Design

Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu Home

Myrtle Beach native and interior designer Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu beach house reflects her lifelong love of the ocean and her infinite imagination.

Since 1999, L.A.-based designer Kelly Wearstler’s signature Technicolor style has brought wit and whimsy to the interiors of coastal private homes and luxury resorts. To create her dreamy décor, Wearstler uses tropical hues, bold geometric shapes, and otherworldly objets d’art, many of which the designer procures herself. When it came to outfitting her own Malibu beach house, Wearstler, inspired by her surroundings, chose an atypical palette of earthy colors, but sacrificed none of the whimsy for which she’s known. –Lindsay Lambert

How often do you hear “This doesn’t look like a beach house?”
Never. Everything looks like a reimagined treasure washed ashore.

Why did you decide on a house in Malibu?
We already owned a property in Malibu when this one became available. Plus, you want something close enough to be able to enjoy on weekends.

What was this house like when you purchased it and how much work have you put into it?
All that remains of the original house is the foundation, which was like a warm and welcoming footprint in the sand.

What was your inspiration for the design?
My inspiration was the organic beachy setting itself; nothing more, nothing less.

You travel frequently for work. What do you look forward to most upon returning?
The home is so open and representative of its natural environment; once you step inside the front door, that feeling of the beach is upon you before you ever hit the sand.

What room gets the biggest reaction from guests?
The first floor is mainly glass facing west, and everyone typically remarks on the incredible view and proximity to the beach. “Wow!” is common, and my sons’ guests usually squeal, “When do we get to go swimming?”

What is your favorite part of the home?
On a bright sunny day, nothing beats the deck overlooking the Pacific. A comfy chair, a gorgeous sunset; I’m set!

What about ocean living do you love so much?
I grew up near the ocean. The surf flowing in and out is constantly invigorating to me, which is what makes oil spills all the more tragic. We have to do what we can to use clean energy and preserve our natural environment; where will we be without it?

Do you entertain much here?
Although the Malibu beach house is perfect for gatherings, we actually entertain more at our full-time home in Beverly Hills.

What is most challenging about living on the beach?
Leaving! It is so restful here, so peaceful and relaxing, with the wind, water, sand, and sun right at your back doorstep. Who would want to leave?

Do you work much out of this house?
No! Once the house was finished, it was all about down time.

What’s your favorite activity while here?
Spending quality time with my family. Time slows down there. We are all very busy, so when we’re together at the beach house, we try to make it special.

The Details:
Number of bedrooms: 5; Number of bathrooms: 6; Square footage: 6,500. Year purchased: 2005.

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Pamela Burton

A landscape architect in Southern California since 1975, Pamela Burton has long integrated sustainability into her design process by creating gorgeous gardens with as little impact on natural resources as possible. In the last decade, she’s seen an increase in clients who also espouse eco-conscious landscaping, but sometimes those who are “green” in theory might have a hard time fully embracing the concept for their own homes.

For one Malibu beach house project, Burton’s client originally wanted standard green turf lawn installed between the main house and the guest house that face the Pacific Ocean. Burton convinced the client that turf would require too much water to maintain, and that using dry beach sand to anchor ornamental grasses, mimicking the nearby hillsides, would be more environmentally sensitive. The resulting open space (which the client now adores) complements the surrounding chaparral (native shrubland). Yellow salt- and drought-tolerant plants add plenty of color to the scene, and the property’s winding sandy walkways effectively bring the beach to the garden.

Low-irrigation landscaping may be key to best-sustainability practices, but Burton says it’s not the whole picture, as even drought-tolerant plants need to be watered. Fortunately, as technology improves, we’ll see more state-of-the art rainwater and gray-water recycling systems in place at private homes. (Currently, high price points make them feasible mainly on large commercial projects.)

In the meantime, you can still be kind to the planet at your own home. Use plant materials that don’t attract pests, and minimize the pesticides you do use. To save energy, avoid gas-powered trimmers and blowers, and compost your own green waste (grass cuttings and hedge trimmings) rather than using municipal bins. While watering your lawn and garden on a clock timer is great, you’ll really impress your neighbors by installing a “smart” irrigation control system that releases water according to information gleaned from a weather satellite. 310-828-6373, pamelaburtonco.com. —Kara Williams

The Get: Rain Bird ET Manager

Over-watering the garden has always been something homeowners want to avoid, but increasing water scarcity has rendered this true now more than ever. The folks at Rain Bird understand that you want to have a beautiful, green landscape without depleting natural resources in the process. Rain Bird ET Manager is an irrigation system that uses hourly (not just daily) local weather updates and evapotranspiration, or ET, to water your yard only when you need it. The system is flexible and works with virtually any irrigation controller. The result is significant water savings and a healthier landscape. $676, rainbird.com.

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Island Hues

A family’s colorful Antigua compound exudes laid-back island appeal. By Regina Cole Read more

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Paradise Found

A triumvirate of home-design experts turns one owner’s wish for a winter escape into a modern marvel on the sun-drenched shores of the South Florida coast. By Anna Kasabian, photographs by IBI Designs.
Read more

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Bay Watch

A couple’s dream ocean home in the Abacos. By Regina Cole Read more

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Cape Cod Home Goes Green

The contemporary house high up on a bluff has it all: the ocean directly below, window walls aimed at heart-stopping sunset views, a flexible floor plan that can sleep a crowd or just a couple, a stylish interior, and, best of all, a green design. But it wasn’t easy; the site’s 115-foot elevation in Truro, Massachusetts is one of the highest points on Cape Cod.

