Respect for the Past

Morrison Interiors updates an iconic California Mission-style home built in 1928 with modern grace

Once home to Diane Keaton, this legendary California Mission-style home nestled in the Shaw Cove area of Laguna Beach had undergone years of renovations that weren’t really honoring its original intention. They enlisted Morrison Interiors to rethink the home so that it catered to their modern life while embracing some of the original details including terracotta floor tiles, hand-painted ceilings and beams. “Our approach to the design was to pay homage to it’s early California Mission roots, but with modern accents and functionality,” says founder and creative director Denise Morrison. “The construction related updates still feel very complimentary to the style of the home with a Spanish leaning style, hand made qualities, tumbled edges, etc, but we introduced moments of modern which created a beautiful juxtaposition. This juxtaposition was also carried through to the furnishings—we enjoyed mixing both traditional and modern silhouettes, fabrics, and art in a way that feels timeless, interesting, and collected.”

The 5,100-square-foot beach abode sits just above Shaw’s Cove, with multiple decks that take advantage of the endless views. “All along the way the client was very intentional and thoughtful with regards to the end use of the home and each of the spaces,” Morrison recalls. “They wanted to ensure it remained a true beach house where friends and family could come in and all the spaces had a casual and welcoming feel. The client  had spent time in the home prior to the remodel so they really knew the ins and outs of how they functioned in the spaces and what they wanted to update to better accommodate the way they live.”

This included introducing updated tiles, stone and cabinetry in new spaces including a proper butler’s pantry and prep kitchen where they could make homemade pizzas. “To accomplish this, we moved an exterior door and laid out the new prep space to allow for a sizable counter space with open shelves above for rolling out the dough, selecting all the toppings, etc,” she notes. “Similarly, the primary bedroom was laid out to include a smaller working table for the client to be able to take calls and work from while in the home.”

With many tiers and rooms, the goal was to carve out multi-use spaces that were practical and durable. “The room which proved to be the most challenging was really the lower level ‘beach room’ as it serves many functions for their family,” says Morrison. “The space opens up to the exterior so it gets the most exposure to anyone right off the beach (sandy feet, wet bottoms) and it also serves as an overflow room for guests. We went back and forth on the layout to get it just right—the rug and all the fabrics are outdoor rated, and we created ample seating (including a sleeper sofa) and easily moved ottomans to allow for flexibility.”

Now the home is bathed in inviting prints, textures and hues that enhance the historic elements and pull in the surrounding environment from the sweeping views. “The large windows that frame the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking,” Morrison notes. “But beyond the view, I think the history of the home is the most significant. There is such beauty in the original wood floors, terracotta tiles, decorative stair riser tiles, railings, etc that provided this amazing backdrop to layer upon. These details also make it charming, more approachable and welcoming.”

When asked how the clients reacted during the reveal Morrison proclaims, “We always enjoy doing a ‘reveal’ with our clients where we walk through the home and celebrate as a team the completion of the project. It’s wonderful to see the smiles on their faces when they see all the little details that were decided along the way come to life.”

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