For those who’ve been following alongside, that we’re deep within the course of of remodeling a 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 development. The silver lining is that each one these delays gave us ample time to plan each doable design element.
Right this moment we’re diving into one in every of my favourite design matters: easy methods 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
You already know that feeling of sinking your ft into an excellent gentle rug if you climb away from bed within the morning? That cocoon-like state is the precise feeling I wish to evoke at any time when I’m residence. Textures and supplies have a profound affect 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 kind. They will create a way of heat, serenity, and even pleasure in an area.
Via supplies, we are able to improve our every 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 wish 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 want a impartial palette with constant supplies, including depth and curiosity by means of texture—mixing onerous in opposition to gentle, clean subsequent to tough.
I’m at all times drawn to pure components—stone, wooden, linen, and clay. These supplies carry an natural heat that feels each grounding and timeless. As we’ve refined our picks, these components have guided our selections, 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 doable. I’ve began laying them out, aspect by aspect, to see how every factor performs in opposition to the others. Particularly when working inside a impartial palette, it’s these refined textural contrasts that carry depth to a house, creating the distinction and rigidity that invitations the attention to linger, take in, and discover distinctive magnificence in every area.
The Supplies We’re Utilizing in Our Zuma Seaside Home Renovation
My objective is to let these supplies shine of their pure state—conserving finishes unvarnished wherever doable to permit their uncooked magnificence to take heart stage.
For the Exterior Cladding: Redwood
A few of the most impactful design selections are those you agonize over essentially the most—as a result of they’ve the ability to outline a house’s complete aesthetic. Selecting our exterior materials was a type of moments.
Whereas we’ve at all times cherished 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 best solution to honor that essence. After a lot analysis, we landed on California redwood, sourced from Humboldt Sawmill (one in every of our Sundown Concept Home companions.) Redwood is of course immune to 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 quicker. Keep tuned.
For the Partitions: Plaster and Sheetrock
Wall finishes have been one in every of our greatest 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—clean sheetrock painted in a gentle, 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 detrimental area with subtly textured, earthy partitions. Sheetrock all over the 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 at all times 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 at all times cherished 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 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 forms of stone—there’s one thing romantic and nearly mysterious a few dramatic vein working by means of a slab of marble, or a timeless piece of moody soapstone. However when it got here to selecting a ravishing and sturdy stone for our counter tops and backsplashes, I actually didn’t take into account something apart from Caesarstone, which I’ve used and cherished 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 bathtub!), 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 gentle stony look that add a rocklike texture.”
- Mirabel – “An ivory base combined with washed clay in a daring and sophisticated metamorphic construction…the opaque depth of onerous marble with the gentle 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 historical 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 huge planks that carry 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 one in every of our larger ticket investments on this renovation. Each design undertaking has taught me a bit 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 value it to go together with a really well-built high-quality possibility.
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 rest room, including a country distinction that enlivens what’s at present a extra impartial area.
Clay Zellige Tiles
Each renovation wants a component that provides 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 picks in numerous loos, in addition to the visitor home kitchen:
Regardless that I’m in love with this materials, tile nonetheless scares me a bit! There are such a lot of elements to think about: horizontal versus vertical, stacked versus staggered versus herringbone lay… after which there’s the grout! I’m reminding myself that, generally, you’ve simply acquired to do the analysis after which take a leap.
For {Hardware}: Unlacquered Brass
Plumbing fixtures and {hardware} might appear to be small particulars, however they’ve a huge effect. Unlacquered brass has been on my dream checklist for years, and this seashore home is lastly the right place to make use of it. The heat and softness that unlacquered brass brings to a kitchen or bathtub 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 referred to as a “dwelling end”). There’s upkeep—it’s important to use a particular cleaner, and most consultants 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, it’s important 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 discovered that it takes a few yr for unlacquered brass to age naturally. Nevertheless, if you wish to velocity up the growing old course of (like I do), you should use vinegar, salt, or a brass growing 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 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.
