CALIFORNIA DREAMING
This cool Los Angeles home is full of bold colour and eye-catching details
Back in 2011, a work move caused Chrissy and Dave Butler and their four teenage children to relocate from Manhattan Beach in South Bay, Los Angeles. Having sold their house in California, they soon began to realise how much they missed having a home near the ocean.
‘Two years later, I was browsing online with the vague idea of finding another beach house for summers and holidays when a listing sparked my interest,’ says Chrissy. ‘I could hardly believe my eyes – a three-storey house with an extra-wide frontage on one of the highly sought-after “walkstreets”, just one block away from our previous home and a stone’s throw from the ocean. The house was also for sale at a reasonable price, because the housing bubble had burst the previous year.’ Chrissy showed the listing to Dave and they both agreed it was too good an opportunity to let slip away. ‘Our offer was accepted within a few hours, and we signed the papers the following morning,’ says Chrissy.
Although the couple liked the location and dimensions of the house, the internal layout didn’t suit their lifestyle. ‘ We looked at whether we could salvage anything, and decided it would just be easier to tear it all down and start from scratch,’ says Chrissy. She and Dave knew that
assembling the right team was essential to the success of the project. ‘ We were lucky enough to work with the amazingly talented Grant Fitzpatrick of KAA Design and Matt Wachtfogel, a well known builder here in South Bay,’ says Chrissy. ‘Their attention to detail was quite extraordinary – it was a great collaboration, and they came in right on schedule and on budget, which was amazing.’ A key feature of the remodel was the open-plan kitchen, dining and living spaces, which give the house a sense of flow. ‘The sitting room windows open out onto an interior courtyard, which gives the whole house a wonderful indoor-outdoor feel,’ explains Chrissy.
Once the structural work was complete, Chrissy turned her attention to the decorating scheme. She enlisted the services of Parrish Chilcoat of Cameron Design and Joe Lucas of Lucas Studio. ‘At the time the two designers were working together from Joe Lucas’s LA store, Harbinger, so I was familiar with their style already,’ explains Chrissy. ‘Right from the start, they totally understood my thoughts about the house and the Pinterest boards I shared. I adore colour and I wanted to use it tastefully. I also wanted a coastal look, since we live so close to the ocean, but with plenty of grown-up, sophisticated touches. Rather than seashells
everywhere, I was aiming for more of a Cape Cod beach house style, with lots of vibrant colour.’
Structural elements such as tongue-andgroove panelled ceilings, barn doors and classic cabinetry laid the foundation for the coastal scheme, which was then enhanced by a palette of teal, aquamarine and grey, complemented by a rainbow of accents including gold, rose pink, green and coral. Bespoke contemporary furniture was commissioned by Parrish Chilcoat, adding unique, eclectic touches to the scheme, softened with natural textiles including tweed and leather.
‘Parrish occasionally presented me with bold choices that really pushed me out of my comfort zone, getting me to say yes to certain fabrics and quirky pieces of furniture which I would normally have said no to,’ admits Chrissy. ‘Looking back now, I’m so glad I agreed, because they’ve become my favourite pieces.’
Now that the house is complete, it’s the ideal space for Chrissy and Dave’s busy social and family life. ‘Entertaining in this house is a breeze,’ says Chrissy. ‘ We have the public walkstreet patio for times when we’re feeling sociable and want to enjoy an early evening glass of wine with our neighbours. Then there’s the inner courtyard for when we just want to be with family and friends. This really is the perfect house for us.’