Search Results

Ten years ago, we were living in Santa Monica, surrounded by the city sounds of traffic, garbage trucks, and commotion. I’d started gardening and caring for chickens, but Steve and I were craving a deeper connection to the natural world. We began our search for a new home and discovered the land that has since become Patina Farm. When we happened upon the ancient oak trees looming over the property, we knew we were home. (And we never would have found it if it weren’t for a man and his mini-horse walking along the road. Read more of this story in our book, Patina Farm .) And then, the design process began. Patina Farm embodies why Steve and I do what we do — which is so much more than designing homes. Just as we did for ourselves, we love helping other people live their dreams, share their stories, and honor their history through natural beauty and design. At the start of a project, the first thing we discuss is the FEEL we (or our clients) want from the space and land. And it always incorporates a blurring of the outside and inside worlds. Steve and I love taking long walks together and this is usually when we talk about these ideas and dreams. We discuss what we want out of our lives, our home, and our space — and then we create it. Just as those oak trees showed us the way ten years ago, I continue to draw on the ancient wisdom of Mother Nature to guide me in my life. It’s rooted in all that we do in our lives and work. Here at Patina Farm, we’ve literally lived and designed our dream from the ground up — and we’ll continue the process at Patina Meadow. Because really, once we actualize a dream, should we just toss up our hands and say, “Okay — that’s it! I’m done now!”? 😆 No — we keep growing, changing, and dreaming. And that’s healthy, as long as we stay present to enjoy the moment we’re living right now. This style of intentional living has become incredibly important to us as we get older. We want to feel connected to nature, our family, animals, and our community. We wouldn’t be where we are now without all that has come before, so incorporating our history is essential to anything we create. I continue to listen to the natural signs around me to understand what comes next, which is where Patina Meadow and Leipers Fork come into our story. With the big move to Tennessee coming up, we‘re now craving a deeper sense of community just as we were longing for more nature through Patina Farm. We’ve been dreaming up a few more big changes for Giannetti Home and though we aren’t ready to announce the details yet, you can sign up for Letters From Brooke to be the first to hear our upcoming news. Thanks for being a part of this community and allowing us to live intentionally together! xo Brooke

This fall, our new home will be outside of a charming village called Leipers Fork, Tennessee. As Steve and I travel back and forth in preparation for our upcoming move, we’ve been delighted to meet the locals and begin learning about the area. The Patina Meadow property was a huge draw for us, but the small-town life and culture feel like the perfect fit, too. We’ve been feeling a strong pull to the tight-knit community of Leipers Fork — almost like an electronic hum. It’s as though we were destined to end up there. It just feels right, in a way that seems instinctual. We’re enjoying building connections with the people in our new community and I want to share Leipers Fork with you because I know you’ll fall in love with it, too. The first building that greets you as you drive into town is a century-old barn, home to David Arms’ gallery. A peaceful sanctuary away from the busyness of life, it is filled with his beautiful inspiring art, a collection of lifestyle pieces adorned with his work, and more. Outside the gallery, David has added a couple seating areas so you can sit and enjoy one of his greatest inspirations, the natural world. Down the road, you'll find Fox & Locke, a tried and true local restaurant & live music venue that, like many places in Leipers, is rooted in small-town history. Founded in 1947, people would go to Fox & Locke for gas and groceries, but it also served as a community gathering place. Today, it's still a vital part of the village where people come to connect over good food and music. They also host a one-of-a-kind Open Mic Night every Thursday that shouldn't be missed. Another one of my favorite spots to visit is Leiper’s Creek Gallery. Located in what once was the town’s gas station, this fine art gallery is special in every way. Gallery owner Lisa Fox has curated a wonderful collection of works from mostly local artists, featuring a wide range of styles from abstract expressionism to impressionistic landscapes. Unlike other fine art galleries I’ve encountered, Leiper’s Creek Gallery has a warmth to it, a place where you feel welcomed to take a seat and stay a while. We’ve also had the opportunity to meet with Aubrey and Michele Preston, a local couple who are very involved in preserving the history and charm of the town. When Aubrey stumbled across the town in 1991, he saw its potential and never looked back. We’ve learned so much about the community from them and look forward to embracing the