For those who’ve been following alongside, you recognize that we’re deep within the course of of reworking a Nineteen Fifties Malibu seaside bungalow into our household’s retreat (get caught up on our Renovation Diaries right here!) After a years-long allowing course of, we’ve lastly begun building. The silver lining is that every one these delays gave us ample time to plan each potential design element.
At present we’re diving into considered one of my favourite design matters: the best way to curate the right mixture of supplies for a house. Learn on for my method—and the supplies we’re utilizing in our Zuma Seaside Home renovation.
Supplies actually matter—right here’s why
that feeling of sinking your toes into a brilliant delicate rug if you climb off the bed within the morning? That cocoon-like state is the precise feeling I need to evoke every time I’m house. Textures and supplies have a profound influence on how an area feels, shaping our on a regular basis experiences and feelings.
For me, materials selections are simply as necessary as colour and type. They will create a way of heat, serenity, and even pleasure in an area.
By way of supplies, we will improve our each day experiences—whether or not that’s the graceful coolness of stone underfoot, the heat of wooden grain, or the handcrafted irregularities of clay tile.
Outline the Vibe
I began this course of by making a temper board that defines the supplies and colour palette I need to carry all through the seaside home. Whereas some love the thought of utilizing a distinct tile and paint colour in each room, I crave a way of continuity and calm. I choose a impartial palette with constant supplies, including depth and curiosity by way of texture—mixing onerous in opposition to delicate, clean subsequent to tough.
I’m all the time drawn to pure components—stone, wooden, linen, and clay. These supplies deliver an natural heat that feels each grounding and timeless. As we’ve refined our choices, these components have guided our choices, illuminating the earthy hues that naturally include them.
Order samples
All through the method, I’ve been ordering as many samples from potential distributors as potential. I’ve began laying them out, facet by facet, to see how every factor performs in opposition to the others. Particularly when working inside a impartial palette, it’s these delicate textural contrasts that deliver depth to a house, creating the distinction and rigidity that invitations the attention to linger, soak up, and discover distinctive magnificence in every area.
The Supplies We’re Utilizing in Our Zuma Seaside Home Renovation
My purpose is to let these supplies shine of their pure state—conserving finishes unvarnished wherever potential to permit their uncooked magnificence to take middle stage.
For the Exterior Cladding: Redwood
Among the most impactful design choices are those you agonize over essentially the most—as a result of they’ve the facility to outline a house’s complete aesthetic. Selecting our exterior materials was a kind of moments.
Whereas we’ve all the time liked stucco houses (as evidenced by our present Mediterranean-style house), the soul of this seaside home is rooted in surf shack vibes. A timber-clad exterior felt like the best method to honor that essence. After a lot analysis, we landed on California redwood, sourced from Humboldt Sawmill (considered one of our Sundown Concept Home companions.) Redwood is of course proof against bugs and decay, making it a extremely sturdy selection. Plus, sustainability is a core worth of this renovation, and Humboldt Sawmill’s operations are licensed by the Forest Stewardship Council.
I really like the nice and cozy tones of redwood much more with age, so we’re working with our builders to deal with the wooden in order that it develops that stunning patina even quicker. Keep tuned.
For the Partitions: Plaster and Sheetrock
Wall finishes have been considered one of our largest debates. Adam and I each love the depth and texture of plaster, however it’s an even bigger funding and takes extra time to use (you possibly can examine our journey to plaster partitions in our Austin home.) The choice—clean sheetrock painted in a delicate, semi-matte white—additionally captures the ethereal, beachy really feel we’re going for.
So, we’re doing a combination: Plaster in key areas like our nice room addition and first bed room, the place we’ll embrace adverse area with subtly textured, earthy partitions. Sheetrock in every single place else—painted in a custom-matched hue so the transition between supplies is seamless.
For our plaster finishes, we’ll be utilizing Roman Clay by Portola—colour TBD. Our sheetrock can be painted a coordinating shade of Benjamin Moore paint, which is all the time my go-to for its high-quality and exquisite array of colours.
For Exterior Accent Partitions: El Dorado Stone
So as to add dimension and a way of natural magnificence to the outside, we’re incorporating El Dorado Stone in Nation Rubble on choose accent partitions. I’ve all the time liked the depth and character that this manufactured stone brings—it has the genuine, aged look of pure stone whereas being extra light-weight and sustainable. It will tie collectively the pure components of the redwood siding and provides the house a wealthy, textural attraction.
