Our Story:
Built by a Family.
For Anyone Who Needs Space
How It Started:
From Campsite to Curated Retreats
It started with a tent. We came to this piece of raw land in Anderson Valley — redwoods, a meadow, a view that stopped your heart — with our children Alice, Eliot, and Jack, and no plan except that we needed to come back. We believe we are all connected by the space between us — molecules and energy radiating between us, sharing matter. We are the collective consciousness of all that is. The space between us is space shared.
Christopher began building. The children grew up swinging hammers and learning to cook over live fire. Our best friend Uri drove up one weekend and never quite left. The yurt replaced the tents, the water tower was constructed, then the pool and pool house. The Barn Side was acquired to keep a longtime friend in his home — David Norfleet, one of the co-founders of Anderson Valley Brewing Company and grand pubah of "The Grange." He worked with Chris to build the woodshop, a home to the carpentry legacy of Chris's father Dave Kirkham. But in 2020, our sweet neighbor David passed away and we began to expand our space into the Barn Side. The 1880s cabin was entirely remodeled with Christopher's woodworking skills. An Airstream appeared as part of the pandemic escape.
Samantha retired and obtained her yoga and meditation credentials. Christopher retired and discovered that beyond his general passion for woodworking, he had a great love for creating art with remnants of ancient trees, whether sculptural or furniture.
In 2022 we were married here, on this land we'd been building for fourteen years, under the trees, with the people who made it possible.
Most recently the family designed and built the Writer’s cabin, and the Fig Tree Farmhouse and the Alice's Wonderland airstream were added.
Now the family opens the Space Between for bespoke retreats curated with known practitioners — a safe platform to creatively explore curiosity about the nature of our existence, shared with our curated companions: friends, and friends of friends.
Meet Samantha
She will be your Guide through: Hiking, Meditation, Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Professional Issues and … Life.
Before Anderson Valley, Samantha was a corporate law partner at Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin — one of the country's top-ranked debt finance lawyers, recognized by Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business from 2011 through 2020, as well as other recognitions. She represented private equity funds, hedge funds and hotel management companies on complex US and cross-border financings and restructurings. She has also served on several boards, including The Berkeley School, Western Center on Law and Poverty, Stuart M. Ketchum YMCA and Planned Parenthood of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, and most recently, the planning committee for the Anderson Valley Community Park Project.
She graduated from Pomona College and UC Law San Francisco. But her real education came later: in meditation halls, in the garden, in the practice of learning to be still.
Samantha is a certified yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and yoga nidra guide, studying with Jason Crandall, MNDFL and Michele Loew. She leads retreats rooted in consciousness and self-compassion — morning practices, evening circles, and the quiet interior work of listening to oneself.
In the Space Between, Samantha began to play with art — a space she had never previously felt comfortable entering. Her work can be seen in experimental pieces placed throughout the land, informed not by teachers but from within. She now leads others into that same space of art experimentation, inviting people to create from instinct rather than instruction. Under Christopher's mentorship, she has also taken up furniture-making. Her handcrafted coffee and side tables now live in several of the cabins. When asked years ago what she'd do if she weren't a lawyer, she answered: hike the Pacific Crest Trail, write children's stories, own a bakery, and negotiate deals for the Nature Conservancy. Space Between is, in many ways, all of those dreams at once.
"The retreat is rooted in consciousness, creativity, and connection — the three things I believe change everything."
Meet Christopher
Master Woodworker - Builder - Hike Guide - Meditation Guide
Christopher built Space Between with his hands. Literally. The Writer’s Cabin is his jewel box, the 1880s Cabin's madrone live-edge island is a testament to his furniture-making ability — a sculpture you cook on, cut on, and gather around. The lumber mill on the property cuts the slabs he works with. Every piece of custom furniture on the property came from his shop.
Before any of this, Christopher was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, specializing in debt financing, leveraged acquisitions, and cross-border transactions for private equity sponsors and commercial borrowers. He holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School, an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia, and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of York, UK. He was named a Super Lawyer in 2012–2013 and speaks English, French, and German.
He leads woodworking retreats, guided hikes on the property's named trails, and the kind of quiet, grounded hospitality that guests remember long after they leave. He also forages — the forest on this property produces black trumpet mushrooms, chanterelles, and more.
"I believe making something with your hands changes your relationship to everything else."
The Family
Partners in Everything
Samantha and Christopher met through the law and left through the land. They were both partners at Kirkland & Ellis when they started camping in Anderson Valley with their children.
That was the beginning of a long, deliberate pivot toward something more alive.
They got married here in 2022, surrounded by the structures Christopher had built and the community Samantha had gathered. Space Between is, in every sense, theirs together.
Fire artist, DJ, dancer, designer, and builder. Alice helped construct the Beer Garden Kitchen, the delivery shed and many other parts of SBR. Additionally, she completely reimagined and redesigned the Fig Tree Farm House. She also organizes, manages and leads harm reduction teams at dance clubs and festivals.
Alice Kirkham
Eliot helped construct many parts of SBR, most recently building and designing the stairs that cascade from the pool to the bathhouse. As he turns to landscape design as his profession, his next project is the space surrounding the Movement Studio and Think Tank.
Eliot Kirkham
Jack grew up at Space Between before it had a name. He's been on this land since the tent-and-campfire days. He helped build the deck on the Writer's Cabin and bury the CAT6 cable that creates wifi for SBR. His spirit is woven into every corner.
Jack Schrader
Best friend. Unofficial sixth founder. Uri is Chris's project wingman and not only hosts Sunday shakshouka brunch but also provides the late-night SBR support whether doing dishes in the moonlight, holding down the hot tub or dancing under the stars. He brings irreplaceable warmth, charisma, and chaos.
Uri Talmon
Satya, Odin & Loki:
Satya is our caramel McNab, Odin is our black and white mini bernedoodle and Loki is the baby blue merle tiny bernedoodle.
Our three dogs roam the property and consider it entirely theirs. When you arrive, they take you in and consider you part of the pack and their responsibility. They are, unofficially, the welcoming committee.
The Pack
Thank You to Our Property Team.
Juan and Veronica have been tending to our gardens and property infrastructure for years. We could not caretake for this land without their consistent dedication and hard work.