Lily Riesenfeld’s home in Larkspur, California, is a 1921 black shingled house with mahogany doors and trim. It sits among redwood trees, with hiking trails meeting the backyard. The family chose the location for its proximity to Mount Tamalpais, with San Francisco Bay inlets to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Riesenfeld grew up in Berkeley, California. When she was eight, her family bought a ranch in Healdsburg. Over the years, the family planted hundreds of trees, built a ranch home, restored a redwood barn from the 1850s, and planted one hundred acres of French varietal grapes. The ranch was developed so that animals, the vineyard, and natural habitats could coexist.
As a child, Riesenfeld also spent two weeks each summer at various family homes in Maine. The furniture on the porch of her great-grandparents’ home was painted in a celadon green the family called “Gamby green,” after her great-grandmother. Many of the choices Riesenfeld has made in her own home were inspired by her grandmother’s home in Maine, the family home in Berkeley, and the ranch in Healdsburg.
A Career in Wellness and Purpose
In her early adult years, Riesenfeld focused on personal wellness and launched The Lily Pad in Malibu. After marrying and moving back to the San Francisco Bay area, she co-founded The Pad Studios, a Pilates and yoga studio. She later developed purpose-driven events to help communities connect, launching a brand called the Kinship Experience. She then launched a summit called Futurewell.
Today, Riesenfeld advocates for regenerative agriculture and works to advance healthy, equitable food systems. She is fundraising for a regeneratively built Center for Food and Agriculture, which will offer a permanent farmers’ market by the Marin Civic Center. She says the building will draw down more carbon and energy than it uses.
Designing a Home in Harmony
Riesenfeld designed her home with guidance from Caitlin Flemming. The colors within the home coexist in a calm harmony. Earth tones of deep greens, wheat, and a light shade of blue are mixed with a variety of complementary patterns. These color choices can be found in the outdoors around her: the golden hills, the redwood trees, and the light blues and grays of the water.
Walls in both the entry and the dining room are covered in a large-scale William Morris pattern. Curtains and pillows use smaller prints combined with a wood-toned plaid in many rooms. Two vintage French chairs are covered in a hand-printed leaf pattern. Even the plates are a combination of vintage transferware in varying shades of green, along with pieces from her great-grandmother’s green Wedgwood.
The kitchen serves as the heart of the home. Homemade tortillas sit wrapped in a linen towel by the stove, and slow-simmering pinto beans are ready for anyone who is hungry. It is a place to be nourished, and Riesenfeld is ready to welcome those in need of its healing power.
Reflections on Home
Riesenfeld shared several reflections on what home means to her. She was drawn to her current location by Mount Tamalpais and the hiking trails. The colors of the nature where she lives inform her aesthetic. Her idea of home is a place for people to gather and feel comfortable, a place you instantly feel at ease.
Her favorite season is late summer, when the light changes and there is a golden cast to everything. She collects wicker baskets, hats, and interesting pottery for the kitchen. On weekends, her family hikes, cooks, and goes to their children’s sporting events. In the winter, they visit their cabin in Sugar Bowl, near Tahoe, which was built in the 1930s to look like a Swiss village.
Riesenfeld says she cannot live without a latte in the morning and her daily morning hike. Her home feels like hers because it has a strong element of nostalgia. She adds layers of textures and textiles. She fuels her creativity by styling meals and bringing people together at the table. Every Sunday, her mother-in-law comes to dinner, and she makes an effort to dress up and make a nice meal.
Riesenfeld has learned from Alice Waters, with whom she has done a few curated events. She is also inspired by local creatives such as Paul Hawken, Jack Kornfield, Dr. Daniel Siegel, and her friend, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
