My Houzz: Cape Cod Style in California
A family of four transforms their Pacific Coast home with warm, beachy accents and plenty of space to entertain
I write about art, design and travel in Orange County and Los Angeles, California. Where I live: In a little cottage in Laguna Beach. My latest challenge: Trying to live as minimalistically as possible. Favorite philosophy: Live simply. Other favorite philosophy: Nothing feels better than living with art. Please contact me: dananichols8 [at] gmail.com.
I write about art, design and travel in Orange County and Los Angeles,... More »
When Julie and Rick Borgens bought this bluffside home in California's Orange County, the stunning ocean view and expansive outdoor space overshadowed the bland 1970s stucco exterior. But with the help of Todd Custom Homes, Tuvalu Home and R.J. Imports, they were able to remodel the space into a home worthy of its dreamy location. Native landscaping and a luxurious backyard pool helped complete its transformation into a Southern California paradise.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Julie and Rick Borgens and two daughters, ages 19 and 21
Location: Capistrano Beach, Orange County, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; four bedrooms; four baths
That's interesting: The outdoor dining table was custom-built with extra height so guests can see the ocean while they eat — whales and dolphins often swim by.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Julie and Rick Borgens and two daughters, ages 19 and 21
Location: Capistrano Beach, Orange County, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; four bedrooms; four baths
That's interesting: The outdoor dining table was custom-built with extra height so guests can see the ocean while they eat — whales and dolphins often swim by.
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| A teak furniture set and outdoor fireplace create a warm setting next to the home's backyard pool. Julie placed glass over an empty drum to make a table that can be filled with sand and seashells in summer and pine cones during the holidays. "As the seasons change and it gets colder outside, we move from the ocean side of the house to the fireplace on the pool side," she says. Driftwood heart and wreath: Tuvalu Home; drum table: R.J. Imports; teak chairs: Patio Outlet |
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| The grottolike swimming pool and spa are nestled into the home's backyard. Orange cape honeysuckle and blue salvia color the landscape around the pool. Landscape design: Jan Houghton, Houghton Design Group |
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| Instead of a traditional front door, guests enter the property through the garden gate that leads past the pool area. |
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| Julie loves to add her favorite accent color, bright blue, in careful doses so that it doesn't detract from the home's decor. She filled buckets with plants and seashells and grouped them on a blue chair to create a charming vignette in this outdoor area. Wooden chair and bucket: R.J. Imports |
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| Creative plant arrangements take the place of traditional art in this home. This six-wreath succulent arrangement in the entryway bridges the outside with the inside. Lanterns turned terrariums serve the same purpose in other parts of the house. "Art seemed too expected," Alter says. "So many people would just waste this space." Succulent arrangement: The Ivy Guild, Inc |
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| The home has three indoor and outdoor living spaces in total. Doors from this one open onto a deck perched high above an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. The custom fireplace surround is made of Canyon Creek stone from the northern Rockies. Palecek chairs and couch: Tuvalu Home; stone fireplace surround: Sepulveda Building Materials; TV frame: LCR Furniture and Design, Inc |
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| Julie wanted several intimate seating areas in her home instead of one large one. Each is diverse enough for entertaining, yet intimate enough for everyday living — like this downstairs space. "It's kind of interesting," says Julie, "but we do use every space." Seagrass chairs and tray: R.J. Imports |
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| Outside, a custom-built grill with a large backsplash provides privacy from the neighbors. Julie's favorite beachy blue appears in the ceramic vase. Rick enjoys winemaking, so the couple's next project is a wine cellar on the lower level, accessible through a secret door. Grill: LCR Furniture and Design, Inc. |
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| In the kitchen, custom cabinetry hides the refrigerator and microwave. Julie originally visualized a shiny white kitchen, but cabinetmaker Michelle Anderson of LCR Furniture and Design, Inc. recommended this antique-style version as a more suitable fit with the mix of teak and other imported woods throughout the house. An oversized navy island provides plenty of prep and entertaining space. Turquoise vases: Tuvalu Home |
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| Upstairs at the stairwell landing, an open media room serves as the home's third living area. The window seat, with an ocean view, is one of Julie's favorite spots in the house. The brown leather sofa came from Costco, the company where Rick has worked for 30 years. Glass lamps and drum table: Tuvalu Home; master bedroom bed (through the doorway): R.J. Imports; framed artwork: Tuvalu Home; sofa: Costco |
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The bedrooms are simple and modest in size compared to the home's entertainment areas. "Other than sleeping, we don't hang out in our bedroom a whole lot. No sitting chairs or anything," says Julie. A mirror, instead of a dresser, makes the room look and feel bigger. This large piece reflects the ocean view all around the master bedroom.
Paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware; bedding: Pottery Barn; mirror: R.J. Imports
Paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware; bedding: Pottery Barn; mirror: R.J. Imports
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| The guest room overlooks the pool side of the house, and another large mirror reflects light. Mirror: R.J. Imports; lamps, pillows and seashell blanket: Pottery Barn; striped coverlet and blue throw: T.J. Maxx; bed: Urbanism Furniture, Costa Mesa, CA; paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware |
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| Glass railings on the deck frame the ocean view, but the couple found that a regular 36-inch-high dining table wasn't tall enough to allow diners to see over it. "You were always looking through the railing at the ocean. So we had this table made at bar height so we could see over the railing," says Julie. Custom bar-height dining table: LCR Furniture and Deisgn, Inc.; chairs: Patio Outlet |
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Backyard plants were selected for low water usage, ground-hugging color and textural interest. Both sides of the pathway are landscaped with native plants and succulents such as sedums and aeoniums, dwarf agaves, salvia, California fuchsia, ceanothus and sea lavender. The stone pathway leads to another firepit down the hill.
Log planter: Plant Depot; landscape design: Jan Houghton, Houghton Design Group
Houzz call: Do you live in a beachfront home? Share it with us!
Log planter: Plant Depot; landscape design: Jan Houghton, Houghton Design Group
Houzz call: Do you live in a beachfront home? Share it with us!
Comments
Nat what a beautiful beachside home
11 months ago · Like
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mohu Wow this to me is so beautifully planned and orchestrated. It is stylish, balanced yet has such a homey feel to it. Well done.
11 months ago · Like
SPACIFY INC, Gorgeous ideas!! So chic!
11 months ago · Like
candycrowson love the walls in the vacation cottage home
11 months ago · Like
Dani Jackson Wow this is a beautiful beach house , Have you had any hurricanes in that area? I'm so afraid to live near the beach. Thank you for sharing.
11 months ago · Like
586rtnow Great Job on renew of a great home!Great Ideas and smart.
11 months ago · Like
Cindy Strobel Love the use of the entry with the succulent wreaths! A unique idea! bringing the ocean into the home!
11 months ago · Like
Karen Heffernan With all due respect to the comment that said they see no cape cod style, I have to disagree. I've lived in the Cape Cod area for over 13 years, and lived in Orange County for 5 years. The house style is obviously Cape Cod style with its grey shingles, and its simple architecture. Definitely not typical in Orange County, where the majority of houses are stucco with tiled roofs. Just because everything isn't emblazoned with losters, and anchors, and the house isn't filled with cliche seaside nicknacks, doesn't mean it isn't cape cod style.
4 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 10, 2012.
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