As seen in the Fall 2022 issue of RUE: As one half of the design team Pure Salt Interiors, Aly Morford is an expert on California Cool design. Her new home is a reflection of their signature aesthetic, and perfectly suited to her family’s active lifestyle.
After a few years of living in a small historic home in Costa Mesa, California, interior designer Aly Morford was eager to find a home that would better suit her family of five. “Homeschooling during Covid showed us the need for space, storage, and function, and our new home has solved so many design challenges,” she says. “Every square inch serves a purpose and I love how functional this home is for my entire family.” They found a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in a newer community in South Orange County, in the same neighborhood as Aly’s business partner in Pure Salt, Leigh Lincoln. “This house gave us the opportunity to be closer to family and our friends—quite literally next door,” she says with a laugh.
As soon as you enter the home, you’re met with sightlines straight to an outdoor space out back. “I love this bright entryway that leads you into the great room with three large sliding doors that fully open up to the backyard, more than doubling our living space,” she shares. “Since these rooms are all connected, I wanted them to flow into one another, which meant keeping things consistent with the flooring and paint color, and leaning more classic with the large furniture, all while letting the accents and decor stay true to my style.”
A lot of the furniture and decor is from Aly and Leigh’s own retail outlet, Pure Salt Shoppe. “Leigh and I often say that we are our own most challenging clients—we see beautiful things day in and day out, so it can be hard to narrow in on one style or look that we will love for years to come,” Aly explains. “But I had a very clear vision for my family’s home going into it. I knew we wanted a home that really emphasized the indoor/outdoor livability of our lot and floorplan, and made every day feel like a warm summer day.”
Outside, multiple activity zones allow the family to spend time together without crowding into one space. “The kids can be in the pool while my husband mans the outdoor kitchen, and I am able to garden or lounge or even enjoy my sauna tucked away in a corner of the yard,” Aly says. “I love that we can enjoy this space in so many ways, with plenty of room to invite the entire neighborhood over for a backyard hang! We feel truly blessed to be settled here, and we’re loving spending our days enjoying everything this home has to offer.”
