down screen,” architect Dan Garber explains.
“After [Dan] visited the property, he sent us a book titled The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town,” owner Dave Dolkas recalls. “Dan told us he was inspired by Town’s work and asked us to consider Town’s style, which we fell in love with immediately. We especially liked the design of Town’s Acadian cottages with the large wraparound porches and slanted roofs.” At nearly 1,800 square feet, the wraparound porch has become a spacious spot to gather with family and friends.
“There is no drywall in the entire home,” Garber explains. “We used vertical grain Douglas fir—a native California tree and a common historic housing material found in many West Coast home interiors—for the wall paneling, custom cabinetry, open shelving, and facing appliances in the kitchen.”
Garber and Dolkas designed the home with a continuous picture rail throughout. The framed bird prints hanging from the picture rail are 18th-century reproductions.
A Century-Old Fruit Farm Reimagined as a Multigenerational Family Retreat
Set among rolling hills in northern Marin County, just shy of Sonoma, a century-old fruit farm has been thoughtfully reimagined as a multigenerational family retreat. Anchored by a 1920s farmhouse and surrounded by oak trees and open land, the 13-acre property offered both a sense of history and the opportunity to adapt to a new chapter of family life.
After raising their three children in the Bay Area, homeowners Dave and Karen Dolkas found themselves reconsidering their surroundings during the early days of the pandemic. Long conversations about owning a ranch suddenly felt tangible. When the family discovered the former fruit farm in 2020, complete with zoning that allowed for an additional dwelling unit, the decision felt immediate. As Karen recalls, the couple was struck by the openness of the land and the feeling of possibility the site offered from the moment they arrived.
The move created a natural framework for multigenerational living. One son and his family moved into the original farmhouse, while another sibling settled nearby. For Dave and Karen, the opportunity to build a smaller, purpose-designed home on the same property felt both practical and deeply personal.
Designing an ADU with a Sense of Place
To bring the vision to life, the family turned to architect Dan Garber of Fergus Garber Architects and interior designer Peter Dolkas, the homeowners’ son and cofounder of Brooklyn-based Studio Dorion. Longtime friends, the team shared a commitment to designing a home that respected both the rural character of the land and the presence of the century-old farmhouse.
The primary challenge was scale. Limited to 1,200 square feet under ADU requirements, the new home needed to feel generous without overreaching. Extensive early conversations focused on how the house would function day to day, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate gatherings of family and friends.
The resulting single-story residence is compact yet remarkably open. The plan centers on a light-filled kitchen and living area, flanked by two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Built-in storage is carefully integrated throughout, allowing every square foot to serve multiple purposes. The guest room doubles as a laundry space, with discreetly placed appliances and twin beds that function as folding surfaces when needed. Each design decision contributes to a sense of ease and efficiency rather than constraint.
Indoor-Outdoor Living Rooted in Tradition
What truly expands the home’s footprint is its relationship to the outdoors. A broad wraparound porch encircles the structure, creating multiple zones for living, dining, and gathering. A screened porch, quickly becoming the family’s favorite space, hosts long meals and conversations while reinforcing the home’s connection to the surrounding landscape.
The porch also defines the home’s simple H-shaped plan, a form inspired by historic American rural architecture. Garber drew from precedents such as A. Hays Town’s Louisiana Acadian cottages, sharing these references with the family early in the design process. The result is a house that feels both rooted in tradition and entirely suited to its Marin County setting.
Warm Materials and Everyday Ease
Inside, the palette is intentionally relaxed. Douglas fir lines the walls and ceilings, lending warmth and continuity, while patterned textiles in checks and stripes add moments of quiet playfulness. Furnishings were selected with durability and comfort in mind. This is a home designed for everyday life, where grandchildren and dogs move freely and muddy shoes are part of the rhythm of living.
Spaces were tailored to the homeowners’ routines. A built-in desk was designed specifically for Karen, while the screened porch functions as an extension of the living room. Throughout the house, the design reflects a deep understanding of how the couple lives and what makes daily life easier and more enjoyable.
Personal history plays an important role as well. Family heirlooms and artwork are woven throughout the interiors, grounding the home in memory. A painting by Peter’s great-grandmother hangs in the guest room, while watercolors by a longtime family friend bring warmth to shared spaces.
A Collaborative, Family-Centered Process
The design and construction process was deeply collaborative. Peter worked closely with the architects to coordinate details, while Dave remained involved on site, carefully channeling questions back through the design team to maintain clarity and consistency. Though the family spanned coasts during the project, regular communication ensured alignment from start to finish.
For the homeowners, the experience of working with their son and longtime collaborators was both rewarding and meaningful. The result is a home that feels intuitive, personal, and enduring.
Blending new construction with historic context, and function with warmth, the completed ADU feels as though it has always belonged on the land. Designed to feel comfortable today and equally at home decades from now, the family retreat stands as a quiet example of how thoughtful architecture can support connection, continuity, and change over time.
Original article by Kristen Flanagan