Coastal-Inspired Home Transformations

When empty nesters in La Jolla wanted to remodel their three-bedroom stucco and brick home, they turned to Audrey Graham Kennedy of AGK Design Studio on Prospect Street, known for her fresh, crisp takes on seaside living. “Our inspiration was to get a cleaner, classic coastal style of navy and white and add character to the existing home,” Kennedy explains. 

Kennedy and her design team began the process by pulling color schemes and creating private design boards on Pinterest for the homeowners’ approval. The clients wanted to refresh the home they had lived in for decades, but the redo turned into a top-to-bottom, whole-house remodel including a new kitchen with DC Custom Cabinets, appliances from Pirch, and a marble island and counters from Amazon Stones. The team turned the garage into a cool “man cave” and even designed a custom space for the family dog. 

Designers also refinished the oak floors, painted the fireplaces, and added built-ins, wallpaper, wainscoting, and window treatments from Irichka, with furnishings from Serena & Lily, Williams Sonoma Home, and Aja Rugs, among others.

The design team dramatically transformed the plain exterior by whitewashing the original red brick and installing new roofing, exterior lighting, custom-designed fencing, and landscaping. Board and batten siding, navy blue shutters, and white brick pilasters added architectural interest. A new Dutch door now welcomes visitors, and the backyard is all decked out for summer parties. The finished result, both inside and out, is a classic coastal cottage, where Kennedy’s clients can go on vacation — without ever leaving home.

When Lori Mohr decided to remodel the Del Mar ocean view home that she had lived in for nearly 30 years, she turned to Susan Wintersteen of Solana Beach-based Savvy Interiors after doing some homework. “I had seen a kitchen that she designed on Houzz and really loved the unique design,” Mohr notes. “After reading the reviews from the past client, I was impressed with how happy they were with the design/build process. I liked the idea of having a project manager communicating with me regularly from start to finish.”

Mohr had a clear vision for the redo. “Although my home décor was dated, it still brought me an energy of comfort,” she says. “That feeling of cozy and comfortable was super important to me.” 

Wintersteen always begins the design process by interviewing clients to learn about their preferences and how their home’s spaces will be used. “I want our clients to walk me though their day,” she says. “How do you enter and exit the home? Where do your keys go? Where do you make your coffee? I want to know everything about you, so I have the pieces and parts of the remodel and I can put it together cohesively.”

There can be an emotional component to the process. For example, Mohr’s husband had passed away the year before the remodel began. “Lori wanted to honor his memory, and she was worried that the remodel wouldn’t feel like home,” says Wintersteen. “She was concerned that removing the surfboards Jim had displayed would erase the memory of him. To honor Lori’s wishes, the design had to find a balance between comfort and new memories, without erasing the past.”

The redo, which maximized Del Mar coastal views and updated finishes, included remodeling the kitchen to incorporate an alcove cooking area and side hutch. “Those two features make it feel different, more custom and furniture-like,” says Wintersteen. “The family room layout with the fireplace and side hutches tied in with the kitchen and allowed us to mix texture with wood and metal and stone.” 

“I love the results!” Mohr exclaims. “Most importantly, not only is my home light and bright and beautiful, it is warm and cozy. Just as I wanted.”