Set within the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains along California’s Central Coast, Carmel Valley Ranch is a 500-acre resort playground with a recently transformed guest experience, including fresh interiors designed by HBA San Francisco. The award-winning hospitality design firm’s scope encompassed the Ranch’s signature Valley Kitchen restaurant, Think Tank meeting space, Fitness Center at River Ranch, and two family suites. 

HBA San Francisco’s design for Carmel Valley Ranch balances the duality of coastal California’s airy elegance and the agrarian richness of the scenic countryside. Streamlined interior architecture and muted natural tones evoke the feeling of casual luxury, while tasteful screens, fixtures, and rich woods and leathers recall a modern ranch style. 

“We wanted to bring a sense of California cool to Carmel Valley’s natural beauty, with its rolling hills, lush vineyards, and expansive woodlands,” said HBA San Francisco Senior Designer Joelle Henning. “We drew inspiration from nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea for our color palette. Elements of edited rusticity are layered within clean simplicity for a refreshed, honest expression of the locale that is refined, relaxed and bespoke.” 

In Valley Kitchen, warm woods, leather detailing, and black metal combine in a harmonious blend of rustic and modern with layered, textural sensibility. Wood-and-metal screens echo the gentle curves of the landscape with vertical elegance. Smart plaid wraps the bar lounge banquettes in cozy farmhouse style, embellished with leather straps at the seat back for a taste of tailored sophistication. Antique panel mirrors lend a vintage touch, while geometric rugs provide complementary contemporary contrast. Bar stools in solid wood and leather with buckle detailing are equal parts timeless and of-the-moment. Sleek, matte black metal panels at the back wall make a bold statement. 

“Sliding barn doors lead to a new private dining experience, where a live edge slab enlivens the space. The organic pattern of the wood grain and the material’s natural warmth are beautifully highlighted against the handsome blue walls,” said HBA San Francisco Senior Designer Arianna Keegan. “We crowned the custom table with a glass pendant chandelier cradled by brushed antique bronze straps reminiscent of leather’s utility form, offering a fresh take on the modern ranch aesthetic.” 

Outdoors, a newly constructed pool bar invites guests to relax and connect beneath a pergola made of reclaimed wood. Accent tile at the bar front and backsplash nods to the valley’s terroir with handmade charm. Teak counter stools with basket weave detailing contribute to the tactile experience. 

The renovated Think Tank meeting room employs a minimal ranch interior approach. Wood planks and beams at the ceiling pair with custom wood cabinetry, enveloping the space in relaxed warmth. Under the gentle graze of light, natural stone in a monumental wrap exhibits its movement and beauty at the kitchenette backsplash and conferencing center. Sliding wood doors reveal an all-new TV and camera system and when concealed, display an expressive series of botanicals, pottery, art, and accessories with residential familiarity. 

At River Ranch, the resort’s biggest play space, updated locker rooms continue the design narrative and modern luxury ranch experience. Rich wood adds character and warmth to the locker and vanity, while wood and concrete compose a parquet floor, providing a contemporary twist on a classic element. Handmade ceramic tile, laid in a creative pattern, lends whimsy and sparkle to the showers. Bespoke lighting showcases personality with a hint of equestrian style. 

Two redesigned suites at Carmel Valley Ranch tell the story of the surrounding landscape through the layering of textures and colors within a clean, interior architectural envelope. Crisp white walls are a breath of fresh air, balanced by residential touches in the millwork and offset by the soft, luxurious glow of sleek, recessed lighting. Natural hues reflect the tranquil serenity of coastal Carmel-by-the-Sea, while warm woods, sumptuous leathers, hardware, and traditional craftsmanship speak to the valley’s agrarian roots. 

In the living rooms, custom landscape paintings by local artist Melissa Dickenson draw guests in and deepen the physical connection to the locale. Using raw minerals collected from the Ranch, the artist created her own paints by processing the solid forms with a mortar and pestle to produce earth pigments. 

Handmade terracotta tiles in the bathroom showers are characterized by variations in color and shape that come from the human hand, rendering a rich tapestry of subtle tonality that delicately balances simplicity and artistry. Double Queen bathrooms have additionally been upgraded with freestanding bathtubs.