Perched on top of a canyon in east county San Diego, this Mount Helix home combines Mid-Century Modern style with the open, single-story floor plan popular in the region. The beautiful view boasting iconic California country elements and the client’s love of vintage, old world charm was the perfect starting point to create a great room, family room, and kitchen that feels warm and welcoming for a young family while also looking elevated and fresh. One of my personal favorites, the stylistic approach for the project is very aligned with my particular aesthetic vision of blending new pieces with old, vintage finds for an overall modern-yet-quirky mix that brings personality and storytelling into interior design.

Like a breath of fresh air coming in from the tree-lined backyard, I repainted the entire house, including vaulted ceiling and beams, White Dove from Benjamin Moore to brighten and lift it from the get-go. The original laminate floors were entirely replaced with wide, eight-inch white oak planks with rustic details that bring the California outdoors inside and pay homage to the overall community vibe. Sourced from France, the flooring is a functional nod to the client’s heritage that later informed many of the decorative choices. Board and batten was installed on both sides of the dining area to add an architectural interest to the space. I redid both of the fireplaces to be focal points and bring continuity to the rooms. The fireplace in the great room is trimmed with wall sconces, millwork, and graphic black-and-white concrete tiles from Tierra Y Fuego that play off the board and batten geometry. The family room fireplace, built from brick, received a white wash coat of paint to update the look while the custom pine mantle nods to raw nature and the firewood inside. I added a hearth in an inverse graphic concrete tile to tie it all together.

The real standout of this project is all the decorative details that add visual richness while giving new life to family heirlooms passed down for generations and sourced antique treasures—there are so many special pieces throughout this house. One of my favorites, a console from her great Aunt Lil, greets guests in the entrance. The 100-year-old console is testament to how well made vintage pieces can be, providing functional storage, while we updated the hardware to make it easier to use. A centerpiece, we further bring it into the current century by styling it with some fun accessories like country-living cowboy hats, a curved wooden mirror, and framed landscape that plays off the neutral color story. A basket, stool, and lamp, all from Crate and Barrel, finish it off and proves that new can look at-home with old. Another heirloom, the marble-and-brass oval coffee table from the same aunt anchors the great room with chic presence. I added an olive velvet skirted sofa and clean linen-and-cane club chairs to complete the seating area while a large-scale abstract oil painting from the client’s colleague makes a bold, artistic statement. In the dining area, the client’s love of funky finds gave us license to source these swans from Home Goods and we refreshed them with clay paint to underscore the vintage, old world theme that weaves throughout the living spaces.

The kitchen needed a facelift but not necessarily an overhaul as we kept the existing granite countertops, cabinetry, and sink–both an eco-friendly and budget-friendly choice. I lacquered all of the cabinets in Shady by Dunn Edwards, highlighting the tones in the granite, and added molding to give them a built-in appeal. I changed out all of the hardware in the kitchen for brass and installed a new faucet. As stylish finishing touches, I changed out the original pendant lighting for glass globes and brought in French bistro stools for a brasserie feel. New window treatments warm everything up, an inviting reminder that the kitchen is truly the heart of the home.

This project is super special to me because it showcases both of the clients’ tastes, optimized their budget, and it felt good to ultimately give back to friends. The mix of old and new, high and low, while being clever with sourcing and creative solutions prove that inspiring interior design that speaks to one’s personal style can be both accessible and achievable to anyone.