In our summer issue, we featured the kitchen of this Laguna Beach home by designer Jen Samson. With turquoise tile, reminiscent of the glittering Pacific Ocean down the hill, and beautiful warm wood tones, the space is a beautiful blend of mid-century architecture and chic Scandinavian style. Naturally, we wanted to see more! Read on to learn more about the sun-soaked space, which Samson joyfully brought back to its original splendor.
And to get the look in your own home, snag a copy of Rue! It’s on newsstands now.
Tell us about this home. It’s located in a pretty sought-after neighborhood, right?
The home is located in Laguna Beach, in a neighborhood called Woods Cove. Woods Cove is a beautiful little enclave of homes, surrounded by trees and although just blocks from the beach, it has a feeling of privacy unlike any other area so close to the hustle of a very busy beach town. The homes in Laguna Beach are anything but cookie cutter, and this home certainly adds to the individuality of the surrounding properties. Many of the neighboring homes are more quintessential beach cottage. This home has its own flair – boasting very clear mid-century architectural lines along with a modern, casual sensibility that seems right at home within the community.
We’d love to know more about your clients. Who lives here? What were their design goals when they first reached out?
The clients relocated from the Chicago area. One had lived in Laguna in this particular area at an earlier point in his career, and knew he wanted to come back. They were especially excited about the location of the home, as well as the potential to bring it back to its original design aesthetic. The only must have was to find a way to lighten up the home. The ceilings were painted a very dark chocolate brown throughout the entire home, so finding a with a solution for that was top priority. Also, they wanted to create an outdoor space that was prime for entertaining friends, lounging outdoors and enjoying the ocean views.
How would you describe the style of the home?
Walking up to this home for the first time, I was immediately drawn to the mid-century architecture. The lines, the eaves, the u-shaped architecture, which allows all 3 interior sides of the home to open up to the pool. The home had undergone a few remodels over the years and was currently in an early 1990’s state. We were committed to returning the home to its authentic origins while giving it a fresh, modern update.
The designer shares more in the slideshow.