This 1970s home in San Diego had fallen victim to an ill-conceived renovation in the 1990s. “My clients lived in the house for a few years before embarking on the construction,” says interior designer Kelly Hinchman. The couple enlisted her firm, Studio H Design Group, to reimagine the property. They wanted to open up the kitchen and living room and include a back kitchen/pantry, an ‘adults only’ salon with bar cabinetry, a large laundry, and a functional and beautiful entry—or California ‘mudroom.
Studio H designed and detailed the home’s interior and collaborated on the exterior design alongside architect Christian Rice. “We are exceptionally valuable during construction and remain involved from the earliest planning stages through the final furniture installation and reveal,” she explains.
The home now celebrates mid-century design through a modern Southern California lens. “My client, Lauren grew up in San Diego, and they are a true SoCal family,” Kelly shares. “I feel that is embedded through the home.”
The designer and client had a shared love of stone, which is at the forefront of the interior aesthetic. “We started slab shopping early in the design process, as it was the catalyst for many of the design decisions,” Kelly says. “Lauren has an exceptional eye and is not afraid of taking risks, which made the sourcing process especially collaborative and inspiring.”
They covered a portion of the home’s façade with Eco Outdoor’s Crackenback Walling stone. The material continues into the interior entry and reappears on the fireplace. “We wanted a dramatic entry to ground you into the home which is an otherwise open floorplan,” Kelly explains. “We achieved this by creating obtuse geometric floor pattern with 5 different mosaic stones. The tile installers were incredible and hardly complained about the extra work!”
In the salon, steel-and-glass doors open off the entry vestibule. Deep ochre walls, an aged brass fireplace, a low-channeled sofa by Soho Home, and an amber glass table make this a place to unwind, listen to music, and soak in the atmosphere. The fireplace was crafted by Eris Metal Works.
The kitchen is outfitted in a gorgeous blue/green natural stone quartzite called Cristallo Lux. “We really wanted this stone set the tone for the home, as you see it upon walking in,” Kelly explains. “The surfaces in the kitchen are either rift cut white oak, marble, or antique brass.”
She says the biggest challenge is that designers, by nature, are a bit relentless. “We often choose the more difficult path,” she laughs. “We embrace the challenges that come with it, because we know the end result will be stronger. There’s a level of discomfort we’re willing to sit in to get it right. Sometimes the construction team is not as ‘onboard’ with the importance of the vision.”
With that in mind, the project took about four months longer than initially intended. But the clients were thrilled. “The home is a reflection of this cool family and really feels like them,” Kelly says with a smile.
See more in the slideshow.
