Beach houses are made for seamless indoor-outdoor living, so it’s only logical that their owners strive to maximize their close relationship with the water.
That’s why the owners of one such home in the chic Smithcliffs neighborhood of California’s Laguna Beach called upon HartmanBaldwin, a design-build company based in Pasadena that specializes in large-scale remodels and historic restorations.
The couple, who have grown children, use the two-story stone and stucco traditional-style beach house, whose lighthouse-style tower is a nod to the nautical, as a weekend and vacation retreat.
While the home was quite nice, they felt it needed updating, and as a major component of that project, decided to add more outdoor space so they could do more entertaining.
“There were beautiful ocean views that they couldn’t take advantage of,” says Bill Baldwin, owner of HartmanBaldwin. “We discussed several design scenarios, and they chose to cover the patio on the main floor and add a rooftop deck.”
Deciding what they wanted was easy; getting it built was a bit trickier, given the rules and regulations that govern the gated community, whose first homes, which are European in style, date to 1955.
“We worked closely with the homeowners’ association and the city council,” Baldwin says. “It was mostly bureaucratic issues.”
The plan involved repurposing the outdoor spaces; no square footage was added.
The main deck, which is on the first floor of the house, was covered with a gently curving roof that’s in sync with the original architecture, creating a shady space that opens directly from the living room.
It’s punctuated with classical pillars that tie the indoor and outdoor spaces together.
“They really were not able to use the original deck much because of the sun,” Baldwin says.
The new deck features an outdoor kitchen, making it ideal for the informal get-togethers and formal events that the couple likes to host.
The roof deck, which is accessed by an elevator the HartmanBaldwin team installed, brought new life to the beach house, allowing the couple and their guests to revel in the panoramic views of Emerald Bay.
Inside, the HartmanBaldwin team refreshed the rooms with new trim and finishes, light touches that collaborate with the new decks in creating seamless spaces that exude luxury.
The color palette, a medley of earth tones that takes on a subtle glow when the sun shines, also complements the water, provinging a perfect merger of the two floors, which are in an open layout with the primary suite on the first floor and the living room, kitchen, family room and bar above.
Millwork also unifies the spaces. In the living room, for instance, where the fireplace has a commanding presence, the team created built-in cabinets on each side. A similar treatment is used on the dining room fireplace.
Other key elements, including the wrought-iron banister of the main staircase, were refinished. And all the walls were refreshed with trim, paint and wallpaper.
“It’s always easier to start with a blank slate,” Baldwin says. “Integrating existing elements with new features and finishes, such as we did in this project, is much more challenging.”
He notes that the project came together quickly and easily because the architecture, interior design and building are all done in house at HartmanBaldwin.
“There’s a synergy from the collective style we work in,” he says, adding that having the same team is efficient and effective. “Everything gets elevated.”
The revamped beach house, Baldwin says, has “made a huge change in the couple’s lifestyle because now they can entertain in a way that suits them. They’ve already hosted several parties.”