Leipers Fork lifestyle. The area has so much history that we can’t wait to learn from the Prestons and so many other locals who’ve lived there for so long. We’ve also begun connecting with local makers and craftspeople, and had a visit from Steven Abernathy and Claire Papevies, beekeepers and owners of Greenwood Urban honey. Steven and Claire were kind enough to share some of their beekeeping expertise with us and we look forward to working with them on some hives for Patina Meadow! Just like when we moved to Ojai, we’re looking forward to immersing ourselves in the surrounding Leipers Fork culture. As we do so, I look forward to sharing more about the wonderful people and places that drew us to this beautiful village. The move is coming up quickly, which means we’ll be closing up our online shop for a little while. Be sure to make purchases soon, especially if you’d like one of the Patina Farm hoodies or the Patina Farm book before our big move. Thanks for reading about our new town. I appreciate you coming along on the journey with me! xo Brooke

There’s a creek on our new property at Patina Meadow, and it draws me in each time we visit. Some of you have asked me how we chose Tennessee and though there are many reasons, it all began while we worked on a few different design projects in the area. We enjoyed the history, culture, people, and design style of the region so Steve and I began looking at several different property listings. But while we toured the different parts of the 100-acre property that is now becoming Patina Meadow, I started to feel a pull to the land. While Steve talked further with the agent, I walked a short distance away to get a better view of the creek. I took off my boots and socks, rolled up my pant legs, and stepped into the fresh flowing water with my bare feet… And that was it — the moment I knew Patina Meadow was right for us, just the same way Steve and I knew Patina Farm was ours when we saw the oak tree during our first visit to the Ojai property. (Read that story and more in our book, Patina Farm.) “You can never step in the same water twice, my friend. Like flowing water, life is perpetual movement. There is nothing fixed.” -Bruce Lee I love this quote from Bruce Lee about the parallels between the flow of life and water. And right now, as we’re in a constant state of flux here at Patina Farm, I find I need the reminder more than ever. The tours of our home finished last month, so now we’re packing up the house. We’re boxing away memories, sorting through things we no longer need and can donate instead, and making choices about the physical objects we keep in our lives and home. We’re also preparing for the transition to an entirely new area, so it’s all a little daunting. We’re considering new business possibilities, getting to know our new community, and designing an entirely new home from the ground up. I’ve heard from many of you who are going through similar transitions in your life, and it helps me feel connected with you, knowing we’re all in this together. Amidst everything, when I’m feeling unsettled, I remind myself of the flowing water rushing past my ankles. When I sit quietly, with my feet in the water and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees above, I feel like Mother Nature is telling me the answers. It’s where I go to figure things out, to bring about calm from chaos. The answers are in the silence. And in that silence, I remember that it’s all okay. I remember to trust, embrace, and accept the uncertainty in order to continue flowing like water. To let go, and be swiftly carried along to the next place — never to be in the same place twice Here’s to going with the flow, xo Brooke

Steve and I have been designing homes together for over fifteen years and one of our favorite techniques is blurring the lines between outside and in. You can see that here at Patina Farm in the way our limestone flooring flows from the exterior at the front into the entryway of our interior. The glass and steel front doors allow you to see into the home, and through to the other side where the gardens await. This flow from exterior to interior becomes increasingly important to us, especially as we gain a deeper connection to the earth and nature. Designing a garden for the seasons has become a true passion of ours. This topic always makes me think of the old song from the 60’s — Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds. Do you know it? The lyrics are so true — to everything, there is a season - a time to every purpose. So let me walk you through the seasons here at Patina Farm and you’ll see how they impact our garden design. SPRING AT PATINA FARM The scent of the wisteria blooming is our signal that spring has begun. They create gentle canopies that change the feeling of the gardens from open winter landscapes to comfortable room-like spaces. Coupled with the trees and ivy vines filling in their leaves, the sounds of the gardens shift slightly as there becomes more substance for sound to bounce off, creating a cozy feel that truly becomes an extension of our home. The renewal of spring happens quickly as the entire exterior changes, especially as the roses begin