Architect and design duo Steve and Brooke Giannetti of Giannetti Home enchanted a Round Top audience with their authenticity, humor and a stream of gorgeous images from their new book Patina Homes at a book talk and signing at The Halles during the Spring 2022 Antiques and Design Show. They also revealed what’s next for the California couple whose timeless yet modern designs are sought after by clients from coast to coast.

Brooke Giannetti began the presentation with an emotional telling of the family’s evacuation during a wildfire that came dangerously close to the Ojai, California home they lovingly call Patina Farm. Picture a Mediterranean influenced structure created with stone, plaster and antique French clay roof tiles that takes indoor-outdoor living to a new level with walls, doors and even ceilings replaced by sheets of seamless glass. Surrounded by a literal Garden of Eden, every detail of the home has been carefully designed by the Giannettis to take full advantage of the location, which is anchored by an ancient oak tree and backdropped by the soft silhouette of Topatopa Mountains. In Patina Homes, they refer to the project as their “Field of Dreams”. 

“(We) packed up our cars with our dogs, rabbit, sheep and goats and all their necessities,” Brooke details. “Our gardener Ricardo and his team somehow convinced our four miniature donkeys to get into our neighbor’s trailer to be driven to a safe location. We set our chickens free, leaving food and water and praying for their safety until we returned.”

This was the harrowing morning in which the Giannettis were forced to flee Patina Farm amid billowing smoke and the orange glow of the rapidly advancing fire. 

The Giannettis’ home was spared by the 2020 Ojai wildfires, and the family soon returned to the serene house, farm and gardens that have become an Instagram sensation. Brooke’s videos of her daily walks around the property to feed and nurture the plants and animals are viewed by tens of thousands of followers each week, so many were surprised to learn that the family will be selling Patina Farm and starting over in Tennessee. 

The couple explains that they fell in love with the verdant land located south of the Franklin and Leipers Fork area while working on projects for clients. A 100-acre property has been purchased in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, and plans to expand the Giannetti Home empire are in the works. The renovation of a 150-year-old log house on the property is underway and the family will begin construction on their new home in the fall.

“Brooke needed a place that would be more public – a place where she could give talks and have more people over,” Steve shares, noting that their current residential location in Ojai was ill suited for what’s to come. There is talk of a food forest, sound baths and a pottery studio in addition to hosting makers for skill-sharing events on the new property.

You can follow Brooke and Steve Gianetti on their Tennessee adventure on Instagram @PatinaMeadow and on Brooke’s blog at GiannettiHome.com.

The couple graciously signed copies of Patina Homes and chatted with fans on hand at The Halles for the book talk. Seen getting their books signed were HGTV’s Grace Mitchell and Paige and Smoot Hull of The Vintage Round Top. Brooke Drake of Brooke Drake Design and the Round Top Antiques & Design Center was joined by Crystal Nichols and Cindy Rutherford. Other Giannetti fans in attendance were Sarah Eilers, Susan Dabbar, Amy Zee Haight, Sandra Stavinoha, Amanda Puckett, Annelle Primos, Wendee Shannon and Peggy and Mike Strode. Tracy Collins, Allison Watts, Vicki Louden, Holly Lewis, Donna Witcher, Dana Mertz and Lori Freudensprung also lined up to get their books signed at the end of the talk. Liz Blome of Round Top Real Estate, Becky Dinsmore, Dana Jordan, Laurie and Gregg Hodges, Stephanie Quisenberry, Ellie Zwernemann, Michelle Strasner, Cynthia Sutton Stolle, Fontaine Swope and Anne Laure Stephens rounded out the evening’s guest list.