Visit a Modern Country Home on an Almond and Sweet Potato Farm
Cindy Souza didn’t feel like her home reflected herself anymore. She and her husband, David, built the house on 20 acres in Atwater, California, in the 1990s. The architecture leaned somewhat contemporary, but over the years the couple, who farm 500 acres of almonds and 700 acres of sweet potatoes, tried to make the home a little more country. That resulted in layers of outdated colors and an overall heavy style that Cindy grew tired of. “It wasn’t me anymore,” she says. “I didn’t want to bring friends over. It wasn’t comfortable.”
She wanted to freshen up the style, add more square footage and create a more welcoming home overall that could handle the tough and dirty days of farm life. For help, Cindy searched Houzz for an interior designer in her area and found Wendy Glaister in nearby Modesto. “We hit it off and she saw my vision,” says Cindy, who used Houzz ideabooks to communicate her style preferences to Glaister.
The pair worked together on renovating the kitchen, updating all the interior paint and furniture and designing an 800-square-foot addition that includes a new laundry room and master bathroom. They selected durable materials that hold up to tracked-in soil and, when possible, chose furnishings made by people who, like Cindy and David, have a family-owned backstory.
We are farmers also, and I just loved the tip to avoid glassed-in light fixtures. Dust is a constant battle near an orchard so this is a brilliant idea!
Wow, the house is stunning. Also it's really nice to see articles about 'more rural' people, places, and/or professions. (And God bless you in your remission and going forward! )
What color was used on the kitchen cabinets?
Love love love
Hello Could you please tell me what brand exterior doors you used? It looks like they are 3/4 glass? You did an amazing job!! Thank you
I eat a whole food plant based diet and sweet potatoes are a staple for me. Thank you for your work in growing them! I loved the paint color, the home seems relaxing and friendly. So much to love in it.
This home is stunning but still very warm and functional. What a sweet couple too. Hope they enjoy many years of happiness there.
What a beautiful home! Love everything about it!
What a beautiful story and home! I love how they care for their farm, community and now....themselves! Wishing them many happy relaxed years in this lovely home they created. WEll done! PS....thanks for the sweet potato cooking tip!
Beautiful home, I love all of the brick that is incorporated through out the home and the flow and ease. The rounded doorways are a great design....love!
This is an awesome makeover for an older couple like us who want to remain in our forever home for as long as we can. We had to redo our master bathroom because the shower had a leak. That led us to using radiant heat under the tile floors (not in the shower). It wasn't expensive but it was the best money we spent. We love it!
The video about this remodel is very well done. Thank you Houzz.
some people have all and everything in the world. specially blessed by god I suppose
House is beautiful. What a sweet couple!
Absolutely gorgeous! What a stylish, inviting and comfortable home. The master bedroom is a triumph - just lovely right throughout the home. Congratulations!
Everything looking beautiful
This sounds like not just a beautiful remodel, but a well deserved remodel. Wishing the family many happy and healthy years in this lovely home.
So very stunning! I come from a long line of farmers. Thanks for all your hard work.
Love this! We want our home to feel cozy, comfortable, and inviting and not stuffy. Lots of great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Great video and super cool property!
I loved the footage of the farm--thanks for including it. I'd love to see more farmers' houses
Beautiful country home and very functional. Congratulations!
Beautiful people. Beautiful home. Beautiful occupation! Thank you for sharing everything...
What a lovely home and couple!
Loved this video, what a beautiful home!
This is so lovely. I live about two cities over near an orchard as well....The dust is really bad during harvest. If you ever live in or around the country, limit the glass exposure and don't get carpet floors. That was a brilliant idea with the light fixtures.
Lovely home, lovely couple.
Wow, what a fantastic home! Wendy Glaister did a terrific job of listening to her clients' needs and wishes and pulling it all together beautifully.
Love everything, but the brick, that laundry room, and the ARTWORK!!! Just perfect!
May the Souzas have many years making beautiful memories for their family and friends.
AMAZING AND INSPIRATIONAL
lovely video for the beautiful house thanks
The whole house remodel is just perfect. Hope this couple has many, many years of good living in that beautiful home. Loved the lighting in the kitchen, the coffee bar, old-world cabinetry, and that gorgeous living room area rug. Where did you find that rug?
Where did Wendy buy the kitchen lighting??
Wow. Who doesn’t like a good sweet tater! It is beautiful. She followed her heart with which she likes and its so refreshing.
This hard-working couple is “livin’ the dream”. This was a very enjoyable video & a thoughtful remodel.