to bloom in mid-late spring. SUMMER AT PATINA FARM The bright colors of the garden continue to surface as spring shifts to summer. In the height of summer, our hillside of lavender buzzes with the gentle hum of the bees that help pollinate so many of the surrounding fruit trees. Berries begin to pop up everywhere, and we happily fill our baskets every morning to keep up with the abundance. As late summer arrives, the light begins to change as it hits the fruit on citrus and apricot trees that are enjoying their time in the sun. You can feel the shift toward fall as the apple trees begin to yield their fruit. Sweet smells are in the air. FALL AT PATINA FARM As fall begins, the colors begin to turn and everything changes as the gardens prepare for winter. The leaves on the sycamore trees and the creeping Boston ivy begin to change from their vibrant green to the burnt colors we all love in autumn. We chose to cover the exterior walls of our home in ivy because it so clearly shows the seasons on our walls just as one might wear their heart on their sleeve. The plants’ natural attunement is incredible as they instinctively prepare for the shift in temperature. WINTER AT PATINA FARM The shift from fall to winter always signifies a shift for me personally of going from outward to inward reflection. It’s a time of year when I spend more time indoors, focused on cozy activities and the light shining inside. Magically, the exterior world seems to sense this shift as well, with the way it seems to go quiet in reflection on the wild energy of the past several months. The leaves on the trees and ivy disappear, leaving the walls and large branches exposed. The gnarled bends in the branches of the oak trees still amaze me with their sculpture-like qualities. Are you sensing another lesson from nature? I am. Mother nature always seems to know what’s needed at the right moment. The gardens flourish and bloom like complicated choreography, just trusting in the ancient wisdom of all that has gone before. Maybe we can learn to listen to the internal rhythms of the seasons if we slow down enough to feel them and breathe them in. Always changing, xo Brooke

School’s out for summer and you know what that means. . . it’s yearbook time! Take a look through our Patina Farm Animal Yearbook and you’ll see that our animal’s personalities are as varied as the rest of us. You can purchase many of our animal portraits, taken by Valerie Shaff, in our online gallery. THE GOATS Our pygmy goats often steal the show with their adorable charm — which leads them to features on book covers. We think you’ll love them as much as we do. SAMMY The Comedian - Sideways dancing, full-body leaps, and standing on hind legs — he’s always there to provide a funny show. IDA The Thinker - Sister to Sammy, she’ll calmly observe his antics and then benefit from his hard work after he knocks down leaves and branches. DOT The Soc - She’s the first to greet you and the last to see you leave, following you along like a sweet, wiry dog. THELMA The Watcher - She keeps her distance, but she’s protective of our other goats and takes her job very seriously. THE SHEEP We lovingly refer to our sheep as our Couch Potatoes. They’re masters of R&R, nap-taking, and sniffing out a good meal. They can also be found occasionally playing with the goats. LINEN The Caretaker - She’s the girl who waits for the other two to find their place at the feeder for dinner or to select their sleeping spot in the barn. CASH(MERE) Lead Couch Potato - He always has a smile on his face while living his best life of eating, playing, and napping. PAISELY Mellow Madam - She’s reliably sweet, calm, and content. THE POTBELLY PIGS We never thought we’d get pigs because we were worried they’d be smelly. Despite their bad reputation, they’re actually some of our cleanest animals. Which isn’t surprising, when you find them sneaking a bath in the donkey troughs! PRUDENCE The Leading Lady - She’s always the first to check out a new situation, whether it's a fresh mud bath or an unfamiliar visitor to the farm. The other two always wait for Prudence’s ok. HENRY JAMES (HANK) The Boss Pig - He steals Alice’s food if we don’t separate them, but otherwise he’s known as a sweetie who loves to flop over for belly rubs. ALICE RUE The Shy One - She tends to hang back from a crowd, watching her brother and sister for a signal that everything is alright. While she is shy, once she trusts you, she will roll right over. THE DONKEYS The donkeys are our alarm system. They will let out a bray to let us know if there is anything awry...or if they're hungry. BUTTERCUP The Ruler - She leads the group with a bossy gentleness to be admired and is best friends with Daisy. DAISY The Dainty Donkey - Though she’s small and shy, she’s tough when needed and playful when wanted. BLOSSOM Forever Friend - She greets everyone and gets along with many, as a loyal friend to cats, humans, and other donkeys. HUCKLEBERRY The Dapper Donkey - His dappled coat shows his true colors, as does his loyalty to Blossom. He loves attention and will follow visitors around, begging for more scratches. THE COWS We call our cows "The Mooers and Mowers." They greet us in the