When you’ve been following alongside, you recognize that we’re deep within the course of of reworking a Nineteen Fifties Malibu seashore 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 attainable design element.
Immediately we’re diving into certainly one of my favourite design subjects: learn how to curate the proper mixture of supplies for a house. Learn on for my strategy—and the supplies we’re utilizing in our Zuma Seaside Home renovation.
Supplies actually matter—right here’s why
You realize that feeling of sinking your toes into a brilliant mushy rug while you climb off the bed within the morning? That cocoon-like state is the precise feeling I need to evoke every time I’m residence. Textures and supplies have a profound impression on how an area feels, shaping our on a regular basis experiences and feelings.
For me, materials decisions are simply as necessary as colour and kind. They’ll create a way of heat, serenity, and even pleasure in an area.
By supplies, we are able to improve our day by day experiences—whether or not that’s the sleek 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 seashore 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 favor a impartial palette with constant supplies, including depth and curiosity by texture—mixing exhausting towards mushy, easy subsequent to tough.
I’m at all times drawn to pure parts—stone, wooden, linen, and clay. These supplies convey an natural heat that feels each grounding and timeless. As we’ve refined our choices, these parts 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 attainable. I’ve began laying them out, facet by facet, to see how every aspect performs towards the others. Particularly when working inside a impartial palette, it’s these refined textural contrasts that convey depth to a house, creating the distinction and rigidity that invitations the attention to linger, take up, and discover distinctive magnificence in every house.
The Supplies We’re Utilizing in Our Zuma Seaside Home Renovation
My aim is to let these supplies shine of their pure state—protecting finishes unvarnished wherever attainable to permit their uncooked magnificence to take heart stage.
For the Exterior Cladding: Redwood
A few of 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 whole aesthetic. Selecting our exterior materials was a type of moments.
Whereas we’ve at all times liked stucco properties (as evidenced by our present Mediterranean-style residence), the soul of this seashore home is rooted in surf shack vibes. A timber-clad exterior felt like the precise solution to honor that essence. After a lot analysis, we landed on California redwood, sourced from Humboldt Sawmill (certainly one of our Sundown Thought Home companions.) Redwood is of course proof against bugs and decay, making it a extremely sturdy alternative. 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 lovely patina even sooner. Keep tuned.
For the Partitions: Plaster and Sheetrock
Wall finishes have been certainly one of our largest debates. Adam and I each love the depth and texture of plaster, but it surely’s a much bigger funding and takes extra time to use (you’ll be able to examine our journey to plaster partitions in our Austin home.) The choice—easy sheetrock painted in a mushy, 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 destructive house with subtly textured, earthy partitions. Sheetrock in all places 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 might be painted a coordinating shade of Benjamin Moore paint, which is at all times my go-to for its high-quality and delightful 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 at all times 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. This may tie collectively the pure parts of the redwood siding and provides the house a wealthy, textural attraction.
For the Counter tops: Caesarstone
I’m endlessly fascinated by the varied varieties of stone—there’s one thing romantic and virtually mysterious a few dramatic vein working by a slab of marble, or a timeless piece of moody soapstone. However when it got here to picking a fantastic and sturdy stone for our counter tops and backsplashes, I actually didn’t think about something apart from Caesarstone, which I’ve used and liked on the final three main design tasks I’ve tackled. My present kitchen counter tops have stood as much as huge 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 just a few totally different colours:
Aluminous – “Concrete meets porcelain in a light, neutral surface that looks like fresh cement, porous and slightly uneven, contrasted by fine-grey grains and a soft stony appearance that add a rocklike texture.”
Mirabel – “An ivory base mixed with washed clay in a bold and complex metamorphic structure…the opaque depth of hard marble with the soft translucency of alabaster.”
Marenstone – “A dry neutral base infused with ivory and beige granules, like fine particles of sand and crushed shells that morphed into an ancient stone over millennia. Mottled highlights and brown scuffs evoke the rugged appearance 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 surprising pure aesthetic, with vast planks that convey heat and timelessness to the house. Their matte end and light-weight, impartial tones will completely complement our beachy, ethereal design aesthetic.
We’ll even be doing {custom} cabinetry in White Oak, which is certainly one of our greater ticket investments on this renovation. Each design mission has taught me slightly extra about the place to avoid wasting and the place to speculate, and for me, cabinetry is a type of areas the place it’s price 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 outside kitchen, these tiles will add a heat, earthy texture that makes the house really feel like a real outside 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 house.
Clay Zellige Tiles
Each renovation wants a component that provides you butterflies, and for me, that’s clay zellige tiles. In contrast to overly ornamental tile, zellige is all about natural texture, bringing heat and dimension to an area.
These Moroccan tiles are handcrafted utilizing centuries-old methods. 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 bogs, in addition to the visitor home kitchen:
Despite the fact that 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, generally, you’ve simply received to do the analysis after which take a leap.
For {Hardware}: Unlacquered Brass
Plumbing fixtures and {hardware} might seem to be small particulars, however they’ve a huge effect. Unlacquered brass has been on my dream listing for years, and this seashore home is lastly the proper place to make use of it. The heat and softness that unlacquered brass brings to a kitchen or tub would really feel proper at residence within the informal, sun-bleached palette I’m envisioning for the home.
I’ve heard many cautionary tales about utilizing unlacquered brass (also called a “living finish”). There’s upkeep—you need to use a particular cleaner, and most specialists suggest putting in a water softener. You additionally must embrace the patina and the age that occurs over time—form 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 may see flaws.
In my analysis, I’ve realized that it takes a few yr for unlacquered brass to age naturally. Nevertheless, if you wish to velocity up the growing older course of (like I do), you should use vinegar, salt, or a brass growing older product. After a number of totally different 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 at all times extra to resolve—however that’s what makes it thrilling. As we finalize further supplies, I’ll share updates right here, so keep tuned for extra behind-the-scenes particulars on our Zuma Seaside Home renovation.
