Dear Doctor, thank you.

Thank you for taking calls at all hours from people caring for a sick family member. Thank you for cutting vacations short, sacrificing sleep, and going above and beyond for your patients. And most of all, thank you for treating each of us with care, warmth, and what we all need: humankindness.

On Doctor’s Day—March 30—and every day, we thank you.

The two floors are connected by a temporary steel circular staircase. Bariani plans to install a glass elevator and move the staircase to connect to the rooftop deck from the exterior.

Upstairs space is devoted to his daughter and her many activities and interests. Bariani spared no detail with fun and custom touches.

A second rooftop deck features a wood-framed hammock and stand with generous shade canopy.

The interior has minimalist white walls, dark tile floors in several patterns, and modern fixtures and lighting. In the bathrooms he used faux silk flowers in wall panels to provide a cheeky contrast to the sleek design.

“I hung bath fixtures from the wall to make cleaning easier,” Bariani says. “We are in the middle of farmland after all.”

Italian crystal light fixtures add a sparkle and warmth to the living room.

The interior isn’t quite finished. “All of the steel columns are going to be clad in wood to simulate the look of trees,” Bariani says. “I do all of this type of work myself by hand so I’m looking forward to some downtime from our business.”

The exterior is sleek and striking. Bariani sourced fiber cement cladding from Japan. The material was installed in both a rectangular cement color tile and in simulated redwood planking. “The wood finish helps warm up the exterior color scheme,” Bariani says. “And connects it to the farm.”

The location is adjacent to steel warehouses used by the farm. Bariani shares a driveway with the farm, and created a generous gravel courtyard to separate the home from farm buildings.

“I planted a long row of tall blue junipers that will grow and provide shade and create more separation,” he says. His other exterior plans include solar panels on shade pergolas and furnishing his rooftop decks for outdoor living.

Bariani says building with shipping containers used to be more costeffective than standard construction.

“But the cost of containers has skyrocketed, and it is no longer an affordable option.”

Country life seems to suit Bariani and his daughter. He enjoys the independence that comes with life outside the city. His long commute is over and there’s more time to work and for family.

“My daughter has loved the farm life since she was just a toddler running in the fields. At night it’s so dark and quiet out here compared to the city. The stars are beautiful, and we hear coyotes, raccoons and owls,” he says. “It is our piece of heaven.”

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, contact editor@insidepublications. com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n