The Ins and Outs of Northern California Style
It's eco. It's modern. It's even a little bit hippie. But above all, Northern California style bridges the gap between inside and out
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
The design and architecture of Northern California closely match the culture of Northern California. It's open, casual and a little obsessed with the outdoors. When I think of a quintessentially Northern California style I think of Sea Ranch, architect Cliff May, wooden decks, natural fibers and skylights (OK, yes, and redwood hot tubs).
It's a place where natural light is as important as paint color and where "comfortable" and "cozy" are not synonyms. The coast is ever present, but the designs are not exactly beach style. And it borrows from everyone from the Spanish to the hippies.
It is, above all, a place where the line between outside and in is barely discernible.
It's a place where natural light is as important as paint color and where "comfortable" and "cozy" are not synonyms. The coast is ever present, but the designs are not exactly beach style. And it borrows from everyone from the Spanish to the hippies.
It is, above all, a place where the line between outside and in is barely discernible.
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by Catherine Opie
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| Cliff May was a father of the look. Skylights, natural lines, and lots and lots of light are signatures of his style. |
A modern take on the Cliff May style: natural wood, concrete floors and that magical NorCal light.
Skylights galore. On the Northern California coast it is often too cold to actually be outside, so we are big fans of bringing the outside in.
Open ceilings, natural materials, neutral colors and lots of light: all Northen California dead giveaways.
| Inside-outside homes, where the interior and exterior are hard to make out, are a way of life in Northern California. |
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| Open stairs, minimal design, lots of natural wood and, you guessed it, natural light galore. This is modern Northern California minimalism at its best. |
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| Much of the design of Northern California reflects the social atmosphere: elegant but casual and completely inviting. Yes, you could show up at a dinner party in flip-flops. |
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| Eclectic is the name of the game. Layered fabrics, lots of white and some requisite ethnic touches are all marks of Northern California interior design. |
Layered colors, exposed materials, mixed eras and bare windows create a simple opulence. It doesn't look overly decorated, but it does look intentional. Admission: This space is not in Northern California, but it gets its style from there.
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| Another indoor-outdoor room filled with light and airiness. The furnishings are classic modern pieces, and all the materials are exposed: wood, glass, cement. |
by Shannon Malone
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A little touch of hippie is a must. Draped lampshades work, as do funky ethnic throws, scarf curtains and a casual mixture of furniture. (No matching sets allowed!)
In Northern California we know how to sleep through the dawn light. As long as the neighbors can't see in, windows are bare and big. And, when you wake up to a view like this one, the decor just needs to hold back and be comfortable. No art is needed. For that matter, no color is needed either.
Ideabook published on June 13, 2012.
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There are houses for rent in Sea Ranch with big open patios and lots of windows that look out over the water. A girlfriend of mine goes a couple times a year. They rent 2 big houses and their WHOLE family spend a L-O-N-G weekend fishing and relaxing there for just a few hundred dollars.
Do you know if he actually did any design work on TSR ( the sea ranch ? ) I lived and worked up there for many years and never came across his name.
As someone mentioned above, please do check out St. Orres Inn. It is a masterful piece of architecture designed and built by Eric Black . The Whale Watch Inn has lovely views but architectually speaking I find it kind of dull ( I worked on both properties for 6 yrs ) Several very nice cafes and deli's in Gualala. For a real treat ask a local to point you in the right direction of 'Bowling Ball Beach', ... you'll love it.
You can also rent vacation property in Bodega Bay in the Bodega Harbor subdivision.
Thank you for featuring our apartment in your article on "Northern California Style."
Kind Regards,
Kim Parker