February 13, 2017

There is something about beach homes that inspire peace and tranquility in their owners. Whether in southern Florida or on the coast of New England, the style usually reflects the home’s proximity to the ocean. For one couple’s house in Del Mar, Calif., the dark and dated design made the sea feel far away.

“Since this is the clients’ vacation home, they wanted a much lighter, more modern design with an open layout that reflected the spirit of the nearby ocean,” said Tatiana Machado-Rosas, senior interior designer at Jackson Design and Remodeling in San Diego. “They wanted a clean, sleek and light-filled home with innovative storage options.”

Rearranging the Kitchen

Before the redesign, the kitchen felt closed off from the ocean view and the rest of the house. Instead, the clients wanted a more open and functional kitchen with a decent amount of counter space and storage, including a large pantry. Since they use the home for entertaining, the clients also needed an area for bar stools at the peninsula, an icemaker and a liquor cabinet.

“The first challenge was making a layout that enlarged space within the existing structural components while allowing for differences in ceiling heights,” said Machado-Rosas. “To do this, we relocated a powder room and a bar area and created a hallway that allowed us to extend the kitchen peninsula.”

Using 2020 for 3D plans and AutoCAD to design cabinetry, the team reworked both the powder room and the adjacent laundry room to keep the kitchen layout more open. The kitchen itself was expanded toward the back doors, allowing for a pantry. These significant structural changes helped create one great room.

“Once isolated from the rest of the home, the kitchen now takes in the dining and living spaces,” said the designer, adding that the sink was reoriented to look out over the view. “Color choices and textures throughout integrate the kitchen, dining and living areas into one unified space for a soothing and relaxed beach home attitude.”

Echoing the Sea

This casual vibe starts with the flooring, which is a porcelain tile designed to look like weathered wood. The flooring is also easy to maintain in a home where people come in often in sandy feet.

“The clients have grandchildren, so they also wanted an easy-to-clean option,” said Machado-Rosas.

The designer chose a laminate for the cabinets that also looks like wood, giving clients the durability they wanted along with a natural texture. On the bottom cabinets, a sleek white laminate with aluminum trim contrasts with the warm wood of the lower cabinetry while adding a modern touch to the kitchen. A marble backsplash in a hexagonal pattern continues the contemporary feel of the space.

“The clients love marble, and the backsplash was an intriguing place to experiment with a creative pattern amidst the overall simplicity of the design,” said Machado-Rosas.

Catering to Height

Like the kitchen, the master bath still sported a 1970s design. The shower and the tub were using up unnecessary space, plus the clients never used the tub. Finally, the vanity mirror was unusually low, and the clients were taller than average.

After the tub was removed, the vanity was expanded. Since the home was part of a homeowner’s association, the small windows above the vanity could not be changed. The design team instead created a pony wall behind the vanity, which allowed them to install medicine cabinets with mirrors that easily slide up and down.

“This adjustable design allows for viewing at different heights, while the double mirrors enhance the light in the room,” said the designer.

Although the issue with the mirrors was solved, it was still challenging to make the bathroom brighter with only two small windows. Along with raising the ceiling, the team experimented with the best colors and materials to make the bathroom lighter. The result is a blend of crème and gray porcelain tiles, including a mosaic of natural stone and glass above the shower.

“It was very rewarding to solve the challenge of creating the space the clients desired by inventing space–planning solutions,” said Machado-Rosas. “It’s always the most satisfying when we design a room that makes our clients happy and makes their lifestyle feel more comfortable and energized.”