Nestled in the rolling hills of Solana Beach, California, this home was originally built in 1980 and purchased by the current homeowners in 2017. “They lived in it for five to six years before moving out to fully renovate with the intention of expanding square footage to comfortably fit their growing family,” says Abbie Naber of A Naber Design. “They had already been working with T7 Architecture on the plans, and I was added to the mix in December of 2022. I integrated into the team once the plans were pretty solidified and submissions were underway with the coastal commission for permitting.”
Abbie says it was a great point of entry in that she was able to collaborate with the architect and homeowner on the plans and make targeted refinements. In the early planning phases, there was a strong emphasis on entertaining. “We incorporated a pool room in the basement level to accommodate a hang out space for kids and adults alike,” she explains. “The intention was to create a place to come and go and casually hang to escape the sun.”
Other overall goals for the house were to add space for the kids, as well as bring some color and life into the house. “A cozy den, aka a potential ‘movie room’ was another important component of the functionality of one of the two living spaces,” Abbie says. “While the main living room boasts strong west facing sun exposure and bright walls, the den we soaked in a terracotta limewash to hug the walls in and create a closed-in, comfortable lounge space.”
Additionally, what was once a typical 1980s-style home has now evolved into a Mediterranean-inspired retreat. “There were many a conversation about Spanish-style finishes and nods to Portuguese tile—a particular favorite from the husband,” the designer shares. “With a lot of travel under their belts, the reference of European exteriors and coastal outdoor living was a constant in thinking up the new space.” A must-have was tile—and lots of it. No expense was spared while picking out tile selections. The kitchen is clad in a beautiful, multicolored zellige mosaic, a material that reappears several times in the home with overage being utilized in a few carved-out wall niches.
“I saw the design through until the very end, down to the last piece of exterior furniture and planting,” she recalls. “Our process involved a thorough round of concept exploration to kick off the project, went through a full design process, and then ended with assistance of specifying exterior plant species alongside a talented plant specialist, Printwood.”
She says that the homeowners were a dream to work with. “They were trusting in the process and allowing for the creative control and opportunity to push them a bit beyond their comfort zone while at the same time, dreaming up a space that feels balanced in risk taking and comfortability,” she says. “They truly were easy decision makers and really allowed the process to unfold the way it should.”
