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My Houzz: Cheerful, Eclectic Modern Beach House
Lively patterns, vivid colors and a spot for band practice jazz up a spacious beachfront home
Design is my passion. Before freelancing from my Southern California home, I was an art director for many years. When it comes to home decor, I love mixing vintage, worn pieces with modern clean lines bringing the right balance of comfort and style. Whether it's decorating, graphic design, photography, or repurposing a fun flea market find, I embrace every design challenge with enthusiasm and an opportunity to make something a little more beautiful.
Design is my passion. Before freelancing from my Southern California home,... More »
Eight years ago, Erin Lee-Hawk happened upon an open house while jogging in a Leucadia, California, neighborhood and thought, "Oh, wow, I could spend my life here." She always fantasized about having a home her kids could one day say that they grew up in, and this was the place. The house, however, was long overdue for some major remodeling and updating.
Eight years later, Lee-Hawk has redecorated and reworked every single space in the house and now never wants to leave this beautiful oceanfront home, which is about 25 miles north of San Diego. She shares the home with her partner, Jeremiah Miller, along with her boys, Spencer and Keegan, and soon-to-be adopted daughter, Urmilla, from India.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin Lee-Hawk, Jeremiah Miller and children Spencer, Keegan and Urmila
Location: Leucadia, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths
That's interesting: The foyer is used as a studio for rock music practice.
Eight years later, Lee-Hawk has redecorated and reworked every single space in the house and now never wants to leave this beautiful oceanfront home, which is about 25 miles north of San Diego. She shares the home with her partner, Jeremiah Miller, along with her boys, Spencer and Keegan, and soon-to-be adopted daughter, Urmilla, from India.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Erin Lee-Hawk, Jeremiah Miller and children Spencer, Keegan and Urmila
Location: Leucadia, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths
That's interesting: The foyer is used as a studio for rock music practice.
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by Shelley Gardea
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| Lee-Hawk is generally a very happy person, and her interior style reflects that. She tends to follow designers with an eclectic, cheerful and modern aesthetic, such as Jonathan Adler and Jennifer Delonge. She also likes iconic Eames pieces and pretty much anything with a modern but globally diversified vibe. Lee-Hawk is also a fan of the design studio Conscious Nest. "They create looks that are both sophisticated and organic all at once," she says. "Plus, they are an environmentally sound design company. All of our wallpapers came from them, and they have provided a lot of guidance in our decorating." Sofa: Cisco |
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by Shelley Gardea
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| Karl Kras of Kras Design Studio transformed the front of the home to give it a fantastic modern facade. "He turned a completely boring, flat, '60s facade into a kickin' modern presentation," Lee-Hawk says. The horizontal rich wood slats next to the variation in color tones in the garage door make for an unexpected and beautiful first impression. |
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| As you walk down the pathway along the side of the house, you enter into a courtyard filled with plants and a large copper sculpture wall fountain. Lee-Hawk says her gardening ideas came from Scott Ward at White Sage Gardening. "He's hands down the best around for potting and yard design." The white modern chair juxtaposed next to the vintage imported chair from India was designed by Jeremiah Miller. Lights underneath the planters provide nice ambient lighting. |
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| Karl Kras designed the unique front door, and Bill de Clairville of Chula Vista, California, hand-fabricated it in red mahogany wood. Creating a welcoming, smooth indoor-outdoor flow was the goal. |
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Original artwork by Jeremiah Miller of a mermaid and merman greet guests upon entering. Open bookshelves, drawers and a wall shelf are used for storage and displaying decorative items.
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The entryway, which was once part of the courtyard, now serves as a place for Spencer's jam sessions.
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| The open foyer is filled with light from large windows near the ceiling. The light-colored floors and walls add to the airiness, and pops of color and warmth from the woodwork create an inviting space. A contemporary green painting by Bradford Stewart hangs on the wall. Lee-Hawk says, "With tons of kids in the house all the time, everything we own needs to be kid friendly, preferably washable. If it's uncomfortable or can't be cleaned, it's out. I want to live in a house that's a home, and our kids need to feel like this is their place too, not just a showboat." |
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The long galley-style kitchen features beautiful rich wood. Repeated rectangular skylights add plenty of natural light and architectural interest. Notice the reflective silver door leading to the office. Miller silver-leafed the entire door by hand.
