come along with us to a winery in sonoma where the walls aren't perfect, the floors show their age, and nothing tries too hard, and that's exactly why it works. scribe winery's 1800s hacienda isn't about pristine finishes or showroom polish. it's about patina, history, and the kind of lived-in beauty that only time can create. we visited for the wine but left thinking about design, specifically, how the most compelling spaces aren't the ones that look brand new, but the ones that feel like they have a story to tell. let's go!
we turned off the main road and onto a long, palm-lined drive that felt like stepping into another era. ahead of us, the hacienda at scribe winery sat nestled into the sonoma hillside, sun-drenched and inviting. we came for the wine, sure, but we stayed for something else entirely. the design, the feeling, the way the space itself told a story.
a hacienda with history
scribe's hacienda has been standing since the 1800s, though not without some drama. the original structure was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, then sat abandoned for two decades before the mariani brothers discovered it and saw its potential. but here's what makes scribe special: when they restored the property, they didn't try to make it perfect. they kept the patina. they preserved the imperfections, the layers of age, the marks left by a century of california weather. walking through, you can see it. the walls tell stories. the floors have character. everything feels livable and real.
standing on the front lawn
there's a moment when you're standing on the front lawn, looking back up at the hacienda with the vineyards stretching out behind you, when everything clicks. the building is open and airy, with those classic spanish revival lines. terracotta roof tiles, thick wooden beams, walls in soft neutral tones that have aged into something beyond paint. the architecture breathes. large windows and doors blur the line between inside and out, which feels exactly right for wine country.
the outdoor spaces are where scribe really shines. the patio area, with its warm gray brick underfoot and tables crafted from fallen redwood, feels both rustic and refined. plants are everywhere. not manicured, formal gardens, but a wild, intentional mix of palms, native grasses, and herbs that seem to spill from every corner. it's california at its most relaxed and beautiful.
inside, everything has a story
step inside the hacienda and you immediately feel like you've been invited into someone's well-loved home. the floors are old wood, worn smooth by decades of footsteps. exposed ceiling beams show their age proudly. the walls have that gorgeous, layered patina that only time can create. you can't fake this kind of character, and scribe knows it.
the design choices feel thoughtful without feeling overdone. the kitchen opens to the main space through large pivot doors, creating flow and connection. custom furniture pieces look like they've been there forever. touches of copper and terra cotta add warmth in a way that feels natural. we spotted heath ceramics throughout, which felt perfectly on-brand for this kind of authentic california style. everything about the interior says: relax, stay awhile, be comfortable. it's all warm, thoughtful, and inviting.
a taste of the land
the food at scribe deserves its own moment. garden snacks, they call them, but that feels too casual for how good they are. simple, pure ingredients that taste like they were picked that morning. probably because they were. there's something about eating food grown steps away from where you're sitting, paired with wine from the vines you can see from your table, that makes the whole experience feel connected. the design isn't separate from the food or the wine. it all feels connected and authentic.
what we can bring home
here's what stuck with us long after we left: scribe winery shows us that the most beautiful spaces aren't the ones that look brand new. they're the ones that feel lived in, that carry history, that aren't afraid of imperfection. this is the idea that imperfection and age make things more beautiful, not less.
we can create this in our own homes by choosing things that look better as they age. look for furniture with patina, textiles that feel authentic, materials that age gracefully. think about how natural elements like plants, wood, stone, and clay bring warmth and soul to a space. at parker + gibbs, this is exactly why we're drawn to artisanal craftsmanship. there's something irreplaceable about items made by hand, pieces that carry the marks of their making. when you fill your home with things that have story and substance, you create spaces that feel open, airy, and genuinely yours. not a showroom. just a really good place to be.
until next time...
we left scribe late in the afternoon, driving back down that palm-lined road, and we carried the feeling with us! the warmth, the ease, the reminder that the best design doesn't shout. it just makes you want to stay a little longer.
cheers!
