Project: "Cottage in the Barn" farm stay at Rinconada Dairy

Last Spring, while visiting a friend in San Luis Obispo, we attended an Earth Day Sustainable Food and Wine Festival in Santa Margarita, CA.

What a memorable day! Every morsel of food we sampled from the best local chefs and restaurants and every sip of award winning wine was amazing. It was very inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are making a difference maintaining sustainability within the Food & Wine world.

Being true to the cause, they created zero trash, powered the entertainment stage with solar, shuttled 30% of the guests and all held at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.

Inside the Barn on the Ranch where the tastings were held, happens to be sort of a "barn within a barn". The interior having a great mix of texture from the original stone walls and the new wood framing.

One of the highlights for me included the amazing Olive Oil from Olio Nuevo made from Spanish olives. (Oh how I love Spain!) Olio Nuevo also happens to be owned by Art Kishiyama, an ex-fellow Disney Imagineer. After successful careers in the Air Force and as an Architect, he is now following his passion as a farmer. http://www.olionuevo.com/

Two hours later, after full bellies signaled us to "stop eating", we decided to visit Rinconada Dairy, a local Artisan goat and sheep Cheese farm and aquaintence of my friend. http://www.rinconadadairy.com/

Christine Maguire, owner and cheesemaker, warmly greeted us and happily gave us a tour of the farm and cheese operation.

We met the goats, their kids, the sheep, the lambs, the happy pigs who eat the whey, the chickens, the dogs, the cats and Lance, the dwarf sheep who's mother abandoned him so he decided to hang out with the dogs who did accept him. Have you ever seen a sheep act like a dog?

We did.

He was very sweet and unlike sheep, liked to be pet.

The farm also features an organic garden nurtured by their own compost that co-owner Jim Maguire proudly named "brown gold". They also have a farm stay in their house that is often booked months in advance thanks to a favorable article of their farm and cheeses featured in the Los Angeles Times. http://www.rinconadadairy.com/latimes.htm

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We were near completion of our tour, and learned about a farm helper who recently moved out of the apartment built in the corner inside the barn structure by the previous owner.

Christine mentioned how the apartment needed some work as it was a little old. After talking and getting a tour of the vacant space, we all looked at each other and realized that we could remodel the space to be an additional accomodation for farm stay guests - a solution to the excess of requests she has been receiving to stay at the farm that she had to regretably turn down. With additional accomodations, she could help sustain her farm with the extra income.

There and then we decided that we would do a sustainable remodel by re-using and re-purposing as many things that we already had around us or could find used; avoid using new resources where possible; and supplement with surplus and recycled building materials. The bulk of the remodel was focused on remodeling the current bathroom configuration to a more private room as the existing one served as a hallway to the kitchen.

Our design goal was to make it as a cozy and comfortable, "cottage-like" space that was family and farm friendly. We were all excited and knew it was going to be a fun and special project. Time frame: 2 month to completion to be ready for high tourist season. Budget: small.

Each project is unique and that is no exception for the “cottage in the barn” at Rinconada Dairy. Fueled by the motivation witnessed by experiencing true farm life and the work ethnic it embodies, the project came together beautifully and on time.

We were fortunate to attract an amazing team of local professionals and even volunteers who helped to meet the tight time schedules; went that extra mile and did it all with enthusiasm. Even visiting farm stay guests were excited to see its completion and even planning their next visit so they can experience the new space. I even met my website designer Lisa Montano their while she was visiting with her husband Jason and then 2 year-old Ingrid. It was so nice to be met with such interest and support.

The “cottage in the barn” gave us a tremendous learning, work and altogether gratifying experience. A project fueled from sharing a common goal- sustainability.

Below are some shots of the completed "cottage in a barn" farm stay.

Some project highlights include: refinish existing oak furniture found in storage in another barn structure on the property, repurposed wood shelves also found in storage, and repurposed bathroom vanity as kitchen counter from Habitat for Humanity.

The Bathroom tile was left over from a local big development project and the beautiful glass tiles judicioulsy used. Even the drywall was left-over from a recent job and avoided being trashed.

The kitchen counter was constructed from

a beautiful product utilizing recycled old wine, beer and sky vodka bottles generously donated by Vetrazzo. Its gorgeous !

http://www.vetrazzo.com/

The project would not have been possible with out the enthusiasm and support of the individuals and resources found below:

Project Team:

Assistant Designer - Lisa Sun

General Contractor - Don Langerman DJ Design

Plumber - Mike Beanway

Tile Artist - Salvador Silva

Electrician - Pat Dyson Coastal Electrical

Handyman / Artist Extraordinaire -Herbert Gonzales

Painter / Artist - Karla Lopez

Resources:

BDC Builders & Developers

* Donation of Building surplus materials

Tom’s Discount Glass & Mirror

Linoleum City

Return Engagement –Upscale Resale* Furniture & Accessories

Habitat for Humanity – ReStore

*Kitchen counter, hardware, Accessories

Craigslist

Hotel Surplus Outlet
* Wicker chairs from old hotel

Green Bargain Save & Re-Use
*Accessories

Salvation Army Antique / Thrift Store
*Accessories & Furniture

Society of St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store
*Accessories

Out of the Closet Thrift Store

Goodwill thrift store
*Furniture & accessories