Ocean Hues Imbue A Remodeled Home In Cali

Details

coastal exterior entry front door

Designer Kari Arendsen's clients retained the Mediterranean-style stone exterior of their Carlsbad home but undertook a major renovation inside to bring in a lighter, brighter coastal feel. The transformation aligns the residence with its setting overlooking the Pacific, which is visible from the entry.

coastal hallway antique mirror jute...

A hallway connecting the formal living room to the main family area overlooks the ocean; the antique Indonesian mirror Arendsen placed on the wall, painted in a custom color, reflects the view. Tank, the family's mastiff, sits on a jute carpet from Bixby & Ball.

coastal living area built-in sectional...

The family area features a custom built-in sectional with cushions in a jaunty Ralph Lauren Home stripe and a pair of Henredon armchairs with Soane fabric on the cushions. The chandelier, coffee table and carpet are also custom. Shining down on the grouping is a swingarm light from Visual Comfort & Co. In the dining area beyond, the designer paired custom tables and a banquette, upholstered in a Kravet fabric, with Sika Design chairs and a Currey & Company light.

coastal kitchen white and neutral...

In the kitchen, Arendsen kept the palette neutral, giving it heft with natural materials like limestone floors, marble slab countertops and marble arabesque tiles, all from European Bath Kitchen Tile & Stone, which also supplied the faucets. The homeowners kept the existing appliances, which included Viking wall ovens; Arendsen designed the metal pendants over the island.

coastal outdoor dining area ocean...

The home overlooks the iconic Terra Mar Point surf break. An outdoor dining area provides the perfect place to watch the waves from a high table and seats, which were conceived to keep the eye above the railing.

textured clay vase hall

Arendsen repeated shades of blue throughout the home, right down to the simplest of details, like a textured clay vase she found while antiquing. It's one of a pair, and filled with greens from the garden, which was landscaped by Anderson's La Costa Nursery.

coastal kitchen arabesque tilework cutting...

Natural materials and a global outlook flow throughout the residence. A corner of the kitchen, with its arabesque tilework and Bixby & Ball cutting board, reflects the subtle, pleasing details found in many of the rooms.

coastal white bedroom blue accents

The master bedroom has an airy touch with a nod to Bali. The Oly bed is dressed with Pom Pom at Home linens; the headboard fabric is by Soane. Suspended from the ceiling is a light from BoBo Intriguing Objects and behind is a shade in material by Horizons Window Fashions. Arendsen used Perennials fabrics for the draperies and the bench covering. A Fibreworks carpet provides a comfortable landing.

coastal neutral bathroom black desk

Arendsen sourced the master bathroom's clay subway tile, marble counter and vintage-style fixtures from European Bath Kitchen Tile & Stone. A mirror and sconce from Currey & Company hang above a custom console with a vanity chair in a Mark Alexander fabric. The woven chandelier, also from Currey & Company, and the Bixby & Ball rug soften the space.

When a young couple in Solana Beach, California, spotted a home in popular surf spot Terra Mar Point, they decided to make it theirs. They called on interior designer Kari Arendsen, who had done their previous home, to reshape the interiors of the 1980s Tuscan-style estate into a more modern, beachy and family-friendly space.

The designer, a fan of the blue-and-white palette, took her cues from the seascape but gave it her signature spin. “This is a sophisticated, worldly beach house,” she explains.

Beyond the immediate serenity of the coastal hues, there are moments of great care and consideration.

Looking deeper at the interiors reveals a layering of pattern and dimension, including the custom wainscoting painted an untraditional shade of blue, and woven chairs, baskets and rugs. In the kitchen, marble arabesque tiles pair with rustic wood shelving, while an antique Indonesian mirror in a passageway reflects the water. Throughout the rooms are ethnic-inspired textiles, textured pillows and fringed throw blankets–a perfect wrap for sitting outside at the custom high table.

“I’ve learned to trust myself,” she says of her aesthetic. It’s a fresh and global take on Southern California style, and it’s the reason clients are calling.”