Supplies Matter—How We’re Bringing Pure Magnificence Into Our Seaside Home Renovation

If you happen to’ve been following alongside, you understand that we’re deep within the course of of remodeling 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 development. The silver lining is that each one these delays gave us ample time to plan each doable design element.

At present we’re diving into one in all my favourite design matters: the way to curate the proper 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 understand that feeling of sinking your ft into a brilliant smooth rug if you climb away from bed within the morning? That cocoon-like state is the precise feeling I need to evoke every time I’m house. Textures and supplies have a profound impression on how an area feels, shaping our on a regular basis experiences and feelings.

For me, materials selections are simply as essential as colour and kind. They’ll create a way of heat, serenity, and even pleasure in an area.

By way of supplies, we are able to improve our each 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 concept of utilizing a distinct tile and paint colour in each room, I crave a way of continuity and calm. I choose a impartial palette with constant supplies, including depth and curiosity via texture—mixing exhausting towards smooth, clean 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 picks, these parts 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 component performs towards the others. Particularly when working inside a impartial palette, it’s these delicate textural contrasts that convey 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 Seaside Home Renovation

My aim is to let these supplies shine of their pure state—protecting finishes unvarnished wherever doable to permit their uncooked magnificence to take middle stage.

For the Exterior Cladding: Redwood

A few of the most impactful design selections are those you agonize over probably 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 house), the soul of this seashore home is rooted in surf shack vibes. A timber-clad exterior felt like the precise technique to honor that essence. After a lot analysis, we landed on California redwood, sourced from Humboldt Sawmill (one in all 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 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 one in all 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 partitions 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 combination: Plaster in key areas like our nice room addition and first bed room, the place we’ll embrace damaging 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 will probably 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 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 parts of the redwood siding and provides the house a wealthy, textural enchantment.

For the Counter tops: Caesarstone

I’m endlessly fascinated by the assorted varieties of stone—there’s one thing romantic and virtually mysterious a few dramatic vein working via a slab of marble, or a timeless piece of moody soapstone. However when it got here to picking a ravishing 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 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 (at the same time as slabs on the ground and partitions within the main bathtub!), I’m mixing just a few completely 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 shocking pure aesthetic, with huge 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 one in all our larger ticket investments on this renovation. Each design undertaking has taught me a bit of extra about the place to avoid wasting and the place to take a position, 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 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 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 at the moment 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 varied bogs, 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 elements to contemplate: horizontal versus vertical, stacked versus staggered versus herringbone lay… after which there’s the grout! I’m reminding myself that, typically, you’ve simply received 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 big impact. Unlacquered brass has been on my dream checklist 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 bathtub 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 “living finish”). There’s upkeep—you must use a particular cleaner, and most specialists advocate putting in a water softener. You additionally need to 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 velocity up the growing old course of (like I do), you should utilize vinegar, salt, or a brass growing old product. After tons of various choices, I’ve settled on Kallista’s unlacquered brass fixtures, primarily from the beautiful One assortment. 

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 further supplies, I’ll share updates right here, so keep tuned for extra behind-the-scenes particulars on our Zuma Seaside Home renovation.