New Construction • Coastal Residence • Interior Architecture + Spatial Design
This project began as a custom coastal residence designed around architectural clarity, spatial flow, and long-term livability. Influenced by mid-century modern principles, Palm Springs architecture, and the relationship between light, texture, and proportion, the goal was never to create a house filled with features for the sake of excess. The goal was to create an immersive environment where architecture, materials, lighting, and function work together as a cohesive experience.
From the beginning, every decision was approached through both a visual and functional lens. The home was designed to feel calm, intentional, and highly livable — prioritizing circulation, integrated storage, durable materials, layered lighting, and minimal visual clutter. Material selections were intentionally restrained to maintain continuity throughout the house and allow the architecture itself to remain the focal point.
As the realities of designing and pricing a custom coastal build began to settle in, the project evolved from simply collecting ideas into refining a complete architectural experience. The process became less about adding more and more about protecting the atmosphere of the home. Rather than layering luxury features on top of each other, the focus shifted toward the elements that truly shape how a space feels to live in: lighting hierarchy, shadow, texture, scale, proportion, circulation, and the transition between day and night.
The architecture became the luxury.
What I’m most proud of is that the project still feels fully connected to the original vision — just more refined, more intentional, and more resolved through the process of building it.
design philosophy
The design philosophy for the home is rooted in architectural restraint, functional ergonomics, and long-term livability. Every space was approached with the idea that good design should support everyday living without creating unnecessary visual noise.
The project draws heavily from mid-century modern principles, Palm Springs architecture, and the relationship between form and function. Clean geometry, integrated storage, layered lighting, restrained material transitions, and consistent sight lines all work together to create an environment that feels immersive without feeling overdesigned.
Many of the layouts throughout the home were intentionally designed around coexistence and circulation. As a left-handed person living with a right-handed partner, usability and uninterrupted movement became important considerations throughout the kitchen, bathrooms, and shared living spaces.
The goal was never simply to design a visually beautiful home. The goal was to create a house that functions intuitively, ages well, and feels calm to exist within over time.
material and lighting strategy
The material palette throughout the home relies on a restrained hierarchy of finishes repeated across multiple spaces to maintain continuity and visual calm.
Large format concrete-look tile flooring, walnut vertical grain cabinetry, white oak accents, natural stone surfaces, black metal detailing, and Gentleman’s Gray architectural elements establish the primary visual language of the home.
Rather than relying heavily on decorative layering, depth is created through proportion, texture variation, shadow, and lighting.
Lighting throughout the home was approached as part of the architecture itself rather than simply decorative fixtures. The overall strategy prioritizes glow, reflection, shadow, and layered illumination over excessive brightness.
Low-voltage ambient lighting, integrated cabinet lighting, toe kick lighting, concealed electrical integration, and architectural lighting details allow the home to transition naturally between functional daytime use and quieter evening environments.
entry & stairwell
Originally intended as an open stair design, updated building code requirements ultimately required the staircase to become enclosed. Rather than treating the enclosure as a limitation, the design evolved into an opportunity to create one of the home’s strongest architectural moments.
The stairwell became a contained architectural volume connecting the lower level entry to the main living spaces above. Gentleman’s Gray architectural surfaces, layered lighting, black cable railing, large format tile stair treads, and white oak-look risers create contrast, depth, and continuity throughout the vertical space.
Windows integrated into the stair enclosure allow natural light and exterior views to shift throughout the day while reinforcing the connection between interior and exterior architecture.
The result is a circulation space designed to feel atmospheric and immersive rather than purely functional.
Kitchen
The kitchen was designed around symmetry, workflow efficiency, circulation, and long-term functionality.
The centered range wall creates visual balance while maintaining prep space on both sides of the cooking surface to support both left and right-handed use patterns. Drawer-based storage, concealed outlets, layered lighting, and integrated organization systems prioritize usability without sacrificing visual restraint.
Ten foot ceilings allowed walnut cabinetry to transition into white upper cabinetry above eight feet, reducing visual weight while maintaining consistent sight lines throughout the room. A large island functions as both workspace and gathering space while incorporating hidden functionality, integrated lighting, and concealed electrical access.
As the project evolved through pricing and refinement, select material applications were simplified while preserving the overall architectural intent, proportion, and functionality of the space.
The architecture and workflow remained the priority.
Scullery & Laundry
Positioned directly behind the kitchen, the scullery functions as a hybrid support space combining laundry, appliance storage, overflow preparation, baking support, and utility storage.
The goal was to absorb much of the operational side of daily living while allowing the main kitchen to remain visually calm and restrained.
As the project evolved, portions of the scullery were intentionally transitioned into future phases while preserving the long-term infrastructure and circulation of the space. This allowed the overall architectural experience of the home to remain intact while simplifying secondary operational elements during initial construction.
Living room
The living room functions as the primary gathering space within the home and was designed to feel visually calm while still maintaining architectural presence.
A built-in feature wall integrates storage, seating potential, and fireplace elements into one restrained architectural composition. Rather than relying on heavy decorative layering, the design focuses on proportion, material continuity, integrated lighting, and clean millwork detailing to create warmth and visual balance.
The goal was to create a living environment that feels immersive and comfortable while maintaining the broader architectural restraint established throughout the home.
Primary spa
The primary bathroom was designed as a spa environment integrated into the architecture of the home rather than simply a functional bathroom.
The layout was influenced by both the layered stone waterfalls found throughout Palm Springs landscapes and the dual-user bathroom layout featured in the film Big Business. The waterfall inspiration shaped the atmosphere, material palette, verticality, and relationship between water, light, and shadow within the space. The film reference influenced the decision to create a bathroom designed around coexistence and uninterrupted use.
Back-to-back vanities, dual water closets, layered lighting, heated surfaces, infrared shower heating, and a heated lounger all contribute to creating a more immersive and restorative environment focused on comfort, circulation, and sensory experience.
The result is a quieter and more intentional space designed around atmosphere, long-term livability, and the experience of slowing down rather than simply moving through the room functionally.
refinement through reality
One of the most important parts of the project became understanding the difference between adding more and refining intentionally.
As construction pricing, coastal building requirements, and engineering realities began taking shape, the project shifted from collecting ideas into protecting atmosphere. Certain finish applications and secondary elements were simplified or phased while preserving the core architectural experience of the home.
The goal was never to “cut back.”
The goal was to preserve what actually mattered.
Lighting hierarchy, circulation, proportion, texture, shadow, material continuity, and long-term functionality remained the priorities throughout the refinement process.
What emerged through editing was not a diluted version of the original vision, but a more disciplined and intentional one.