No wonder the couple craved a home that embodied serenity. They had been racing through their lives in Los Angeles for a number of years, enjoying the vivid entertainment-business world and raising their children.
They found their new calm, centered life in their second home, which they had been using as a weekend getaway. A 2,500-square-foot Malibu bungalow, the home offered ocean waves lapping at the shoreline and a gentle breeze that allowed them to open doors and windows most days.
Being in the bungalow full time, though, quickly showed them that the interiors were in sore need of help. Overall, they wanted a home that exuded peace, tweaked with jots of artistic color and form. A social couple, they needed space that could accommodate just the two of them as well as guests. The couple reached out to Amy Elbaum, principal of AE Design in Los Angeles, and a winning team was formed.
The home, located in the Point Dume Beach Club, was built in 1971. Before that, the setting was a mobile home community, which was converted to small bungalows.
“The setting is unique – with access to the water and the very relaxed lifestyle,” Elbaum says. “But the house didn’t quite fit with the geographic space, which is warm and welcoming. It had a super-modern, somewhat cold design to it,” Elbaum says.
Elbaum right away saw the potential of opening the three-bedroom home to all that nature offered. This led to interiors washed in sunlight and natural hues, and views of the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. The feeling is expansive and calm. Primarily, they wanted the view, Elbaum says: “They asked for an indoor-outdoor feel.”
Today, the magnificent view is front and center. Elbaum took full advantage, bringing in large swaths of retractable sliding doors and windows to fully open the scenery. All the windows were replaced and finished with sleek black trim. (The main view in the living room is through a 28-foot-wide wall of glass.) Natural colors in the interior sync perfectly with the natural terrain outside.
She saw that the bungalow’s pristine interior lines would benefit from a few eye-drawing but subtle features. Elbaum and the contractor, Miguel Arcos of AMG Contractors in Lawndale, California, totally remade the living room ceiling. “There were existing beams there, which we clad in white oak, and we added shiplap,” she says. That made a huge difference. The large open space feels more intimate.”
Almost all the furniture was replaced. “We kept things simple and neutral,” Elbaum says. Many pieces were custom made, including a large sofa filled with downy trillium by Landon Cole and a big coffee table with poufs underneath. Two swivel chairs can be positioned to face the fireplace.
The living area also had a lot of empty walls, which everyone decided would benefit from decorative features that were not always art pieces. “That’s why we added the fireplace in the living room and a bar off the kitchen, behind the sofa,” the designer says. A mirror reflects a beautiful arch.
Shelving flanks the fireplace. “We added storage everywhere we could,” Elbaum says. “The couple had downsized when they moved, and needed the space.” The flooring – the only feature the homeowners had renovated when they moved in – is durable engineered white oak, strong enough for a beach setting.
The primary bedroom and bath are soothing and easy to care for. The bath, with an arched partial wall, is a peaceful spot to recharge. Walls are clad in in porcelain tile with the warm feel of terrazzo.
The kitchen needed a heavy hand. The dark-red color scheme – European in style – and cold lighting, were out of sync with the home. “We didn’t change the layout too much,” Elbaum says. But the tones are completely different: Warm white and oak feel like a breath of fresh air. A warmer oakwood in the island and above the sink adds interest. A marble slab from the back splash up adds a touch of drama. The efficient and inviting kitchen is perfect for the couple, she adds, who cook a lot together. They also frequently entertain. The couple especially enjoys happy hour drinks on their spacious deck, which Elbaum and Arcos completed with sun loungers and a grill: perfect for another visit with the ocean.