Laidlaw Schultz Architects was responsible for the creation of this mid-century dream home in the beautiful community of Cameo Highlands in Corona del Mar, California. The homeowners have a love for gardening and desired to capitalize on the commanding views of this 1959 ranch house. The design solution for this renovation project was centered on the creation of two distinctive outdoor living spaces, while blurring lines between indoors and out.
The first is an entry courtyard with an emphasis on activity space – some shielded while others open to the sky; the second is a series of lower terraces on the downhill side of the lot, with views towards the Pacific Ocean. A quiet veranda overlooks the terraces, which are dedicated to gardening.
The project’s strict budget yielded a creative solution of exterior materials developed around a simple screening wall composed of horizontal and vertical lpe planks, and smooth exterior plaster with a standing-seam roof capping the composition.
Internally, where possible, walls were removed to capitalize on views; and a composition of textured elements, both smooth and rough, are juxtaposed to add a richness often lacking in modern homes.
Above: The courtyard is enclosed with weathering steel panels.
Above: The house numbers were custom fabricated for the home. The architect has recommended Design Within Reach’s Neutra series as a great alternative.
What We Love: This mid-century dream home exudes serenity, from the outdoor zen garden to the seaside views in the distance. The home library is amazing, with it’s floating shelves showcasing the homeowner’s vast collection of books and sleek furnishings. Overall this home accomplishes an incredible design feat of being very modern yet warm and inviting… Readers, what are your thoughts, does this home feel peaceful to you? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at a couple of other fantastic home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of Laidlaw Schultz Architects: Modest facade reveals sumptuous interiors in Corona del Mar and Modern hilltop pad overlooking Newport Bay.
Above: The wood flooring is an oiled Ipe, and while they need to periodically need to re-oiled, the open feeling that oiling creates is quite remarkable. The custom designed cabinets are Australian Walnut. The hardware was sourced from Hafele. The backsplash is a stone from Natural Stone Veneers International and goes by the name Olympia.
Above: The bookshelves were custom made with an upturned leg in the back, bolted to the wall. It was concealed to create the effect of floating shelves.
Above: The dining table was custom designed using reclaimed barn wood with a natural wax finish.
Above: The rectangular pavers are cast in place. The Ipe wood trellis acts as a simple rain screen. The homeowner regularly cleans and oils the wood to prevent it from becoming weathered, otherwise it would weather to a nice grey patina.
Above: A minimalist Zen rock garden offers a tranquil space for the homeowners to entertain family and friends while enjoying the moderate California temperature year-round. In addition to the gardens, an outdoor fire pit and Koi pond were added to soften the space and add an element of life. Cast in place concrete stepping stones coordinates with the trellis above. The garden wall features standard concrete to give a wood-like aesthetic. This was achieved by using 2×8’s to create the spacing.
Above: The sculptural Koi pond was constructed with reinforced concrete, adding visual interest to the courtyard, while adding a water element in the entry.
Photos: Courtesy of Laidlaw Schultz Architects
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