The California real estate market is notoriously tricky—and in Ventura’s coveted Piermont neighborhood, that’s certainly the case. “Houses don’t come on the market in this area too often, and when they do, they are swept up very quickly,” explains interior designer Madison Lussier of Madison Nicole Design. “Our clients had purchased a home here several years prior.” When the property directly behind them came on the market, with backyards that butted up to each other, they seized the opportunity to combine the two lots.  

“Not only did this increase the size of the backyard but allowed for this new home to be created as a guest house,” Madison explains. “It’s only a few houses in from the beach and faces out towards a beautiful park. Ventura is a small beach town, and one of the few ones in California that hasn’t been overdeveloped over the years and still has those quaint, sleepy surf town feels.”

Madison and her talented design team came into the project after the architect had already done quite a bit of work, and Nicole Gordon Studio had made the initial plumbing and material selections. “We gave some input on finish materials, but our main focus was on lighting, furniture, and decor, along with addressing additional plumbing and finish needs that popped up throughout the course of the project that were not fully addressed prior to us joining the team,” she explains. 

Throughout the home, Madison employed a use of organic textures and handmade materials that play off of Southern California’s abundance of sunshine. “Nothing was too contemporary or clean lined, and I think it’s that raw materiality that makes the space feel so cozy,” she explains. “The floors are sealed concrete, the walls and ceilings are all plaster, which lets light dance off of them so beautifully, creating a different feeling in the space depending on the time of day. We used natural wood tones and hand-made tiles, both with the perfect amount of texture.”

The clients were thrilled with the completed space—to the point they considered making it their primary residence. “That was the biggest compliment we could have received!” Madison says. “They were so kind and invited the entire project team over for wine and a dinner out after completion, and seeing the home be used and at a different time of day was such a treat.”

See more in the slideshow.