Houzz Tours
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
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.
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
Landscape design: Jan Houghton, Houghton Design Group
Instead of a traditional front door, guests enter the property through the garden gate that leads past the pool area.
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
Wooden chair and bucket: R.J. Imports
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
Succulent arrangement: The Ivy Guild, Inc
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
Palecek chairs and couch: Tuvalu Home; stone fireplace surround: Sepulveda Building Materials; TV frame: LCR Furniture and Design, Inc
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
Seagrass chairs and tray: R.J. Imports
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.
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.
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
Turquoise vases: Tuvalu Home
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
Glass lamps and drum table: Tuvalu Home; master bedroom bed (through the doorway): R.J. Imports; framed artwork: Tuvalu Home; sofa: Costco
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
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
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
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
Custom bar-height dining table: LCR Furniture and Deisgn, Inc.; chairs: Patio Outlet
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!
Driftwood heart and wreath: Tuvalu Home; drum table: R.J. Imports; teak chairs: Patio Outlet