Seadrift is a stretch of land in Stinson Beach, California with houses nestled right on the beach. “What is so breathtaking about this area is the proximity to the ocean and the mountains all in one swoop,” says interior designer Lauren Nelson. “The view out one side of the house is the ocean and sand dunes, and out the other side of the house are the mountains dipping right down to the shoreline.  There is a calm and arresting beauty to this particular part of the coastline.”

Lauren’s clients are empty nesters who live full-time in Mill Valley but wanted a quiet home by the ocean for the children and future grandchildren. “Their main objective for the home was to create a laid back, worry-free and comfortable home with updated finishes, in a style that would last for generations to come,” Lauren recalls. 

In 2021, Lauren’s design firm collaborated with the architects at LSA O on a plan to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms, add an additional guest wing to the house, and redesign the front yard significantly. “But after the clients thought hard about the timeline, and permitting process, they realized they were content with the current footprint and didn’t want to wait an additional couple of years before using the house for this large of an endeavor,” Lauren recalls. “They were eager to start enjoying the house without waiting too long and spending twice the amount. So, the project scope became a revamping of the interior finishes and reformatting the primary suite and guest suite for better flow and utilization.” However once the walls were opened up, the job quickly turned into a gut renovation. “All electrical and plumbing needed to be upgraded, floors replaced, solar added…and the list goes on.”

The end result is classic and sophisticated. “This home is not daring nor extravagant, instead it holds a quiet, comfortable luxury.   The key foundation was the use of natural materials that would age well in a marine environment, along with a connection to the exterior surrounding—beach, ocean and mountains,” Lauren explains, adding that the clients were thrilled with the result. “The wife was overwhelmed with emotion when she saw it.  She couldn’t believe it was her own home and thanked us profusely. They both wrote us sweet notes showing their appreciation and that felt nice to know how much they love it.”