Luxe Interiors + Design
A Modern Take on Farmhouse That Dazzles With A Library-Dining Room
Private Residence, Menlo Park
By Mary Jo Bowling, Photography by John Merkl
Published November/December 2021
Home Details
Architecture: Howard J. Backen and Kirby Lee, Backen & Gillam Architects
Interior Design: Emily Turner Barker and Marie Turner Carson, M. Elle Design
Home Builder: Wakefield Mist, NorthWall Builders, Inc.
Landscape Architecture: Janell Hobart, Denler Hobart Gardens, LLC
Lighting Design: Vita Pehar Design
A custom residence in Menlo Park, designed by Backen & Gillam Architects with interiors by M. Elle Design. Built by Wakefield Mist with landscape design by Janell Hobart, the home balances modern architectural clarity with understated comfort.
Lighting by Vita Pehar Design contributes to the overall coherence of the home, with particular emphasis on the library-dining room—a multifunctional space wrapped in bookshelves and anchored by a traditional oval table. The lighting supports both ambient and focused use, enhancing the quiet flexibility of the space.