morning with a harmony of moos, letting us know they are ready to begin the day. They spend their time grazing our pastures, turning green grass into manure or "black gold", that we add to our gardens to improve the health of our soil. BEATRICE Queen Bea aka Bossypants - She loves to be brushed but tries to keep all the attention to herself, swinging her horns to keep the other ladies away. CLEMENTINE The Social Butterfly - She sashays over to greet you with her tail wagging behind and plenty of slobbery kisses to go around, reminding us of a large dog — with horns. ADELAIDE Puppy Dog Eyes - She’ll melt your heart with her sweet, gentle personality, especially when you see her play with our black cats, Bonnie and Clyde. ANNABEL The Sweet Shadow - she’s happiest hiding behind her best friends, Adelaide and Clementine, when visitors arrive in the pasture. THE CATS Our kitties are always on the prowl for mice, and sometimes cuddles. BONNIE All Business - She spends her days chasing off rodents and prefers to be on her own during the hunt. CLYDE The Patina Farm Ambassador - With his sleek black coat and stealthy presence, he pops up everywhere and knows everyone on the farm. He’s our gifted diplomat who mingles easily with all types — chickens, highland cows, and humans. SHERLOCK Marmalade Wisdom - His patience and grace is most evident when he’s surrounded by four energetic Shih Tzus and never loses his cool. He loves his people, standing outside the door meow-ing for cuddles. WATSON Cautious Kitty - He’s a little shy at first, hanging back to let Sherlock give the all-clear that it’s okay to make contact; but when it comes to adventure, he throws caution to the wind. We often find him climbing trees or walking on our roof. THE SHIH-TZUS The Patina Farm "farm dogs" never fail to entertain us. SOPHIE BRIOCHE The Dowager Queen - Her mere presence is a gift she has given us all. SERA The Nervous Licker - You’ll know her when you feel her tongue all over your hands. OTIS The Needy Man Dog - Steve’s huge manly dog, weighing in at 8 pounds. RUBY The Fetus - She’s the runt of the bunch and Otis’ sister from the same litter, weighing in at a hefty 5 ½ pounds. THE CHICKENS My gateway animal - how it all began THE DUCKS They prefer to be left alone, so we simply and respectfully cohabitate with them. 😆 THE TURTLES IN THE POND We occasionally see them poke their heads out to say hello. 🐢 We love all the members of our animal family and can’t imagine life without them. They’ve taught us so many lessons, and we treasure their varied personalities. We’re forever grateful for the work of Val Shaff, who captured the individuality of our animals in her incredible photography. The portraits of our animals can be purchased in the Giannetti Home online shop. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy the animals with me. xo Brooke

At the end of May, the roses of Patina Farm put on a brilliant show. Shades of pink, apricot, yellow, and white blanket the garden and bring with them the most magnificent scents. Every year, I walk around the farm and fill my basket with blooms to display around our home. This year, in addition to arranging the roses in beautiful bouquets, I wanted to showcase their powerful beauty in another way. In a recent blog post about my favorite natural skincare line Earthtonics, started by my wonderful friend Daron, I shared my passion for botanicals. Last year, Daron came to the farm to teach us how to make hydrosols, like rose water, with a copper still. This year, with the knowledge she gave us, we were able to make a heavenly batch of rose water for something very special (more on that later in this post!) MAKING THE ROSEWATER The process requires patience, which I think is often true of anything worthwhile. We began by collecting our roses — a mixture of all the different varieties here at Patina Farm. (You can find all of our rose varieties listed in our book, Patina Living) Then we set up a distilling station with our copper still over our outdoor camp stove in front of our fountain and filled it with the rose petals... ...and water from our well! We then added more rose petals to the column of the still, added the top, and sealed it with a rye flour dough to make sure none of the steam escaped. As the camp stove heats the water inside the still, steam passes through all the rose petals and begins to extract the essence of the flower. We use the running water from the fountain to cool the steam in the condenser (shown on the right) to convert the rosy steam into rose water. Leila’s middle name is Rose and it was only fitting that she helped us by tending the still, which needed to be constantly watched for safety reasons. The process took the entire day, between 6-8 hours, but the result was incredible. ROSE WATER BENEFITS This ancient distilling process allows us to harness the power of plants. Rose water has been known to have many benefits (besides smelling divine and feeling incredibly refreshing on the skin) It... • Improves skin health • Reduces headaches • Soothes skin irritation • Calms redness • Contains antioxidants • Helps wounds heal faster • Reduces anxiety* PATINA FARM GARDEN MIST We wanted to share