Moving halfway across the country can be daunting, to say the least, but this designer and her husband chose to view it as an adventure; just another chapter in their life together. From the Midwest to California, they aren’t looking back (!) and now enjoy a temperate climate, boundless natural beauty, and vibrant food and wine scene.

Although lucky enough to find a home that met nearly all of their wishlist, it was ripe for substantial improvements. A kitchen with ill-placed support beams and uneven ceilings; poorly fitted baths from 1981; tricky step downs into adjacent family and dining rooms; and a mix of heavy slate, ceramic and engineered tile flooring meant a clean sweep was needed. Adding engineered beams, new wood floors, and smooth ceiling transitions was essential, while moving a garage entry laundry to a former pantry closet freed up space to add a mudroom, deep storage closet, three refrigeration units, and an ample island. Meal prep becomes a cinch with induction cooktop, speed and wall ovens. Casual seating as well as room for large gatherings make this an entertainment haven.

The color palette based on a vintage California botanical print neatly reflects the views of coast live oak, blue oak, bay laurel, redwood, and oleander from nearly every room. The kitchen marble countertop sets the tone while the breakfast nook chair fabric lends itself beautifully to the tans, golds, browns, greys and flashes of color seen throughout the home. Mixed metals including brushed brass, polished nickel, stainless steel and chrome reflect on this palette as well. The manau cane counterstools echo the chocolate brown and quartersawn oak cabinets and bring a pop of color. The hall bath continues the natural theme and green accent while the master bath exudes a calm elegance.

Time to find the wine cork and enjoy that California lifestyle!