My Houzz: Elegant Mediterranean With Room to Roam
A 1-acre home in Southern California gives a sports-minded family a place to swim, play hockey and basketball, entertain and enjoy the view
I'm a Southern California-based writer, editor, photographer and web content producer specializing in home and garden topics, landscape design, architecture, design history and the environment. Since 2008, I've been the Pool and Patio Guide for About.com, and am a home tour contributor for Houzz. I've also written for The Los Angeles Times, Westways, Emmy, KCET and PBS. I have a B.A. in Art from Cal Poly, Pomona; a certificate in fine and decorative arts appraisal from UCI and am a certified landscape designer. My house is a mid-century modern needing repairs, updates and tweaks. Luckily, my ancestors were artists and DIYers: they were making/building things way before the term do-it-yourself was coined.
I'm a Southern California-based writer, editor, photographer and web content... More »
Having grown up in Minnesota, Tim and Carol Hager were used to houses with lots of outdoor space. Minnesota's nickname is "The Land of 10,000 Lakes," and it's not uncommon for a homeowner to have a boat and dock on the property. When they moved to Southern California, the Hagers wanted their kids, ages 11 to 16, to enjoy that same sense of exploration and freedom within the safe confines of their own property.
They don't miss the snowy long winters of Minneapolis-St. Paul, but the Hagers' desire for more room and penchant for athletic activities prompted them to look for a home in a hilly horse ranch area near south Orange County. Their 1-acre Mediterranean-style property on a quiet cul-de-sac "felt like ours the day we moved in," says Carol. "The previous owners did a very good job choosing details like flooring, lighting and the different stone used throughout the house."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim and Carol Hager, daughters Kelsey and Micaela, son Jacob and dog Cleo
Location: Laguna Hills, California
Size: About 5,500 square feet; 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
That's interesting: During the 2005 remodel, friends and family of the previous homeowners wrote Bible verses on the wooden studs of the house as a blessing.
They don't miss the snowy long winters of Minneapolis-St. Paul, but the Hagers' desire for more room and penchant for athletic activities prompted them to look for a home in a hilly horse ranch area near south Orange County. Their 1-acre Mediterranean-style property on a quiet cul-de-sac "felt like ours the day we moved in," says Carol. "The previous owners did a very good job choosing details like flooring, lighting and the different stone used throughout the house."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim and Carol Hager, daughters Kelsey and Micaela, son Jacob and dog Cleo
Location: Laguna Hills, California
Size: About 5,500 square feet; 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
That's interesting: During the 2005 remodel, friends and family of the previous homeowners wrote Bible verses on the wooden studs of the house as a blessing.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Looking up at the house reveals a beautiful view of native grasses and wildflowers, such as mustard (Brassica rapa). All are native to Mediterranean regions.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The welcoming entry features a four-walled atrium with a a low, round fountain, grapevine-covered walls and seating options around an outdoor fireplace. While a private space, the courtyard is not fortressed from the street. Usually left open, a gatelike carved-wood double door is attached to tumbled-stone, mortared-joint pillars with a wood arbor that trains bougainvillea, an olive tree and other drought-tolerant plants. The entry door is a heavy, Tuscan-style, carved-wood door featuring a black grill over a peep window. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The entryway opens to a formal living room. The space features a carved white marble mantel, built-in wood bookshelves and a wrought iron chandelier. Simple beige tile floors and smooth white walls help emphasize the elegant wall sconces and graceful symmetry of repeated arches throughout the home. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Ornamental mirrors are placed strategically throughout to reflect fixtures and details.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Each room is connected through a series of arches. On the other side of a narrow wood and glass door behind the round dining table is a tall walk-in custom-built wine cellar. Table: TS Berry, Scottsdale, Canyon finish |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This air-cooled cedar wine cellar was an appealing move-in feature for Tim and Carol. Additional wine storage is also found in a blind half-arch beneath the staircase.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The warm glow of hanging fixtures along with natural light flows through the arched hallways, connecting the first floor rooms. The couple put a fresh coat of white paint on most of the interior walls because, Carol says, they "didn't want to distract from the arches and architecture of the house." |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The kitchen features Mediterranean touches of rough, exposed wood beams; carved, warm wood cabinetry; dark wood floors; granite countertops and a tile backsplash. The previous homeowners had three growing teenagers and remodeled the kitchen with almost two of each appliance, including two refrigerators and two dishwashers. Refrigerators: Sub-Zero; oven and microwave: Dacor; faucets: Grohe; pot filler Newport Brass; bar stools: Pottery Barn, sea grass honey weave |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| One of the first changes the Hagers made when they moved into their house (in June 2011) was to add a metal handrail to the staircase wall. With kids running up and down the wooden stairs, they were concerned about safety. