In our July/August issue, we featured West Coast designers and a few of their recent projects, many which merge their exterior surroundings with the interiors. Read on to learn the details and challenges behind these projects.
(Interested in being featured in a future issue? We are looking for New England- and Southern-based designers for our September and October issues.)
Wendy Glaister Interiors
For this 1,500 square foot patio within a 1.18 acre of outdoor space, Wendy Glaister of Wendy Glaister Interiors of Central Valley, Calif., renovated the existing patio, creating an entertaining and cooking space that was four-season friendly. That included updating both the sport court to accommodate pickleball as well as the putting green, adding a bocce court and even safely relocating a family of bats. The outdoor design includes three areas for entertaining, complete with firepits and seating.
The outdoor kitchen included an Alfa Forni pizza oven, along with a grill, beverage and wine refrigerators, a Fire Magic warming drawer and more. The countertops are Taj Mahal leathered quartzite, while metal artist Nick Heckendorf built a custom fire table. New drains were also installed, and the audio system was completely overhauled.
“One of our biggest goals in creating this new design was to simplify the exterior finishes for a more serene space – three finishes were paired down to two with the application of a smooth finish exterior stucco,” said Glaister.
“Designing an outdoor space where clients exclaim, ‘We never even really go inside anymore, we love it so much!’ is a dream come true,” said Glaister.
Photos: Mark Verschelden
Keri Michelle Interiors
Keri Lainas of San Diego-based Keri Michelle Interiors drew inspiration from her clients’ East Coast roots for their California primary bath, along with the wife’s must-haves: Marble and the color blue.
The biggest challenge was when the wrong flooring and shower tile were delivered, stalling the project several weeks. “Luckily we were able to make the switches well before install began, but it’s always important to check products upon delivery,” she said. “All materials were ordered and onsite prior to demo and construction.”
Other than that, the project was seamless and well-planned, she said, working “with our amazing general contractor,” Kevin Bennett at San Marcos Wood Products, who also custom built the vanities. The bathroom includes a tub from Signature Hardware, faucets from Newport Brass and a chandelier from Visual Comfort.
Photo: Shawn Kallio
Lily Spindle Design
Looking to modernize their 1940s home, Rebecca Cox and her husband Ned Evans – the co-founder of Los Angeles-based design firm Lily Spindle Design and artist, respectively — rebuilt the Venice, Calif. home, from the ground up. “The house was an 85% teardown,” said Cox. “The overall footprint needed expansion, but we integrated the existing footings and retained the foundation where and when possible.” The kitchen, originally a tiny 100-square-foot “afterthought,” now opens to the living space and has a lot of storage, as well as hand-cut ceramic tile from Texas.
For the living room space, they used Duro Design’s cork flooring, so it would be durable enough for their four dogs and still soft underfoot. The green sofa was custom designed by INCH Furnishings in Hermosa Beach, Calif. The home displays art from their collection, and Evans’ own abstract work faces the sofa.
The resulting home now highlights their aesthetic, while also “embracing the principles of Japanese wabi-sabi and Danish comfort and coziness.”
Photo: Michele Thomas
Salthouse Collective
Leigh Jendrusina was thinking about starting Salthouse Collective when she began working on a special project: Her own home in Carlsbad, Calif. The 1970s home had “amazing great room truss beams,” she said – but also tiny bedrooms and bathrooms typical of that decade. “We needed it to flow and work more for our family of four,” she said.
She reworked the bedrooms and bathrooms and created a primary suite. She also updated the kitchen and great room, which has a funky modern fireplace, neutral textures furnishings, pattern-rich rugs and accessories and lots of plants and eclectic art. “It’s like a California modern beachside eclectic home,” she said. “I love tile and wallpaper and patterned rugs and I love how my whole house plays with shapes, blacks/white, bits of colors.” The fireplace tile is from clé tile; other furnishings include West Elm wingback chairs and art by Kim Goldstein.
Photo: Charlotte Lea Photography
Michelle Boudreau Design
For this 1950s home, which was expanded to 4,000 square feet, the goal was to reimagine the property while respecting the original architecture, said Palm Springs, Calif.-based designer Michelle Boudreau.
“I have a strong appreciation for the original architecture and materials of homes I design,” she said.
The clients wanted a calm and inviting place to retreat to and entertain guests, so Boudreau brought in a neutral color palette with a mixture of soft greens pulled from the outdoor landscape into the open plan living room, dining room and kitchen. Textured tiles and light coastal oak wood materials brighten and refresh the home throughout.
In the kitchen, furnishings include Textured Bow tiles from Design Collaborative USA, Cedar & Moss wall sconces, custom ceiling fixtures from DL Designworks, a Marble Tulip table from Williams Sonoma, LuLu & Georgia velvet and brass dining chairs, custom cabinets from Classic Cupboards and Jenn Air appliances from Ferguson.
“The clients were absolutely delighted with their newly remodeled vacation home,” said Boudreau. “They truly cherish the opportunity to visit their special haven where they can unwind and revitalize.”
Photo: Lance Gerber
AM Interior Design
Working for a Gig Harbor, Wash.-based client – an artist who is inspired by nature for her work — Aimee Meisgeier of Seattle-based AM Interior Design aimed to “invoke the sense of the natural world throughout the house,” she said. “We drew on the four elements of nature – including earth, air, fire and water to create our color palette and material selections.”
That included “natural stone and materials with earthy hues/colors (earth), an abundance of large scale windows, glass features and stacking exterior door systems (air), a massive wraparound interior fireplace and multiple exterior fire troughs (fire), exterior water features throughout the property as well as the site being on the waterfront (water),” she said.
For this dining room space, she used a custom chandelier from California-based Studio Bel Vetro, a Williams Sonoma Home table and RH chairs and rug.
The biggest challenge for this project: the pandemic. “COVID and all of its snowball effects added multiple delays, crazy long lead times, supply chain and labor availability issues as well as plethora of other issues. However, the biggest lesson for me was having a ton of patience and the ability to pivot quickly which I’ve found goes a long way towards problem solving.”
Photo: Miranda Estes
Bianca Ecklund Design
For this 2,100-square-foot, 1950s home in Hermosa Beach, Calif., designer Bianca Ecklund was given free creative reign by the clients, who purchased the home during the pandemic. Initially a renovation, the project quickly shifted to a new build, and the old home was taken down to the studs.
The one request from the wife was a white kitchen, and Ecklund delivered, using Benjamin Moore’s Simply White paint as backdrop. Other furnishings include Serena and Lily stools, quartzite countertops, Visual Comfort fixtures and Monogram appliances. The cabinets were custom designed by Ecklund and made by Coastal Cabinets.
“Our clients were beyond happy with the outcome of their home,” said Ecklund. “The wife cried happy tears!”
Photo: Lauren Taylor
See also:
July/August cover Q&A with James Hunter and Shannon Jue
New England designers! Send us your project images for our next issue
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