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| When Lee-Hawk purchased the home in 2003, it had a lot of peach and teal from the 1980s. "There was a lot of Southwestern wallpaper in several rooms with wild ponies and coyotes with handkerchiefs. I'm not kidding," she says. You'd never know how much the space has changed; the updates and remodeled areas feel as if they have been here all along. |
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| Flowers, feathers and a beautiful branch are natural elements that bring the outdoors in. |
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| Lee-Hawk's challenge with this house was figuring out how to keep the beach vibe and warmth that came with the bones of the house and still satisfy her need for a modern, clean esthetic that was also sand, dog and child friendly. In the family room she uses a mix of styles, like the streamlined low credenza and the darker rustic cabinet. Both sit behind the sofas, provide storage and visually work well together. The subtle shimmer in the fireplace tile is reminiscent of seashells and brings in a natural beach feel. |
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| The built-in sitting area is a great use of space in the family room. It doesn't take up as much room as movable furniture and utilizes the corner without blocking the amazing Pacific Ocean view. |
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Artwork by Richard Roberts in the dining area.
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The beautiful spiral staircase features red mahogany wood.
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| A detail of the spiral staircase. |
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| A sliding door serves as both a divider between Urmilla and Keegan's rooms and a place to showcase the kids' artwork. |
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| Urmila's room features a vibrant color palette and fun patterns. Butterflies flutter on the walls, and colorful pillows provide a cozy environment. The room's décor has an Indian influence that Lee-Hawk hopes will bring a familiar sense to Urmila's new surroundings. Wallpaper: Nina Campbell, Collection: Lombardia, Pattern Name: Farfalla (Butterflies) purchased at Conscious Nest Beds, Corner storage unit: Pottery Barn Teen |
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The corridor between the kids' rooms is the perfect place to display original comic strip art given to Lee-Hawk by Charles Shultz. Created just for her, these are truly a treasure.
The dark wood floor is reclaimed barn wood from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, and the locker-style dresser is from Pottery Barn Teen.
The dark wood floor is reclaimed barn wood from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, and the locker-style dresser is from Pottery Barn Teen.
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by Shelley Gardea
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| Keegan's green and teal room is full of life and color. Wall decals by Blik decorate the space above the bed, and colorful carpet tiles by Flor bring a playfulness to the room. The red kid-size chairs from Lexington Modern add a pop of color. |
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| Spencer chose his wild zigzag wallpaper, which is perfect for his rock star personality. He's the rhythm guitar player for a band called Step Forward Lads. Lee-Hawk says, "When Spencer picked his wallpaper, I nearly fell over. Now it's one of my favorite rooms in the house." |
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Any kid would be thrilled to have a loft like this one. With a glass barrier to keep the boys safe, the entire loft is a dedicated "Lego fun zone." It's a win-win space for both the kids and parents, since the toys and other works-in-progress don't need to be put away, and the adults don't see a visual explosion of toys on the floor.
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| The master bedroom is Lee-Hawk's favorite room in the house. "It tends to be the family gathering spot. We are all fans of breakfast in bed and morning CNN or SpongeBob," she says. The bold poppy wallpaper is by Osborne and Little from Conscious Nest, and the frothy linen bed coverings are by ABC Carpet and Home. |
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| On the opposite wall, tall vertical cabinets from BoConcept provide a modern storage alternative to a more traditional dresser. Double doors open up to a patio and let in fresh ocean air. |
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The updated master bath is fresh and modern with stunning glass tile. The organic form of the footstool contrasts nicely with the clean modern lines of the bathtub and the vanity.
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| The patio features three levels and steps leading down to the sand. Having quick access to the beach, the boys enjoy surfing in their own backyard. |
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| Being near the ocean provides a calming and peaceful effect on Lee-Hawk. When asked when her house really felt like it was her own, she says, "I was just going through a divorce when I moved here full-time. This house was a real place of healing for me. It was the first place in my life where I felt like I was the creator of my own space and identity. It was a growing experience, that's for sure. The style of my home has evolved as I have learned more and more about who I was as a woman and a mother on my own." She adds, "I feel like there is so much love here! The house embraced me, and I embraced it. We needed each other. Now I am fortunate to share this incredible place with my partner of five years, Jeremiah. Our home has continued to evolve as we have made it ours together." |
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A family photo on the beach. Spencer (holding Ivan), Jeremiah, Erin, and Keegan.
More Houzz Tours:
Modern Beach House With a Custom Twist
Victorian Style, Built for Fun
A Contemporary Beach House Dazzles
More Houzz Tours:
Modern Beach House With a Custom Twist
Victorian Style, Built for Fun
A Contemporary Beach House Dazzles
Ideabook updated on March 2, 2012.
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