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Tim and Carol's master bath suite is a series of small rooms connected by a long hallway, warmly illuminated by a pair of swirling metal chandeliers. White walls and polished stone floors give the space visual depth. The suite includes his-and-hers private bathrooms, showers, sinks and countertops, walk-in closets, a Jacuzzi tub and a makeup nook. Vanity stool: Sandra, Frontgate, cream |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Hockey-loving son Jacob, 11, plays on an award-winning regional team and shares a passion for the sport with his father. The walls come to life with hockey players mounted on foam core, positioned on and over wainscoting. Wall paint: Luna Pier, Dunn Edwards and Tea Time, Behr Ultra; NHL quilt: PB Teen |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Jacob doesn't have to go far to sharpen his hockey skills: The Hagers constructed a hockey rink at the bottom of their property. Jacob practices there with his teammates or with Tim. "Owning a house with land brings lots of upkeep that you might not be prepared for," says Carol. Currently, Tim is working on outsmarting moles that dig up holes in the lawn, further widened by family dog Cleo. Hockey rink design and construction: Mudd Industries |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The Hagers turned what was originally a horse barn and motocross garage into a recreation and media space. Carol is in the galley-style kitchen, which features a compact refrigerator, a microwave, a dishwasher and two types of beer on tap. Families of the children's hockey and soccer teams visit often, and when they do, they are never bored. A pool table recovered with red felt, a two-person game machine with vintage classics like Pac-Man and Frogger, a shuffleboard, arcade two-shot basketball, a ping-pong table, a 1970s slot machine and a big, comfy armchair sectional provide plenty of entertainment options. Light fixture over pool table: NHL Montreal Canadiens Hanging Billiard Light; beer dispenser: Beer Meister |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Oldest daughter Kelsey was surprised by a redecorated bedroom when she returned from a weeklong Yosemite camping trip shortly after the family moved in. Carol enlisted the help of interior designer Louise Moody to transform the space into a tropical retreat, which features access to a veranda overlooking the backyard and surrounding area. Moody painted the room, installed roll-up shades and added vintage-inspired tropical furnishings, accessories and wall decor. When Kelsey returned, she was thrilled with her surprise room makeover. Desk set: Ratana; paint: Dunn Edwards; Island Oasis quilt, prints, accessories and wall decor: Bamboo and Beyond |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Details like a stacked-starfish metal lamp, a carved-wood-fish wall hanger and a bold graphic turtle pillow give Kelsey's room a sophisticated tropical vibe. Kelsey plays on soccer teams and also enjoys surfing, boogie boarding and boating. Starfish table lamp: Uttermost; pillow and table: Bamboo and Beyond |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The room of daughter Micaela (seated) is lively and transitional. It reflects the things she enjoys: collections of plush animals and peace symbols, photographs, a strand of holiday lights and an indoor basketball hoop attached to one of the windows. The bedroom also has a small walk-in closet, a bathroom and a balcony, with a view of the front courtyard patio and neighborhood. Paint: Azure Sky, Dunn Edwards; duvet: Pottery Barn Kids (no longer available) |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Round mirrors from PB Teen hold Micaela's necklaces and ice skating medals, with PB Teen's bubble decals as a backdrop. Bins from Target store her toys and books.
Carol likes the location of their new home because, she says, "it's kind of like living in the country with all the horses and animals around, including goats next door, and many beautiful hiking trails. But we're also only a few blocks from Target."
Carol likes the location of their new home because, she says, "it's kind of like living in the country with all the horses and animals around, including goats next door, and many beautiful hiking trails. But we're also only a few blocks from Target."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The Hagers built a series of casual bar-height additions to a low wall. The simple horizontal bar is constructed of copper and is mounted on the retaining wall, while Pottery Barn bar stools offer an unobstructed view of the Orange County landscape below. Wax LED flameless candles are placed on the bar at night. Tibetan tall bar stools: Pottery Barn, mahogany stain |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| This is Carol's favorite spot to sit and savor the view over a cup of coffee with the sun on her back in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening. Her dream guests to join her for a toast? Steven Tyler, Jesus and maybe Andre Agassi. "Anyone fun and interesting who likes to drink wine," she says. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| One acre provides plenty of space for several outdoor rooms, including patios, balconies, a terrace and an infinity-edge swimming pool with built-in spa. Low walls built with rectangular and square-cut flagstone delineate the outdoor areas while leaving an open view. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A couple of ducks glide across the pool, entertaining Micaela (right), friend Chloe and dog Cleo. |
Ideabook published on April 10, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
can you give me advice about my home?