the magic of this rose water with you as well, so we decided to make one final batch of the Patina Farm Garden Mist! I worked with Daron at Earthtonics once again to create the perfect blend of our rose water and lavender hydrosol, plus other skin-supporting botanical ingredients. This ancient alchemy is incredibly powerful for restoring your skin because of the liquid nutrients that heal and soften. You might even feel a boost in your mood and a shift in your energy after a spritz or two of the mist. For me, distilling the plants here at our home is another way to be deeply connected to the gifts Mother Nature provides us, as well as deeply connected to the wonderful gift Patina Farm has been for us over the years. If you’d like to have the essence of Patina Farm in a bottle, be sure to order the limited supply of Patina Farm Garden Mist when it’s available on June 28th. We sold out pretty quickly last year, so make to follow @giannettihome on Instagram if you want to know when it goes on sale! Here's to the power of plants! xo, Brooke *Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27878109/ https://www.healthline.com/health/rose-water-benefits#soothes-sore-throats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_water https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-make-rose-water#benefits

I’ve talked a lot about how our animal family here at Patina Farm has taught me so much, but I’d love to share what I’ve learned from the land as well. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experienced more brain fog, dips in energy, and joint inflammation. And though I know change comes with age, I felt there was more going on than simple aging. In an effort to heal, I began to learn as much as I could about the deep connection between the soil surrounding us and our personal health and wellness. What we eat and put into our bodies significantly impacts our health — and that starts with the ground. Through research, I began to understand how much my gut’s microbiome needed healing. What I didn’t realize was how deeply connected that is to the soil our food grows within. I was fortunate enough to meet Andrew Beedy, an Organic and Biodynamic farming consultant here in California, and began to understand the earth’s microbiome as well. And unfortunately, the way our country farms is rapidly destroying it. I started to realize that thinking we can use pesticides and chemicals to kill all the ‘bad stuff’ and then just add the ‘good stuff’ back in, is a fallacy. Somehow, we’ve come to see ourselves as separate from the earth but in reality, we’re in a symbiotic relationship and we’re seeing the unfortunate results of what happens when we don’t treat the earth well. When we use chemicals to kill weeds and pests, we’re also killing the very microbiome we need in the soil to grow the most nourishing foods. This is why we don’t use any chemical sprays at Patina Farm. I could (and will!) do an entire post about what we use instead, but with Andrew’s help, we’ve learned to use things like worm compost tea that is sprayed to improve the health of the soil. Leila has joined me on this journey, and she’s discovered her own passion for this subject of food, wellness, and its connection to the earth. As a mother, it’s truly incredible to watch her explore things that light her up. She has become very knowledgeable about sustainable agriculture and continues to learn so much. We’ve both come to understand that whatever we do to the earth, we’re doing to ourselves, and unfortunately, there’s often no balance in the way our culture treats the world around us. We work everything to the extreme — our bodies, our lives, and our earth. So it becomes (and we become) depleted. But there’s hope! When we learn to slow down and rest, we have a deeper understanding that the soil needs this, too. When Leila works in our gardens, she rotates crops and plants cover crops to give the soil a chance to rest and recover. The lesson I value most is understanding that the way we treat the earth is a mirror reflecting how we’re truly treating ourselves. With our move to Patina Meadow in the fall, I plan to continue this journey on a bigger scale. With more land to heal, I hope you’ll join me as I carry on learning. Be sure to follow Patina Meadow on Instagram to see our continuing education. Let’s grow together, xo Brooke

When my children were younger and we lived in the city, I felt like I was constantly on the go in both body and mind. There were always so many things to do and think about, so I would reach the end of each day feeling exhausted and anxious. As I’ve shared with you before, the animals at Patina Farm have taught us so many lessons. In caring for them, I’ve realized how much they’ve truly helped me as well. And it was through caring for them each morning that I crafted my Morning Meditation. In my busier years, I tried the usual mindfulness practices to slow down. I took yoga classes, practiced silent meditation, and attempted self-care. But it wasn’t until I discovered my Morning Meditation that I finally felt what I had so desperately sought after. Steve and I are both early risers and I’ve always felt that there’s something