Bryan Design Group creates a forever home in Del Sur

When Chris and Kelly Biele bought a two-story ranch-style house in Del Sur that had been built in 2001, then recently renovated and flipped, they set about making it their own. The couple envisioned a coastal modern farmhouse with plenty of play space for their two young sons, two and four years old, an indoor-outdoor ambience, and room for entertaining.

They reached out to Marcia Bryan of Bryan Design Group to turn inspiration into reality. “A designer is the storyteller of the home and should be your first call,” says Kelly. “It’s so important to have one person with a vision from start to finish, figuring out how best to tell your story. Everything in our home is intentional, thanks to our amazing design team.”

Bryan and her team, including lead designer Laura Lawson, were up to the challenge, designing a whole home renovation (minus the primary bath and powder room) for an active young family. The team turned a downstairs bonus room into what Lawson calls “a dedicated space for the boys to have creative play” that is still close to the kitchen and living areas where Kelly can keep a watchful eye on her sons. “We feel good about them using their creative energy in a place they can call their own, and having an activity space for the kids gives us the ability to make dinner and get things done around the house,” adds Kelly. 

The family’s favorite spot is an upstairs bonus room with a comfortable, overstuffed couch and television. “The boys watch cartoons in the morning there, we watch movies as a family at night, and after the boys go to bed, it’s where we spend time as a couple,” Kelly says. Designers added storage to easily tuck away toys and blankets. The team redesigned the boys’ bathroom to accommodate them as they grow up, with twin sinks and mirrors, and enhanced the upstairs laundry room. “It’s such a practical place for getting the clothes washed and easily put away,” says Bryan.

The team splurged on the primary suite, adding textured grasscloth on the bed wall, new furnishings, custom bedding, and a quiet place to relax at night. The design team also turned a bedroom into a home office for the Bieles, who worked at home during the pandemic. “They now have a home office that allows them both to work efficiently and still close the doors at the end of the workday,” says Bryan.

The couple loves to cook and entertain, so the kitchen was updated with a quartz waterfall island, new counter stools, twin pendant lights, and new hardware for the cabinetry. “The easy flow between kitchen, bar, formal living room, and formal dining room is also great,” says Kelly. “The spaces all speak to each other and allow for seamless movement when entertaining.” The kitchen opens onto the covered outdoor California room, decorated with a daybed, rug, and accessories. 

The year-long process was challenging at times, but the Bieles pressed on. “A couple of times during bathroom construction, we were thinking, ‘What’s the worst that can happen if we stop now?’” recalls Kelly. “We laugh now at the thought of leaving the bathrooms half-finished. But it’s challenging to hold your breath and jump in the deep end. We’re fans of keeping things clean and stress-free, but you just have to let that go when you’re in ‘contractor mode.’” 

They also had to wait as much as a year for some fixtures and furnishings due to the pandemic. “We had some supply chain issues, but stuck with what we picked first versus swapping for other items that would arrive sooner,” says Kelly. “Since this is our forever home, we felt a year process was about right.” Bryan agrees, adding, “I think that once a client falls in love with a piece, the wait is always worth it, because you get what you wanted.”

“The Bieles were ideal clients,” Bryan continues. “They wanted a home filled with beautiful furniture with durable finishes that their active family can grow up with, creating beautiful memories in their forever home.” 858.800.1144, bryandesigngroup.com