5 Pure, Cozy Supplies I am Utilizing In Our Seashore Home Renovation

In the event you’ve been following alongside, you already know that we’re deep within the course of of reworking a Fifties Malibu seaside bungalow into our household’s retreat (get caught up on our Renovation Diaries 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 one in every of my favourite design subjects: tips on how to curate the proper mixture of supplies for a house. Learn on for my method—and the supplies we’re utilizing in our Zuma Seashore Home renovation.

Supplies actually matter—right here’s why

You recognize that feeling of sinking your toes into a brilliant smooth rug while you climb off the bed within the morning? That cocoon-like state is the precise feeling I wish to evoke every time I’m house. Textures and supplies have a profound influence 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.

By means of 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 seaside home. Whereas some love the thought of utilizing a special tile and paint colour in each room, I crave a way of continuity and calm. I desire a impartial palette with constant supplies, including depth and curiosity by means of texture—mixing onerous towards smooth, 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 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 ingredient performs towards the others. Particularly when working inside a impartial palette, it’s these delicate 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 house. 

The Supplies We’re Utilizing in Our Zuma Seashore Home Renovation

My purpose is to let these supplies shine of their pure state—conserving finishes unvarnished wherever attainable to permit their uncooked magnificence to take heart stage.

For the Exterior Cladding: Redwood

A number of the most impactful design choices are those you agonize over probably 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 cherished stucco houses (as evidenced by our present Mediterranean-style home), the soul of this seaside home is rooted in surf shack vibes. A timber-clad exterior felt like the proper method 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 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 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 stunning patina even quicker. Keep tuned.

For the Partitions: Plaster and Sheetrock

Wall finishes have been one in every of our largest debates. Adam and I each love the depth and texture of plaster, nevertheless it’s an even bigger funding and takes extra time to use (you may examine our journey to plaster walls in our Austin home.) The choice—clean sheetrock painted in a smooth, semi-matte white—additionally captures the ethereal, beachy really feel we’re going for.

So, we’re doing a mixture: Plaster in key areas like our nice room addition and first bed room, the place we’ll embrace unfavourable house 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 Country 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. It will 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 varieties of stone—there’s one thing romantic and virtually 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 good looking and sturdy stone for our counter tops and backsplashes, I actually didn’t take into account something in addition to Caesarstone, which I’ve used and cherished on the final three main design initiatives 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 a number of completely 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 smooth stony look that add a rocklike texture.”
• Mirabel – “An ivory base combined with washed clay in a daring and complicated metamorphic construction…the opaque depth of onerous marble with the smooth translucency of alabaster.”
• Marenstone – “A dry impartial base infused with ivory and beige granules, like effective particles of sand and crushed shells that morphed into an historic 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 in the shade “Ingrid“. Made in Europe, Stuga’s engineered hardwood flooring have a shocking pure aesthetic, with broad planks that carry heat and timelessness to the house. 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 increased ticket investments on this renovation. Each design challenge has taught me a bit of extra about the place to save lots of and the place to speculate, and for me, cabinetry is a type of areas the place it’s price it to go along 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 beautiful 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 toilet, including a country distinction that enlivens what’s presently a extra impartial house.

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 methods. Their sun-dried, hand-glazed floor means no two are alike—giving them a wabi-sabi imperfection that I 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:

Though I’m in love with this materials, tile nonetheless scares me a bit! There are such a lot of components to think about: horizontal versus vertical, stacked versus staggered versus herringbone lay… after which there’s the grout! I’m reminding myself that, typically, you’ve simply obtained to do the analysis after which take a leap. 

For {Hardware}: Unlacquered Brass

Plumbing fixtures and {hardware} could appear to be small particulars, however they’ve a big impact. Unlacquered brass has been on my dream record for years, and this seaside 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 house 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 “dwelling end”). There’s upkeep—you must use a particular cleaner, and most consultants advocate putting in a water softener. You additionally should embrace the patina and the age that occurs over time—form of like the choice to make use of marble, you must 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 12 months for unlacquered brass to age naturally. Nonetheless, if you wish to pace up the getting older course of (like I do), you should utilize vinegar, salt, or a brass getting older product. After taking a look at heaps of various choices, I’ve settled on Kallista’s unlacquered brass fixtures, primarily from the beautiful One collection. 

Extra to Come…

Designing a house from the bottom up means there’s at all times extra to determine—however that’s what makes it thrilling. As we finalize extra supplies, I’ll share updates right here, so keep tuned for extra behind-the-scenes particulars on our Zuma Seashore Home renovation.