Marylu Downing is a mixed media artist living in the tiny community of Freestone in Sonoma County, California. In the back of her beautiful property in the foothills above the town, she has a tiny guesthouse that has served as a respite for out-of-town family and vistors to this area of Wine Country. The guesthouse reflects the colors and textures that Marylu uses in her colorful and quirky paintings.
The tiny cottage was originally a shed and contains just a bedroom and a full bath, but Marylu is interested in putting in a small kitchen. The rooms are decorated with splashes of paint, comfortable furniture and Marylu’s paintings which are inspired by this bohemian community and the local beaches of Bodega Bay.
Photos by Christina Nellemann