“Energy-wise, this was a real challenge,” says architect Stephanie Horowitz, AIA, of Boston’s Zero Energy Design, which specializes in environmentally sensitive construction. “The elevation makes for unbelievable wind speeds,” she explains. “The orientation towards the sunset meant west-facing glazing. We compensated with a super-insulated envelope and solar panels on the roof. The house produces more electricity than it needs and sells the surplus back to the grid.” Heating and cooling comes from heat-exchanging wells; the radiant floor provides comfort and efficiency in highceilinged rooms without affecting air quality.

The homeowners, who have a number of children and grandchildren, wanted a vacation home that would contract and expand as needed. Horowitz responded with a building composed of two modules; one, containing multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, is closed off when the house functions as a couples’ retreat. Interior designer Michael Ferzoco of Eleven Interiors created rooms that are, according to the homeowners, “modern without that cold, austere look.” Ferzoco chose renewable and environmentally sensitive materials: bamboo flooring, natural and organic upholstery fill, local stone, LED lights, and several pieces of vintage furniture, including a Saarinen Tulip table.

With a shape influenced by the dramatic topography, the 6,200-square-foot house presents a modest façade to the street. Only on the ocean side does it reveal its explosive angles and expanses of glass. zeroenergy.com.

By Regina Cole

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Interior Designer Ron Dayan Gets it Done Well- and Fast

Ron Dayan is known for contriving some of the most exquisite and extravagant homes in the nation, often far ahead of schedule. From a house on Newport Beach to a Mediterranean-style estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California-based Dayan illuminates his creations through self-taught design and global inspirations.

“I’ve been known to do projects in recordbreaking time, even across the country,” Dayan explains. “Once a house is built, I am able to gather every element: hand-carved and hand-finished furniture, carpeting, upholstery, and accessories included, and transport them from the West Coast to the East Coast in three weeks.”

The avant-garde designer gathers inspiration from his international travels through some of the most architecturally stunning countries in the world, including Italy and England. After almost three decades in the design business, Dayan has decorated homes ranging from 4,000 to 40,000 square feet. His clientele includes Motown legend Smokey Robinson, LA Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Barry Gibb of The Bee-Gees, Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr., and many more.

“My clients always get something unique,” Dayan explains. “If a resource is unavailable, I don’t buy it. I don’t wait for anything.”

Not only does Dayan deliver extraordinary results, but he also keeps his clients’ best interest as his top priority. He believes that with today’s real estate market, a home is no longer merely a place where one lives; it’s the most expensive possession a person will ever own. For the last few years, Dayan has been taking a few steps further with his designs and elaborating on the bones of the various properties to increase the value, he explains.

“I design homes the way they should be designed, not to reflect the owner’s personality,” Dayan says. “It’s the art and accessories that reflect the owner, not the home itself.” piccadillydesigns.com.

—By Terri Ogan

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Venturi Flame Fire Tables

We can’t think of anything more relaxing than lounging outside on a penthouse deck overlooking the ocean in the early evening with a beverage and good company. But more often than not, building codes prohibit the use of firepits unless you live on the ground level. Fortunately, the designers at the Outdoor Greatroom Company have a solution: the Venturi Flame, a distinctive spinning flame lodged in portable fire pit tables. It runs on non-toxic, clean-burning gel biofuel and gas. The technology uses a turbo disc combined with a glass cylinder resulting in a unique twisting flame. Now, the only question is, where are the marshmallows? 866-303-4028, outdoorrooms.com.

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Christopher Wheat’s Custom Home Paintings

Selecting that ideal painting for your oceanfront home can be a daunting task. But sometimes the best idea is the one staring you right in the face. Why not have your own home or yacht framed in all its glory right there in your living room?

New England-based artist Christopher Wheat has been painting custom home portraits for over 20 years and has worked with over 500 clients. He works with you in determining the subject matter of the painting from the arrangement  of the gardens in the foreground to the amount of sea chop in the background. Based on where you decide to hang it as well as its overall size, Wheat then paints your ideal oceanfront portrait. 585-329-8997,

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Robert Hidey, Oceanfront Kitchen Designer

Southern California native and architect extraordinaire Robert Hidey has quite the eye for oceanfront kitchen design. Read more

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The Pour House

Choosing the right bathroom fixtures might not be high on your list of priorities when redesigning your home. Read more

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Design with Landscape Architect, Pamela Palmer

Want to merge your landscape with its surroundings? Get creative. Read more

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The Envy, Factor 001

A road machine made of a carbon-composite frame that is lightweight and fast.

The details: Includes ergonometric data recording. BERU F1 Systems, 44-0-1379 646-200, factor001.com. $34,000.

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Richard Hywel Evans’ Marine-Inspired Prickly Bay Waterside

It all started with a sketch on a napkin and a “what if?” conversation. Read more

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Comfy and Classy

The Sophia cushioned lounge chair

The folks at Pride Family understand that the ideal outdoor living space demands great furniture, so they designed a line of outdoor lounge chairs that meets your needs. The Sophia Cushioned Lounge Chair from the Castelle collection embraces an old-world design with aluminum construction. Turned-look legs and supports, as well as oversized custom cushions ensure that your comfort comes first. $1,942 (ottoman $1,595), pridefamilybrands.com.

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Rhode Island’s Ocean House

The rebirth of Rhode Island’s legendary Ocean House. Read more

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Tom Stilp’s Memorable Spiral Staircases

Building memorable grand staircases one step at a time with Arcways, Inc. Read more

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Italian Manufacturer Designs Outdoor Bathtub

Ask anyone who has ever taken an outdoor shower under a hot sun either at a private villa while on vacation or at their own beachfront estate, and the verdict is almost always unanimous: it’s the only way to get clean. Read more

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Swanwick Ranch

Award-winning architect, Marko Simcic, fuses classic ecology with modern design on the coast of British Columbia. Read more

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Garia Designs Luxurious “Golf Car”

When is a golf cart more like a luxury car? Read more

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