A century-old La Jolla Shores home gets a light-filled Spanish Revival refresh

When the daughter-father team of designer Sam Tosti and architect Tim Martin began reimagining this century-old La Jolla Shores home, the goal was clear: preserve roots, transform the views, and bring in the light. Lots and lots of light. The result is a unique revitalization of a 100-year-old Spanish Revival gem set on one of La Jolla’s most pristine locations.

Tosti and Martin began work on the project in 2020, taking on a home whose bones were rich but with a layout that failed to serve its setting. “The primary challenge was transforming a rather dark, compartmentalized interior into something open and airy — one that truly capitalized on the ocean views,” says Martin, founder of San Diego-based Martin Architecture. “Over time, additions had compromised the architecture, most notably an elevator that cut sightlines on all three levels.”

The solutions centered on opening windows, taking down walls, and honoring its original architectural ethos with a more minimalist approach to ornate millwork. A modest bay window in the living room was removed and tripled in size, immediately reframing the Pacific as the focal point. Interior walls were opened, steel doors and windows were introduced to connect the living room and kitchen to the courtyard, and the elevator was removed entirely — unlocking expansive views and allowing for new views at every level. “Once those barriers were gone,” says Martin, “the house could finally breathe.”

Inside, Tosti focused on evolving the home’s Spanish character rather than recreating it verbatim. “We wanted to maintain the charm of the original 1920s architecture while bringing in a brighter, more understated aesthetic that aligned with how the clients live,” she says. The design embraces a Santa Barbara–influenced Spanish style — cleaner, simpler, and quieter — where plaster walls and clay tile roofs remain, but ornamentation is more intentional.

“We were careful to keep elements that honored the home, while simplifying others that were holding it back,” Tosti explains. Antique pieces were repositioned: Italian angel sculptures anchor a guest room, oversized gold lanterns now illuminate the halls, and concrete grilles have been reframed as sculptural art above the bar. “By stripping back the décor, lightening the palette, and opening the rooms to each other and to the coastline, you immediately understand what matters here — nature, light, and connection.”

Custom solutions — like a pop-up TV cabinet that preserves ocean views and a Murphy bed that transforms the family room into a guest suite — prioritize flexibility without visual clutter. Locally crafted carved doors and a large pocket door further reflect the home’s craftsmanship-forward approach.

Nowhere is the transformation more evident than in the kitchen. Once a small, overlooked room, it is now central to the home’s daily rhythm. Large doors open to a northern courtyard, while the western wall frames uninterrupted ocean views. Leathered stone countertops spill seamlessly into the sink, and a handmade ceramic backsplash offers a subtle nod to Spanish tradition. “The view still steals the show,” Tosti says, “but the kitchen finally feels like the heart of the home.”

“People can get too serious about staying within a genre,” says Tosti. “History matters — but so does personality. The goal is to make it feel inevitable, not forced.”