This modern California rancher sits in Los Angeles’ South Bay—Hermosa Beach, to be exact. “This part of the neighborhood is unique due to its beautiful ocean views combined with tree lined streets,” explains interior designer Raili Clasen. “You can barely see a neighbor from any angle of the home.”
Her clients came to her with very little direction—but they were devoted fans of her work at Raili CA Design. “They wanted to see our vision before showing us any design boards that they had put together,” she notes. “Now that I think about it, I never saw their boards! This husband-and-wife duo are huge entertainers and since they don’t have kids, we were able to lean into the idea that friends and family were top priority to create fun memories here.”
The original house was built in the 1960s, but in pretty rough shape. “The bones were great, so we took it down and honored the style while building it back up,” Raili says. “We worked on everything including working with the architects and builders on every detail of the home.” In short, it was as close to a new build as it gets.
“Walking up to this home, one gets a sense that it is going to be cool,” the designer says. “Not traditional, not contemporary, just cool, collected and a hint of mid-century modern shining through.”
Once you enter the front door, the primary bedroom extends off to the left and is filled with natural light, which allowed the team to confidently layer in natural wood and darker tiles. The bathroom is organic yet distinctive, showcasing both wood and leather details.
The great room is designed for parties. “Lots of parties,” Raili laughs. “We installed the largest sofa we could fit, added a very ‘70s-inspired lounge chair covered in a green houndstooth from Pindler, and accessorized with trees, plants, and cuttings to match with all the outdoor greenery.”
In the kitchen, Raili used flat-front walnut cabinetry and a green tile backsplash, pairing them with coordinating chairs from DWR. “The bar was an important part of the entertaining couple’s wish list, so we created not only a bar, but an island clad in the same ‘WOW’ tile and a shelving system to hold all the spirits.”
Since the husband is in the wine business, a wine room was also a must. “The fun couple added the ‘Make Pour Decisions’ sign as a fun invitation into the space,” she notes.
The project took a little over one year, and the clients were stunned when they finally walked into their finished home. “Reveal days are our favorite part of every project,” Raili says.
Take a tour in the slideshow.
