This home is located in Bird Rock, a small seaside neighborhood in La Jolla, CA. “This area is also the home to our studio, so we might be a little biased, but it’s one of our favorite places to be,” says Erika Gervin, founder and principal designer at South Harlow Interiors. “We absolutely love the charm and close-knit vibe of this community, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s situated steps from the ocean. It’s coastal, laid back, casual, and just how we like it!”

The homeowners are originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. “They purchased this home years ago as their vacation home, but their daughter moved in temporarily, and that interim period stretched to over five years,” Erika tells us. “Once she moved out, they were able to begin a complete renovation on the exterior, interior and landscaping.”

The client’s overall goal was to have a San Diego-inspired beach cottage, but without the typical coastal clichés. “They aimed to spend two to three months here each year and wanted to ensure it was a great entertaining space to host their friends and family,” the designer shares. “The kitchen was their biggest focus because it is the space where they spend the most time. Luckily for us, their only must-haves were no bright white cabinets, and the space needed to be comfortable but was open to unique design and specialty choices.”

The South Harlow team reviewed the architect’s preliminary plans and refined several details along the way, including window sizing and styles, a reworked guest bathroom layout, and a number of exterior selections—from copper gutters to paint colors. “We also played a major part in landscaping decisions,” Erika says. “Ultimately, directing the landscaping in a more European countryside style that fit with the interior style, as well as selecting the style and design of front pavers.”

The biggest challenge was maximizing the space available for the family’s storage needs. “The client required a significant amount of storage relative to the home’s size, while also needing several spaces to serve multiple functions,” Erika recalls. “In the office, we squeezed in three functions: office/desk space, additional guest sleeping quarters, along with a secondary lounge space. We worked to maximize every part of the room to achieve the client’s goals. Similarly, in the scullery, the client requested a handful of appliances to fit in such a tight space. We creatively incorporated double ovens, a 36″ sink, a dishwasher, a trash/recycle pull-out, an ice maker, beverage drawers, and a full-height wine fridge without making them fully visible.”

Style-wise, the goal was to honor the coastal location through palette and texture while firmly steering the design in an “English Country” direction. “It is a Southern California coastal cottage with an English twist,” the designer explains, crediting soft layers, collected materials, and relaxed finishes for giving the home a sense of warmth and history. The result is timless—a house that captures the ease of coastal living without sacrificing character, charm, or personality.

See more in the slideshow.