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My Houzz: Japanese-Style California Beach House
Combining modern, Craftsman and Japanese aesthetics, a couple in Santa Cruz lovingly crafts a vacation home on the beach
Contributing home tour photographer/writer for Houzz, design enthusiast, blogger and photographer.
Contributing home tour photographer/writer for Houzz, design enthusiast,... More »
Anthony and Shannon Demma's home is steps away from East Cliff Beach in Santa Cruz, California. Anthony had bought it as a spec house — something he planned to remodel and sell. But as he and wife Shannon started the remodeling process, they fell in love with it and could not let it go.
Both are certified green builders. Together they own Living Design (Shannon handles the design, side and Anthony the construction) and he also owns A D Construction. They worked together to combine Shannon's modern aesthetic with Anthony's Craftsman style. "It wasn't easy, and it took a lot of compromise," says Shannon. "There were times when we were both saying, 'No way!' to each other." The family lived here for five years. Now the house is their Santa Cruz beach getaway and a vacation rental.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Shannon and Anthony Demma
Location: East Cliff Beach, Santa Cruz, California
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Both are certified green builders. Together they own Living Design (Shannon handles the design, side and Anthony the construction) and he also owns A D Construction. They worked together to combine Shannon's modern aesthetic with Anthony's Craftsman style. "It wasn't easy, and it took a lot of compromise," says Shannon. "There were times when we were both saying, 'No way!' to each other." The family lived here for five years. Now the house is their Santa Cruz beach getaway and a vacation rental.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Shannon and Anthony Demma
Location: East Cliff Beach, Santa Cruz, California
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
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by Shannon Malone
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| The couple had the option to create a second story, but that would have meant getting rid of the studio in the back. They decided to stick with the layout and the studio, which is now Shannon's mother's home. "It's nice not to have a monster house," says Shannon. "It's a nice scale for the neighborhood, and I have people come up to me all the time telling me how much they love it." This cherry blossom tree, red door and matching outdoor furniture hint at Shannon's love of Japanese style. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The house before the remodel. |
by Shannon Malone
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Anthony wanted every aspect of the home to feel personal and hand-crafted, so he created a Craftsman-style landscape abounding with custom elements. The cement tiles of the porch were hand-cast by Anthony, and the front gate was custom made by Albert Borges of Studio64 Ironworks.
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by Shannon Malone
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| Shannon loves to mix comfortable, cozy pieces with more modern decor. These vintage tufted heirloom chairs are some of Shannon's favorite pieces. "I love them," she says. "They've been re-covered like, four times." The accent pillows, from a Santa Cruz shop, are also some of her favorites. The lighting was custom made by Johnson Art Studio in nearby Watsonville. Couch: Couch Potato; rug: Modern Life |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The couple's color palette and design are considerably influenced by a Japanese aesthetic. The home is filled with thematic adornments and deep red hues. Local artist Glenn Carter and Lucas Carter of Definitive Fine Painting painted the textured red living room wall. The fan above the TV was passed down to Shannon from her grandmother. Shannon and Anthony wanted to raise the roof and ceiling to give the house more space within the guidelines of the county's building restrictions. At the time, many of the options were unattractive, until they found the Japanese farmhouse style. The couple were drawn to the Japanese style because of its woodworking and joinery. "The lines are simple, yet there is a complexity and thoughtfulness to how everything comes together," says Shannon. |
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by Shannon Malone
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| The kitchen has an abundance of cabinets, drawers and built-in shelves, maximizing storage space so that everything has a place and the space isn't cluttered. The couple used reclaimed Douglas fir and redwood throughout the home. |
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| Anthony had the Sub-Zero appliances built into the cabinetry, allowing the beautiful wood to be the center of attention. Bar stools: Crate & Barrel |
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by Shannon Malone
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| One of the couple's next projects is building a bench under the dining room window to create a cozy space to enjoy the surroundings. "This will be my new favorite spot in the house once it's done," says Shannon. Dining table and chairs: Crate & Barrel |
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by Shannon Malone
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| Shannon offers this advice to remodelers: "Think about it a lot before you build anything. I really wish we had sat down and thought about it more before we started; it would have focused us." |
by Shannon Malone
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The windows are designed by Anthony and handmade using reclaimed Douglas fir.
The couple chose to use a very dark brown hue on the walls to draw attention to the windows and their craftsmanship. "Dark colors draw your eye to the windows and put emphasis on the details," says Shannon.
Paint: Mink, Benjamin Moore
The couple chose to use a very dark brown hue on the walls to draw attention to the windows and their craftsmanship. "Dark colors draw your eye to the windows and put emphasis on the details," says Shannon.
Paint: Mink, Benjamin Moore
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The silver leaf in the living room ceiling was another custom addition done by Glenn and Lucas Carter.
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| Because the home is a vacation house, the beds have no frames, making them easy to move around and maintain. Duvet cover: Crate & Barrel |
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The master bathroom was an addition made by the couple to give the room a more luxurious feel. Its open design and sliding door help it feel large and inviting. The wood detailing on the ceiling is another nod to Japanese style.
by Shannon Malone
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The couple waited months to receive their stone order for the master bath but say it was well worth the wait.
Stone: Walker Zanger
Stone: Walker Zanger
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by Shannon Malone
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| The small guest bedroom uses every inch efficiently, with matching twin beds and a bookshelf that doubles as a nightstand. The large windows and a skylight fill the room with light. Duvet covers: West Elm |
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The 3form panel sliding doors, such as this one in the guest bathroom, help light flow freely, and the sheer panel creates a soft and tranquil atmosphere. They used the same style door between the kitchen and the laundry room.
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The panel door fills the guest bathroom with soothing light, perfect for relaxing after a day at the beach.
Shower and countertops: Fossil Green stone, Integrated Resources, South San Francisco
Shower and countertops: Fossil Green stone, Integrated Resources, South San Francisco
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by Shannon Malone
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| The sunny loft, now mainly used for extra storage, is accessible only to the family. |
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| The couple designed the small back patio with scale and efficiency in mind. They built in cabinets, with a surface hand-cast by Anthony, as well as a bench for extra seating. Mirrors along the fence give an illusion of more space. |
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Anthony doesn't believe in wasting anything, so when he had some extra pieces of stone from another construction job, he created this chevron-patterned pathway adjacent to the house.
by Shannon Malone
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Comments
stoney818 surprisingly beautiful, all the wood is just lovely.
13 months ago · Like
dunaramos very nice. Love the Japanese inspired touches!
13 months ago · Like
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olldbobbi Beautiful home, and who doesn't love Santa Cruz! Really good job.
13 months ago · Like
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Janet Paik What a great beach getaway. Kudos to Anthony and Shannon, and thanks for sharing this home with us!
13 months ago · Like
gailastwood beautiful
13 months ago · Like
Nat This house really caught my eye with all the attention to detail - beautifully done and the front landscaping is just stunning
13 months ago · Like
dpeters Love what you've done to such a plain house, quite lovely now. Wonderful landscaping!
13 months ago · Like
jlwms123 Absolutely love the wood trim on the windows! It's different and very warm.
13 months ago · Like
janois Japanese and Craftsman styles blend so beautifully together. Simplicity and Nature! I think I just added every photo to my faves.
13 months ago · Like
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Lauren beautiful house!!!.
13 months ago · Like
Dal Sohal Love the front exterior of the house. Nice touch with the red door and red flower accents!
11 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on May 6, 2012.
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