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Design in Progress: The Making of a Modern Vacation Home

Our clients’ vacation home in Carmel-by-the-Sea is a rare gem. With its impressive  scale, height, and footprint, a similar house would never be approved on its lot again, which makes the process of updating and reimaging it that much more special.

The property itself might be outdated, but the tools and technology our design team uses are cutting edge. After the initial design consultation, we use Chief Architect software to create a virtual, 3D walkthrough so our clients can see how their space will look and function. This is the perfect way for us to collaborate with homeowners and make tweaks as needed to the design before construction even begins.

Starting with a Clean Slate

When it comes to creating the perfect vacation home, functional aspects like storage space, appliance size, closets and more are a bit different from a primary family home. Our clients told us that they plan to spend a week or two at a time here with their two young children fairly often throughout the year, so the final design of the space will keep this in mind.

Ultimately, our goal is to create a sleek, usable space with a low level of required maintenance so this family can spend more time enjoying their time together and less on upkeep.

This older structure has a significant amount of rot and failing framing, so before we transform the interior, our team will reframe about 95 percent of the structure, replace the windows, roofing, and siding, and install a new drainage system to redirect water away from the house.

Designing An Open, Modern Retreat

Against a backdrop of light wood tones, crisp white, and contrasting black elements, the interior will be a beautifully relaxed take on modern design with an absolutely stunning floating staircase as the focal point. Sourced from Viewrail, this piece is supported by one single metal structure piece, while thoughtfully placed glass panels make the treads appear to float in midair.

Every element of this floor plan has been meticulously designed to encourage shared experiences and promote togetherness. Our design team utilized the floating staircase as an architectural centerpiece that not only connects the main floor to the upstairs, but invites you to explore the upper level of the home without feeling disconnected to what is going on below. A breezeway lined with the same glass paneling as the staircase will overlook the kitchen and living area, offering clean sight lines and drawing the eye upward to the architectural details in the wood-clad ceiling.

To provide a kid-friendly space for our clients, we will transform the house’s original garage into a separate family room, reserving the main living area for more formal entertaining.

Finally, we’ll create a cohesive flow from the interior to the outdoor space with new hardscape and landscaping that fits the house and the neighborhood, while also creating another perfect spot for fun and relaxation.

By staying on top of the latest design trends and technology, our team is constantly fine-tuning their expertise so that our clients can envision their spaces before a hammer is raised. Stay tuned to see our progress on this incredible project!

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Before and After: Remodeling a Vacation Home in Carmel Valley
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Carmel Home Reimagined as a Sprawling, Multigenerational Vacation Retreat