Calistoga’s new Miller House tasting room at Frank Family Vineyards showcases brilliant design that lets nature speak for itself.
Architect Howard Backen’s A-frame building does not fight for attention but instead sits in quiet harmony with the stunning landscape.
Designer Julie Hawkins, founder and design principal at Napa-based Hawkins Interiors (hawkinsinteriors.com), along with Backen & Backen Architecture (bacenarch.com), recently created a masterpiece of light, comfort and tranquility for a new tasting room at Frank Family Vineyards (@frankfamilyvineyards). Here, Hawkins shares her vision for the project.
The new tasting room’s design at Frank Family Vineyards beautifully blends the indoors and outdoors.
What were the key goals for the design of Miller House?
Miller House at Frank Family Vineyards was erected and named to honor Leslie Frank—born Leslie Miller—and her many contributions to the winery’s vision and evolution. While the historic yellow Craftsman tells the story of Rich Frank, Miller House was created to bring Leslie’s story to life.
It embodies her passion for elevating the tasting experience and curating special events, offering guests an elegant and immersive setting to taste comfortably among the vines. Its location holds a particular significance, as it stands on the exact site where Rich and Leslie were married, making it a true part of their story and the history of Frank Family Vineyards.
While Miller’s house reflects a more modern form than the historical buildings on the property, the simplicity of architect Howard Backen’s A-frame building does not fight for attention but instead sits in quiet harmony. One design element that ties them all together is the charming handpainted signage and murals done by artist Michael Dute throughout the property.
Your designs are known for blending vintage charm with modern aesthetics—how did you strike that balance in this project?
We started with a strong foundation of bold geometric shapes and then layered in a mix of modern and vintage pieces to add depth and character. The clean, simple forms of the larger elements—like the custom dining tables and the architecture itself—created the perfect backdrop for more visually dynamic accessories.
We drew inspiration from some of the interior design elements in the yellow Craftsman, which is filled with thought-provoking and unexpected details that spark conversation. We wanted Miller House to continue that story while bringing its unique perspective to the property.
The bathroom continues the calming, elegant motif showcased throughout the tasting room.
Winery tasting rooms need to be both elegant and highly functional. How did you design Miller House to enhance the guest experience while ensuring durability and ease of use for the staff?
The furniture layout was key. We wanted a grounded design flexible enough to accommodate different configurations for various events and guest experiences. In hospitality design, durability is as important as aesthetics, so we carefully sourced contract-grade furnishings built to withstand high use. We focused on lightweight dining chairs and stain-resistant finishes to ensure staff efficiency and long-term functionality without compromising style.
Julie Hawkins’ design evokes a residential feel in nearly every square inch of the property.
What design choices—materials, color palettes or furnishings—helped create a sense of tranquility?
The stunning views are the artwork here, visible from nearly every angle through walls of stackable glass doors on three sides. With this in mind, we kept the color palette neutral, focusing on black, white and caramel tones to complement—not compete with—the natural beauty outside. We favored solid fabrics over bold prints to maintain a calm, serene atmosphere.
Photography by: JOHN MERKLE