For the Counter tops: Caesarstone
I’m endlessly fascinated by the varied kinds of stone—there’s one thing romantic and nearly mysterious a couple of dramatic vein operating by way of a slab of marble, or a timeless piece of moody soapstone. However when it got here to picking an exquisite and sturdy stone for our counter tops and backsplashes, I actually didn’t take into account something in addition to Caesarstone, which I’ve used and liked on the final three main design initiatives I’ve tackled. My present kitchen counter tops have stood as much as large put on and tear with out a lot as a scratch or a stain.
Since I’m incorporating it in each the kitchen and baths (whilst slabs on the ground and partitions within the main tub!), I’m mixing a couple of totally different colours:
- Aluminous – “Concrete meets porcelain in a lightweight, impartial floor that appears like contemporary cement, porous and barely uneven, contrasted by fine-grey grains and a delicate stony look that add a rocklike texture.”
- Mirabel – “An ivory base blended with washed clay in a daring and complicated metamorphic construction…the opaque depth of onerous marble with the delicate translucency of alabaster.”
- Marenstone – “A dry impartial base infused with ivory and beige granules, like superb particles of sand and crushed shells that morphed into an historic stone over millennia. Mottled highlights and brown scuffs evoke the rugged look of a humble sedimentary rock.”
Pure Wooden Flooring and Cabinetry
All through the home, we’re utilizing Stuga flooring within the shade “Ingrid“. Made in Europe, Stuga’s engineered hardwood flooring have a shocking pure aesthetic, with large planks that deliver heat and timelessness to the area. Their matte end and lightweight, impartial tones will completely complement our beachy, ethereal design aesthetic.
We’ll even be doing {custom} cabinetry in White Oak, which is considered one of our larger ticket investments on this renovation. Each design undertaking has taught me just a little extra about the place to avoid wasting and the place to speculate, and for me, cabinetry is a kind of areas the place it’s value it to go together with a really well-built high-quality choice.
Terra Cotta Tiles
I’m obsessive about the terra cotta tiles from Clay Imports that we’re incorporating into a pair key areas. These attractive tiles are handcrafted in Mexico and so particular. Within the out of doors kitchen, these tiles will add a heat, earthy texture that makes the area really feel like a real out of doors room. We’re additionally contemplating utilizing them within the bunk room lavatory, including a country distinction that enlivens what’s at present a extra impartial area.
Clay Zellige Tiles
Each renovation wants a component that offers you butterflies, and for me, that’s clay zellige tiles. Not like overly ornamental tile, zellige is all about natural texture, bringing heat and dimension to an area.
These Moroccan tiles are handcrafted utilizing centuries-old strategies. Their sun-dried, hand-glazed floor means no two are alike—giving them a wabi-sabi imperfection that I really like.
Ours are coming from Zia Tile, and I’ll be utilizing the next choices in numerous loos, in addition to the visitor home kitchen:
Though I’m in love with this materials, tile nonetheless scares me a bit! There are such a lot of elements to contemplate: horizontal versus vertical, stacked versus staggered versus herringbone lay… after which there’s the grout! I’m reminding myself that, typically, you’ve simply obtained to do the analysis after which take a leap.
For {Hardware}: Unlacquered Brass
Plumbing fixtures and {hardware} might look like small particulars, however they’ve a big impact. Unlacquered brass has been on my dream listing for years, and this seaside home is lastly the right place to make use of it. The heat and softness that unlacquered brass brings to a kitchen or tub would really feel proper at house within the informal, sun-bleached palette I’m envisioning for the home.
I’ve heard many cautionary tales about utilizing unlacquered brass (often known as a “dwelling end”). There’s upkeep—you need to use a particular cleaner, and most consultants advocate putting in a water softener. You additionally must embrace the patina and the age that occurs over time—type of like the choice to make use of marble, you need to be prepared for it to look “imperfect” with use. I see charming character, whereas others would possibly see flaws.
In my analysis, I’ve realized that it takes a couple of 12 months for unlacquered brass to age naturally. Nonetheless, if you wish to pace up the getting old course of (like I do), you need to use vinegar, salt, or a brass getting old product. After heaps of various choices, I’ve settled on Kallista’s unlacquered brass fixtures, primarily from the attractive One assortment.
Extra to Come…
Designing a house from the bottom up means there’s all the time extra to resolve—however that’s what makes it thrilling. As we finalize extra supplies, I’ll share updates right here, so keep tuned for extra behind-the-scenes particulars on our Zuma Seaside Home renovation.
