Caroline Schoppe is the lead designer and founder of Concept.bY.C, an interior design studio with offices in Los Angeles and Stockholm. Naturally, the firm specializes in artfully blending Scandinavian design elements with a casual California approach.

Caroline was tasked with updating this Calabasas, CA home with her signature approach in mind. “The clients are a fun British couple, with a set of boy and girl twins,” she tells us. “They exude warmth and ease, and we wanted their house to reflect this feeling through our design choices. After living at the beach in Malibu for 10 years, they were ready to make the move and remodel this Calabasas home.”

The original style of the house and neighborhood leaned more Mediterranean. “When reimagining the house, we found a balance of the client’s modern aesthetic and our contemporary Scandinavian,” Caroline recalls. “Then adding a hint of Mediterranean style from the original design elements. We felt like this combination provided that effortless indoor/outdoor living you get in California.”

They embarked on a complete gut renovation, taking the kitchen and family room down to the studs. “Here, we reimagined the floor plan and reworked architectural details like arches,” the designer explains. “We added two arches as walkways from the dining to kitchen, to create a better flow through the entire home. In the original floor plan, the only way to get into the kitchen and dining room was to walk around the entire house! The home was straight from the ‘80s, so to speak, which led to us reworking soffits to open up the space and incorporate a more contemporary, sleek look.”

When designing the formal living room, they took note of the client’s exceptional musical talents. “We designed the space entirely around her piano to create a playful yet calm atmosphere where the family likes to hang out and play music,” Caroline says. “We strive to elevate our clients’ spaces through architectural details and the use of timeless materials and finishes, while remaining true to their style and taste.”

For the exterior, the Concept.bY.C team took inspiration from Slim Aarons and his ability to capture the essence of Southern California in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. “We wanted to emulate the same atmosphere shown in his images through our design choices,” she explains. “Our client says their pool and garden have a resort-like charm.”

The family is thrilled with the result—and have Caroline to thank. “After interviewing four of California’s most talented interior designers, I knew straight away Caroline was the right choice to create our desired vision,” the client shares. “Our home is elegant, peaceful with pretty moments throughout, each room designed to flow into the next. I love the brass hood in the kitchen and the marble choices throughout our house. It’s Scandinavian/California charm at its finest! Beautiful bougainvillea and olive trees only add to the charm of this beautiful remodel. I’m truly in love with what we have achieved.”