CALM AND COLLECTED IN CALIFORNIA

A designer transforms this farmhouse from a luxury spec home into an active family’s welcoming coastal abode.

See how a designer transforms this farmhouse from a luxury spec home into an active family’s welcoming coastal abode.

When it comes to new builds, modern farmhouses are undoubtedly the current trend, especially in Hermosa Beach, California, where this 4,700-square-foot home is located. “I was hired on to this project by a developer who was building the home as a luxury spec house,” says interior designer Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. “They wanted to bring in a designer so that the material, lighting and color selections felt cohesive and luxurious.” As soon as the home sold, the new owners immediately brought Kate and her team back to furnish their stunning, coastal farmhouse.

For Kate, the project initially began with developing an entire “modern coastal farmhouse” concept. “Many of the builders in the area were doing the same sort of traditional Cape Cod coastal style, so we wanted this home to stand out and make an impact, ”she says. While the new homeowners were open to the modern farmhouse aesthetic, they leaned more towards traditional design. Kate embraced the challenge of utilizing those traditional design elements while keeping her original concept of coastal modern farmhouse as the end goal.

Eye-catching design choices draw you in from the moment you step through the front door.

ACHIEVING BALANCE

Eye-catching design choices draw you in from the moment you step through the front door. “The entire entry and laundry are anchored with a limestone brick that we laid in a herringbone pattern,” Kate says. “This is a really fantastic juxtaposition to the linear wall paneling and balances the deep tones of the front door.”The durable brick is also family friendly and can handle the constant onslaught of water and sand that inevitably come with a home near the beach. A family room on the top floor incorporates this same brick pattern and even carries over to a deck outside to create a dreamy indoor and outdoor living space with views of the Pacific.

One of designer Kate Lester’s favorite pieces in the home, this vintage butcher table anchors and grounds the entire room with its size and warmth.

(top right) The bold, black front door is balanced by the gray limestone tiles that anchor the entry. (right) The herringbone-patterned brick paired with some unique found pieces and white paneling makes even this hallway visually stunning.

White paneling, a natural wood bench and these hanging hats are the perfect welcome into this modern coastal farmhouse.

In this dreamy white kitchen, a fully black island makes a dramatic statement and adds the perfect amount of contrast. Choosing a black base and countertop was a bit of a risk, but one that Kate feels paid off.

A vintage rug adds texture and warmth in the bright, airy kitchen.