We’ve been waiting for the day we can finally share our La Jolla remodel project with you all, and today is that day! We accidentally shared a few sneak peeks on Instagram, and we know that you’re all as excited as we are for this latest project launch. Our #MGDxLaJolla project is a slight departure from the transitional interiors of many of our past projects. We’d describe this home as a soft contemporary interpretation of the coastal design you’ve all come to know and love from MGD.

This is actually our second home remodel with these clients, so you may recognize a few pieces from our beloved Spanish Canyon project from a few years ago! There’s so much goodness in store, we had to break up this home reveal into four separate posts. Keep scrolling to see the front exterior, entry, kitchen, and dirty kitchen (!) in part one!

Front Exterior

The front exterior of this home is just plain cool. To achieve the soft contemporary style our clients were after, we added a smooth coat plaster in a soft white hue across the entire exterior of the home. Dark elements in the form of steel and clad doors and windows along with streamlined outdoor sconces accentuate the clean lines and add contrast.

For the landscaping, our clients wanted to keep things pretty minimal and we think Karen D. Miller Design executed it beautifully. The property is lined with pepper trees, wild grasses, boxwood, and tall hedges for added privacy. The ground cover is decomposed granite, which we love for its soft feel and low maintenance. To soften the clean lines, we brought in one-of-a-kind vintage pots and wood mortars filled with moss and placed them sporadically around the exterior.

Entry

The first thing you see when you walk through the oversized steel doors is this beautiful entry! One of our favorite things about this entry is that no matter where you stand, there are new distinct vignettes. Big picture floor-to-ceiling steel windows let in all of the beautiful California sunshine. Limestone floors set the tone for the rest of the home. We went with limestone floors because they work well in high-traffic areas, are easy to care for, and naturally age over time. They also have a softer presence to them than a polished concrete floor. Our clients have said that after a year of living in it, they far prefer the limestone to the engineered hardwood in their previous home!

Lower Hall

Off the entry is this hallway transition that leads to the great room and kitchen spaces. We wanted a hallway that felt beautiful and welcoming, but also served many purposes for our clients and their family. The white oak planked cabinetry in this hallway mimics the kitchen design you’ll see as you keep scrolling. We kept the natural tone of the wood and just added a matte clear coat which helped the variation of the wood come through. All of the cabinets have a touch latch which allows us to keep the design minimal but all of the doors operable. For the drywall, we went with level five drywall in a soft white hue that makes the space feel clean and finished.

In addition to the first built-in which serves as overflow storage, we also added our version of dining hutch right off the dining space. The footprint of the dining room didn’t allow for built-in cabinetry or a freestanding console, so we took advantage of this niche of a hallway to provide some much-needed storage for our clients who love to entertain! The uppers are used to store stemware and glassware, and the lowers are used for linens, napkins, tablecloths, and more. Last but not least, a pair of steel doors provide a cool peekaboo view to their wine storage. It also connects to the kitchen space for easy access!

Kitchen

Now, onto the kitchen of our La Jolla remodel project! The kitchen (and attached dirty kitchen!) was the very first thing we designed when we started working on the interior, because our client is an avid cook. It has a relatively small footprint. However, it’s seen from many different view points because of the open floor plan in this space. The planked white oak cabinetry is the perfect warm-neutral backdrop for the rest of the sleek design elements. A custom integrated steel hood spans the entire back wall, and a beautiful porcelain slab forms the countertops and backsplash. While we love the character of natural stone, we opted for porcelain in this space because our client really wanted a material that wouldn’t stain or etch like natural stone.

A refrigerator and freezer flank the oven wall with integrated panel doors. One side is all fridge, and one is all freezer! Because this kitchen is often used as a filming kitchen, we offset the sink so our client could stand at the island and have the range and hood be the main focal point. On the far left of the island, you’ll see an induction cooktop – Another must-have for filming days. A pair of plaster cone pendants and mixed material counter stools complete the space.

Dirty Kitchen

Next up is the aforementioned dirty kitchen! Our La Jolla remodel clients are very tidy and organized people. So, when possible they always wanted their kitchen to look clean and put together. For that reason, the dirty kitchen became very important to the overall kitchen design. It serves as an extension of the main kitchen, and was designed with four walls of custom cabinetry to serve every purpose we could think of. One wall is all pantry storage that also houses small countertop appliances, one is an appliance wall with another set of wall ovens and refrigerator, one serves as a desk area, and one has an additional sink and ice maker.

When we were originally designing the dirty kitchen, it didn’t include skylights. During construction, we realized how dark the space would be with no windows. For that reason, we added skylights to bring in more natural light during the day! The same porcelain countertops and limestone floors continue in this space. We just opted for a smaller limestone size and changed the direction for a subtle play on pattern.

Whew, that was fun! We hope you loved part one of our latest project reveal – We definitely enjoyed sharing it! Keep an eye on Instagram as we start to share more from this La Jolla remodel. Then, stay tuned for the rest of the spaces + sources from this soft contemporary family home on the blog. To see more of our portfolio and catch up with our recent project reveals, head to the projects section of our website! Thanks for following along, and we’ll be back soon with more goodness to share!