magical about the quiet renewal of early morning. When I step outside into the farmyard, I take a deep fresh breath of crisp morning air and hear the sounds of our animal friends, awaiting their morning feeding. It wasn’t until living at Patina Farm that I truly understood the healing power of animals. Their very presence instantly soothes me, and I’m in awe of their innate wisdom each and every day. The fresh air, animals, and morning routine all remind me to practice presence and the touch of the animals helps keep me stay centered and calm. It’s through my senses that I truly stay present: I see the sunrise over the Topa Topa Mountains. I hear the clucks and quacks of our ducks and chickens. I feel the warm glow of the early morning sun. I taste the fresh Patina Farm air. I smell the fragrant roses and lavender in bloom. Patina Farm comes alive. Caring for our animals and our land heals my soul, and gives my morning tasks deeper meaning. I can think of no better way to start my day.You can read more about my Morning Meditation, the animals, our roses, and our way of life in our book, Patina Living. xo, Brooke

When we moved to Patina Farm nearly ten years ago, I knew I wanted a deeper connection to nature in every way. The surrounding landscape of the Topa Topa Mountains, the iconic oak trees that inspired so much of our design, and starting our animal family were all things I was expecting. But you know that feeling when you don’t know what you don’t know? Those little pieces of wisdom in life that you often find by accident? That’s how I feel about the deep connection to the plants on Patina Farm. Steve and I have always loved incorporating plants into our designs and landscapes based on their aesthetic and outward benefits. But it wasn’t until I met Daron here in Ojai that I began to learn so much more about the internal benefits of the plants — and I don’t just mean the nutrients we get from our vegetable garden. Daron is the founder and chief skincare chef at EarthTonics and she constantly amazes me with her knowledge of how plants impact our skin and wellness. I instantly became a superfan of Daron’s botanical skincare when I began using them myself. She even came to Patina Farm and helped me harvest lavender and roses to make the Patina Farm Garden Mist last year. The EarthTonics philosophy is to “inspire loving self-care through a communion with nature” and I believe that’s the essence of why I love the skincare line so much. We now carry the EarthTonics Discovery Travel Kit in the Giannetti Home online store, and it includes 8 of the products I use every day myself. Daron not only knows the ancient wisdom within plants’ healing properties, but she also says, “I’ve learned to read the skin. The skin, I’ve discovered, tells a story of our health — physical, mental, emotional, and beyond. It’s a virtual feedback loop, with so much wisdom to impart.” Each tonic is crafted with only natural ingredients like flowers, mushrooms, roots, fruits, and leaves. They contain no fillers, artificial ingredients, or ‘other nasties’ as Daron likes to say. I only endorse products I believe in, and I couldn’t be more pleased to share Daron and EarthTonics with you. You can buy the EarthTonics Discovery Travel Kit and then let us know what you think! xo Brooke

When we moved to Patina Farm ten years ago, we had no idea how much animals would change our lives. Now, we couldn’t imagine life without them. If you’ve been wondering, let me assure you that they’ll absolutely be making the move with us to Patina Meadow in the fall. We’ve always loved our dogs, and in Santa Monica we even got started with our chickens. But the true depth of our connection to the animals came here at Patina Farm. When we first began growing our animal family, I remember thinking it was my duty to care for them, but I had no idea how much they would take care of me as well. I began noticing the way the animals lived their lives. Each and every one of them were always fully present. When it was time to eat, they ate. When it was time to wander, they wandered. And when it was time to rest, they rested. Our animals have healed me in so many ways and have taught me so many lessons, but perhaps the most important thing they’ve helped me understand is how to slow down. When I think of myself ten, fifteen, twenty years ago, I realize how fast I was moving. Always going, doing, getting things done. I knew I wanted to slow down, but I didn’t really know how. The animals showed me the way. I began to observe how they noticed the things around them, whether it was food, a small beetle to follow, or literally roses to smell. And then on occasion, they would pause. Their ears would perk up, their eyes would glance around, and their noses would sniff a little extra. They would use all five senses to see if there was a concern — or not. They never worried in advance about a threat, they simply perked up and paid attention when it mattered. If they sensed there might be something that needed tending to, they dealt with the matter. If there wasn’t, they went back to what they were doing, whether it was chewing, sniffing, or playing. I’ve never felt as truly present and grounded as I do now with our animals. When I feel myself getting worried or anxious, I love to step outside and connect with them. That connection with them, and with you, gives me so much purpose and fulfillment that I’m so thankful for. Although the animals have already taught me so much, I know I still have so much to learn from them and I’ll be eternally grateful to accept their lessons. Here’s to slowing down, xo Brooke

