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Epic surf spots, oceanfront mansions, public art, and peaceful walking trails are just some of what make North County, San Diego an idyllic location. For a family looking for a vacation home on an iconic waterfront strip, it was the perfect retreat from rainy Seattle days. Shortly after purchasing their early-2000s home, which has a 2,600-square-foot main house and a 750-square-foot casita, their contractor ProPacific Builders connected them with interior designer Abbie Naber. They hit it off immediately, bonding over the fact that Naber is originally from the Northwest, too.
Drawing on the surrounding environment and the wife’s art background and love of pattern, the inspiration for the house was “surf meets Mexico” as they collaborated via Pinterest boards filled with vivid color combinations, beachside hotels, and unexpected tile play. To avoid the mess of coastal permitting “that can add a year to projects,” Naber and her team didn’t touch the Mediterranean-style exterior and instead reimagined the interiors. They kept certain features, embracing the dark wood beams in the main house’s kitchen and the existing travertine floors. At the same time, Naber honed in on materials that could withstand the wear and tear of a beach house (yes, breeze blocks can be used indoors). Ahead, the designer shares the standout renovations and how she captured the best parts of being on vacation.
A Kitchen With Tiled Flair
The main living areas are on the second floor and received the most significant updates. The new ocean-facing kitchen, where a fireplace used to be, includes custom cabinetry in Benjamin Moore’s Toasted Pecan and a plaster hood. Rather than relegate the fun zellige mosaic tile to the backsplash, Naber used it to wrap both the base of the island and the breakfast banquette. “These are things I have a tendency to show people, but if it’s their first home they may be a little cautious,” she says. But a house you only visit a handful of times each year? The clients were willing to go for it. “It was a breath of fresh air. Nothing was serious,” she adds.
A Multiuse Pantry With Charm
The intricately carved pantry doors are one of the first things guests see when they get to the landing. The solid handmade pieces, which Naber sourced off Etsy from a vendor based out of Morocco for $1,500 each, are located just around the corner from the kitchen and serve as the main storage spot for all the family’s weekend staples, from dry goods to beach towels.
A TV Cabinet Primed for Styling
The adjacent living room is calm and mellow and includes a clever solution to a clunky traditional media cabinet. “My pet peeve is when the TV just hangs on the wall,” says the designer. While the husband didn’t like the idea of a built-in, Naber and the wife conceived a plan to fully enclose the TV without it looking too bulky. Two plywood panels that pull away from one another when opened join the plaster shelving, which, once styled out with ceramics, plants, and paintings, discreetly conceals the tech hidden behind them.
A Bar Bringing Resort Vibes
A dark and narrow powder bath was gutted and replaced with an alcove bar, which serves as kitchen overflow storage with additional cups, glasses, and a beverage fridge. The walls are swathed in a faux plaster paint, while the countertop is covered in tile, a nod to Mexican interiors. “I wanted it to be color-soaked and monochromatic. I didn’t want white,” Naber says. The breezeblock wall was something the clients were eying from the beginning, another homage to tropical resorts.
A Smoothed-Out Primary Bathroom
Curves served as the antidote to an angular footprint in the primary bathroom. Naber rounded out the tub and the partition separating the walk-in shower to add more softness to the space. She topped the vanity with travertine because its warm and soothing hue balanced out the dark wood window frames and, with a waterfall treatment, seamlessly continued it onto the tub decking.
A Shower That Reimagines Traditional Fish Scale
The downstairs bathroom, which is used by one of the couple’s teenage sons, gives fish scale tile a fresh look. The space features multicolored pieces (both matte and glossy) primarily around the perimeter of the shower, resulting in a grand entrance that still feels decidedly beachy. “We had to run it by him to make sure he liked it,” says the designer. Naturally, he gave his sign off.