“This project started out as a kitchen remodel until we found a leak from the upper deck,” designer Tania Cassill of huit laguna recalls. “This lead to opening the ceiling, new decks, new windows, new doors, new flooring and eventually we all decided to re-do the primary suite as well.” Her clients had anticipated a renovation, though perhaps not quite so extreme, when they first purchased this house in one of Laguna Beach’s best neighborhoods. “The home needed a complete makeover,” Cassill admits.
“My clients purchased the home ‘as is’ knowing they would remodel.”

The active family of six frequently hosts friends and professional surfers for long periods of time, and their home is the hub for all family gatherings. “They needed a complete kitchen overhaul to accommodate their clan and constant flow of guests,” Cassill shares. But aesthetically, it was an exciting change too. Though the architecture of the house was originally Mediterranean in style, it was quite outdated when Cassill first got to work. “I kept true to the Mediterranean aesthetic but went a little more modern by removing all of the arched doorways and squared them off,” she explains. “The interior is now a reflection of the updated contemporary Mediterranean exterior.”

In the primary suite, Cassill reconfigured the closet and totally remodeled the bathroom to include an ocean view soaking tub, a walk-in steam shower with a view and a custom 9′ vanity. “The owners wanted a ‘retreat’ where they could escape for a few hours,” the designer shares.

The project took over a year, and the leak ended up being a blessing in disguise when it came to the home’s total transformation. “My clients were absolutely thrilled to see the final result! The wife even cried,” Cassill reflects. “I appreciate so much that they trusted me and I love that they use each space daily as intended.”