I recently shared our big news with you — that Steve and I have purchased a gorgeous 100-acre piece of property outside of Nashville. We’re calling our new farmstead Patina Meadow and we’re dreaming up big things to share with you In a surprising turn of events, Patina Farm sold before it even hit the market this month! I was astonished to hear from our realtor what the asking price of stories and dreams could be when they’re poured into five acres of land and creative design. We built Giannetti Home and Patina Farm from the ground up (both literally and figuratively), and are frequently humbled by where our dreams and hard work have brought us. Like so many others, you’re probably wondering, “How can you possibly leave Patina Farm?” Everything I do for a living is centered around creating a beautiful space for people. But I truly believe if we can create a nourishing atmosphere that allows us to live authentically, then we can bring it with us anywhere. So while Patina Farm holds a dear space in our hearts, the physical location isn’t as important to us as the FEELING we created here. We’ll also be bringing along the heart and soul of Patina Farm — our animal family members that mean so much to us will definitely be making the move, too. When Steve and I are designing a space for a client, we immerse ourselves in the stories they tell because that’s where their dreams really shine. And for us, Patina Farm has been a place for stories and dreams of family, healing, and connection. We’ve learned so many things and grown in so many ways that now we’re ready for new lessons and a deeper connection to nature. As we begin to shift toward this new chapter in our lives, I find myself reflecting on our past and I came across this touching old Velvet and Linen blog post from 2012. It’s now 10 years later and we’re experiencing so many of the same things we did then, including excitement for a new adventure in our lives. I’m enjoying the reflection on what was while simultaneously looking forward to what will be, all while doing my very best to remain in the present moment and enjoy the process. This combination of past, present, and future is essentially what Steve and I aim for in our designs and life. We’re so grateful for Patina Farm and for YOU. This home has meant a lot to us and it’s what connected me with you, here on the blog. It’s the home where we truly understood that we could live our dreams, but also where we’ve continued to have new ones. You can follow along with us on our new journey by following Patina Meadow on Instagram. Come on over and say hello! xo Brooke

Hello, friends! I’m so glad to be here with you again as I pick the Velvet and Linen blog back up on our new website. If the turmoil of the past two years has taught me anything, it’s that dreams and light can continue to thrive and glow despite any darkness. Steve and I continue to start the day with our early morning walk — the time when we discuss our dreams and future. We’ve been doing this for years, long before Patina Farm. And just as we planned our move to Ojai and the design of Patina Farm during these morning walks, we have a new dream we’re looking toward now. We recently purchased 100 acres outside of Nashville, Tennessee where we’ll be working on our new farmstead, Patina Meadow. Today, I wanted to share some images from the model of Patina Meadow, which Steve and his team put together, so you can see our vision for the future We’ll be renovating this incredible 150-year old log cabin... ...to become our new farm shop and guest house. And though we originally planned to restore this old barn on the property, we realized we will need to dismantle it instead because it’s not structurally sound. We will be reusing the old barn wood in the cabin and other structures while building a new barn that will house a pottery studio, and much more. We will also be adding a greenhouse and veggie houses, as well as an outdoor seating area for farm-to-table dinners. We will be building our new home further back on the property. Here's a sneak peek of what we are dreaming up :) As we transition from Patina Farm to Patina Meadow, I’m looking forward to sharing some of the lessons we’ve learned over the years on a larger scale. This upcoming journey has sparked a few new things here at Patina Farm, including a new weekly email called Letters From Brooke. My hope is to connect with you more, sharing tips, stories, and our adventures. If you aren’t on our mailing list yet, you can sign up for the newsletter below. We’re thrilled to continue living our passion for a connection with history, the land, our animals, and each other in this new chapter. I hope you’ll enjoy following along here on the blog during this exciting time of transformation. xx Brooke