Design in Harmony

Sarah Broughton, FAIA, and John Rowland, AIA, speaking during DesignLA

As spring begins to unfold, we find ourselves reflecting on a meaningful few days in Los Angeles, where John and I recently had the pleasure of speaking before 115 industry colleagues at Design Within Reach as part of Legends of DesignLA. It was especially rewarding to have that dialogue shaped through a panel discussion with LUXE Interiors + Design Editor in Chief Jill Cohen, whose thoughtful questions opened the door to a rich exchange about our convergent design philosophy and the future of our studio.

The experience was a reminder that while we are focused on the work we create for others, our biggest project in many ways is our firm itself. In 2026, we are thinking deeply about how we continue to evolve; how we grow with intention, refine our process, strengthen our culture, and build on the values that have guided us from the beginning. We believe the way we practice is just as important as what we produce. That belief continues to shape us.

We often think of our studio like a bottega, a place of making, exchange, mentorship, and shared pursuit of excellence. That spirit remains essential to who we are and is in part what made our time in Los Angeles so energizing. Visiting artists, makers, and studios reminded us how much creativity thrives through seeing how others work, what they question, and what they bring into the world.

Our convergent design process is rooted in the idea that architecture, interiors, landscape, artisanship, and client vision are not separate tracks, but part of one shared creative endeavor. We have long believed the strongest work comes from disciplines working in concert, with ideas tested, challenged, and enriched through collaboration. It is a process that our First Light project in Walla Walla, Washington exemplifies.

First Light was completed in 2025. Our clients, wine enthusiasts who have worked with us before and trusted us with something deeply personal, wanted a home that belonged to the landscape rather than arriving from somewhere else. This confidence comes with great responsibility and completing a project with a repeat client is an honor. We are delighted that Interior Design featured the project in its latest issue and to share it with you here!

Warmly,

Sarah

First Light | Walla Walla Washington, Washington

There is a particular quality of light in Walla Walla in the early morning hours, when the Blue Mountains to the east begin to catch the sun and the vineyards are still quiet. It was light, and the land that holds it, that set the design intention for First Light from the very beginning.

Set within the vineyard landscape of the Walla Walla Valley, First Light is a contemporary residence that emerged directly from its site. Four distinct volumes are distributed across ten acres, each housing a specific purpose, drawn together by outdoor rooms, and a central courtyard designed for gathering.

First Light represents Rowland+Broughton’s continued growth beyond Colorado, bringing the studio’s integrated practice to exceptional sites and clients across the country.

Three gable forms appear to rise out of the vineyard. The larger two-level volume anchors the composition and nods to the agrarian vernacular of the region. Smaller linking elements draw everything into a whole. Access comes through the vineyard itself, along a pebbled drive on axis with the main volume, arriving at a central courtyard designed from the outset for the kind of gathering this family values most.

Architecture and interiors were developed as a single conversation. The spatial sequence, material palette, and quality of light inside the home extend the exterior forms without announcing the connection. The result is a residence that feels as though it could only exist exactly where it does.