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Houzz Tours
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Houzz Tour: Malibu Home Shows a Gentle Modern Spirit
Multiuse furnishings, open shared areas and a strong connection to the outdoors give a Southern California family's home an easy-living vibe
Interior designer Natasha Barrault was immediately drawn to her clients, who needed help in transforming their Malibu, California, residence into a home. The designer appreciated her clients' motivations: They wanted to avoid the steely show houses that are popular in the area and in Hollywood. "Sometimes clients are afraid of their own taste, and they end up reproducing something ubiquitous but that is somehow reassuring to them. Our clients really wanted this house to reflect their tastes and loves," says Barrault, who worked closely on the residential project with architect-designer Hervé Daridan.
The home is now thoroughly lived in and showcases its inhabitants' penchant for comfort and casual living. "The house is what I would describe as 'gentle modern.' There's a modern sensibility in the furnishings, yet the pieces – everything from paints, floor finishes, custom furniture materials, fabrics — are all organic and green. We really pushed ourselves to use honest and ecofriendly materials," says Barrault.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in the fitness industry and their 4-year-old son
Location: Point Dume, Malibu, California
Size: 7,500 square feet (including guesthouse)
Design challenge: Bridging the house to its jaw-dropping cliffside location by allowing more light and views inside
The home is now thoroughly lived in and showcases its inhabitants' penchant for comfort and casual living. "The house is what I would describe as 'gentle modern.' There's a modern sensibility in the furnishings, yet the pieces – everything from paints, floor finishes, custom furniture materials, fabrics — are all organic and green. We really pushed ourselves to use honest and ecofriendly materials," says Barrault.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in the fitness industry and their 4-year-old son
Location: Point Dume, Malibu, California
Size: 7,500 square feet (including guesthouse)
Design challenge: Bridging the house to its jaw-dropping cliffside location by allowing more light and views inside
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| Barrault strove for an easy-living, laid-back spirit in the furnishings. Slipcovered sofas and throw pillows in neutral hues, along with the option of floor seating, give the living room an informal feel. "It's strange because despite its amazing location, the previous design of the house made no real connection to the outdoors," says Barrault. One way that Daridan (the architect) let more light in was to replace all the railings on the decks and balconies with less obscuring materials. Today the living room feels bright because light easily enters the home. |
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| The living room is designed to shape shift into a language arts room for the clients' home school. "We added specially designed furniture and elegantly protected the Paola Lenti ottomans and other pieces. When school is in session, the clients cover the Hans Wegner coffee table so that it can withstand the wear and tear of the school day," says Barrault. |
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The landscaping opens up the house to its beautiful surroundings, yet some plantings were retained to help protect the house from the elements.
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| The property has one of the most coveted views in Southern California. |
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The family room lives up to its name: Trucks and toy ladders are strewn on the coffee table, and the sofa serves as both a jumping point and a lounging spot for the entire family.
The multidirectional sofa allows the family to use and orient it according to their needs.
Sofa: custom, Natasha Barrault Designs and Hervé Daridan
The multidirectional sofa allows the family to use and orient it according to their needs.
Sofa: custom, Natasha Barrault Designs and Hervé Daridan
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| Bolsters and cushions can be moved around for play or for guest seating, or even cleared to transform the sofa into a daybed. |
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The credenza was custom designed for the family; it houses books, toys and recycled plastic storage tubs by Plastica.
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| The teardrop vase and Ochre chandelier throw this seriously angular room a few bubbly curves. |
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| "Our clients really want this home to be their own, to speak their casual language and to be their refuge from a hectic professional life," says Barrault. The blue-green and purple hues of the bedroom are cooling and easy on the eyes. Throws are playfully mixed on a bed that's not at all manicured. |
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| The boy's room has a table and Knoll chair for endless hours of reading, drawing and daydreaming. Balcony doors connect the space to the outside. |
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| Animal-shaped, whimsical throw pillows are scattered on the bed. Storage space and ample drawers give toys and other tchotchkes a place of their own. |
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Colorful book spines give the room bright punches of color.
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This bath was designed both for safety and fun. The tub floor is covered with an antislip mat; the shower can be filled as a shallow bath or used as a wading pool while an adult sits on the ledge to supervise.
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| The taupe tones in the Farrow & Ball wallpaper are brought out by the concrete countertop and sink in the guest bath. The combination of colors and the lotus pattern of the wall treatment enliven the entire space. |
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Instead of a gallery wall of framed photos, the clients opted for a magnetic wall that showcases artwork, family photos and love notes. "The wall is constantly evolving and keeps the space from feeling static," says Barrault.
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| The house may seem indistinguishable from its neighbors from the outside. But look closer and you'll see a hint of its happy and relaxed spirit in the form of a Buddha statue that greets guests with an easy smile. |
Comments
catsib Love the fireplace. What material is it made of?
10 months ago · Like
Amanda W. I am also wondering what the fireplace is made of.
10 months ago · Like
fredericklc I have seriously got to find some way to make more money. I want to live in Malibu when I grow up!
10 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on July 9, 2012.
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