Beautiful home and heartwarming story.
Beautiful home!!
@freelandrj The cabinets are a paint and glaze, custom mixed by the cabinet craftspeople. It is proprietary.
@joanne decerce The doors were custom made by a local craftsperson.
@brokenknee They have very deep faith and are very hardworking. I found them to be very inspiring ... watching how their belief in God touches every decision they make together.
Beautiful home and they seem very genuine and sweet.
@Hope Anderson there are a lot of farmers' homes on my profile if you'd like to take a look. Each family is such a gift to work with.
@HU-713165431 We purchased the rug from House of Carpets, Modesto. If you speak with Amelia Wallace, she can help you.
@HU-713165431 The lights are Currey and Co in the kitchen and living area. In the master bath they are Visual Comfort.
I really love the way you both did.
Beautiful home! Can you link the storage niches that are recessed into the brick wall?
Beautiful! Wishing you many happy years to enjoy your beautiful home! 💖
Great family story. The home decor gives off a comfortable classic feel. Very nice.
Love these kind of stories! Beautiful house. Thanks for the tip on the sweet potatoes👍
Beautiful home! Love it! Enjoy it!
Ahhhhh, my home town😊 (actually the tiny town of Winton, right next door, went to Atwater High, though). Enjoyed seeing this and now I miss my family almond orchard. The house is beautiful, inside and out.
Thank you everyone for your sweet and positive feedback. I cannot thank Wendy enough for all her support throughout this project. My family is truly blessed.
So much for microwaving sweet potatoes! My husband always said they were better in the oven...
Beautiful!! Where is that console from in the arched space??
@desingwithintent...those niche cabinets were custom designed and built to fit between the framing. A good contractor and custom cabinet shop can help you with that.
beautiful work nice house
@JenelleMeshki, thank you for asking. I purchased the entry console table from Pottery Barn
@FrancesRingenber LOL. The guys are right, this time.
Thanks the house is so great
Indeed, home sweet home! Great.
What a sweet group of people, and congratulations on this project!
Beautiful!!!! I was really surprised when I saw this video was someone I know. When I saw the sweet potato farm in the title, I'm thinking probably in North Carolina. Cindy, Dave & Wendy you all did a magnificent remodel. Love, love, love this!!! God bless you & the family.
Do you sell the potato greens? They are as good as the potatoes. Make great sauces like using spinach. 😊I can share a receipe.
A very wam and loving couple, and so is their farm. I love it!
Beautiful home. Beautiful couple. This video was so relaxing I didn’t want it to end. And now I want a sweet potato!
I enjoyed their story. Their house remodel is gorgeous. So cool to see the almond trees right outside of the window. Can’t imagine that.
Glad I watched the video, the home is showcased much better. The photos in this article don’t have the ceiling lighting turned on and make the kitchen and the living room appear more dark... doesn’t do it justice! Very happy for this hardworking couple - the lady of the house chose well, and it’s an adorable makeover. My only nitpick is the fake plants in the living room… Not a fan of fake plants, talk about dust magnets!
I really love every detail of her home. That’s the kinda house I want to go into after a day at the farm. Very inviting
My God, what a beautiful story and remodel.
Beautiful home and couple 🙏🏾🥰
Gorgeous.
Thank you again everyone for all your wonderful comments
What a sweet (potato) couple. And, the house, just as adorable.
Wonderful story and beautiful home. I love it. Could you please tell me what the flooring is? Is it an engineered hardwood and where did you get it?
Hi Teresa...The flooring is engineered hardwood. We purchased it at House of Carpets in Modesto.
Amelia Wallace is our rep there. She will know the brand and color. Hope this helps!
Stunning home!!! Love every inch of work and design put in this project for this precious family with great history. One can also tell that Cindy and Wendy had intuitive bond which lead to this masterpiece. Thank you for a wonderful video and inspiration.
Wendy, the house is beautiful and every detail is perfect! If it’s not too much trouble, can you please tell me where I can purchase the bathroom vanity with the marble and those beautiful mirrors above the bathroom vanity? Thank you in advance!
Hi Irina
We had the vanities custom made and stained and the tops were also custom fabricated for the proper detail.
The mirrors were purchased from a shop in San Francisco which has since gone out of business.. I’m sorry.
Elegantly designed to match the clients wishes . Beautiful story and home . Many blessings
Hello Nicole! I'm so happy you enjoyed the people, story and home. Thank you for your sweet wishes and blessings to you and your family as well.