An Oasis in California's Central Coast

Now that we can look in the rearview mirror and—hopefully—see only remnants of the pandemic, many of us are eager to escape our quarantine bubbles and seek new pastures.

Most people who don’t live in California picture sandy beaches, Hollywood, or the Golden Gate Bridge—not the beautiful farmland I’m about to share, which may have you booking your next flight to the Central Coast.

Meet Marfarm, a chic new bed and breakfast nestled midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, in the heart of Edna Valley wine country. This converted barn—attached to a working horse stable for a true farm-stay experience—is set on sixty lush acres, with 360-degree views of rolling hills, each one meticulously cultivated.

We met the proprietors, Jill and Hamish Marshall, several years ago at a dinner party and became fast friends. Our better halves exchanged stories of life abroad, while Jill and I bonded over our shared joie de vivre and mutual love of design—particularly our fascination with juxtaposed textures, colors, and eclectic elements. In fact, it was Jill who inspired me to launch Designs by Alina back in 2014.

Hamish’s “no worries, mate” attitude, paired with Jill’s warmth, wit, and exceptional eye for design, makes them the perfect gatekeepers of this secluded oasis. And while Edna Valley may not sound like the place a gifted designer and an Aussie adventurer would call home, one glance at the haven they’ve created makes it clear: this is exactly where they’re meant to be.

“Hamish was based here for development back in 1995,” Jill explains. “When I graduated from design school with a jewelry degree, I was persuaded to fall in love with him—by my mother. I finally conceded, and we’ve been happily married in Edna Valley for 22 years.”

The Marshall world has grown since then to include two daughters, four dogs, a cat, a cow, a pig, sixteen horses, twenty-two chickens, a donkey, a new B&B—and llamas on the way.

In deference to its roots, the barn’s interiors are accented in green to echo the original 1930s dairy floor. Every detail—from the Spanish chandelier pendant fabricated with recycled soda bottles and grasses, to the linen bedding, rugged Argentinian throws, and Moroccan tiles nodding to old Americana quilts—attests to Jill’s unrelenting attention to detail and exquisite design sensibility.

While beauty and originality abound at every turn, the 9 hand carved wood horned bull heads are a sight to behold. Imported from Bali, these fascinating sculptures can be showcased with 1200 possible light scenarios, though the Marshalls have opted to greet their guests with warm shades of green and sunset rose.

Marfarm’s refined rustic-meets-modern design, ideal for weddings and weekend getaways, is an ongoing labor of love. A designer after my own heart, Jill espouses the idea that subtle details speak volumes: “Just being there, placing flowers, cutting fresh fruits, setting the dimmers just right, lighting French candles, making the bar look perfect with wines and fur beer cozies is like playing house, and all those little details offer our guests a visual explosion.”

So next time you’re craving a place less traveled and simply divine, look no further than Marfarm in San Luis Obispo, where beauty, serenity, and joy await. www.marfarm.com

Photo credits: Marfarm and Alina de Albergaria