Coastal Farmhouse Remodel
Creating a Beach Home From Afar
When these homeowners from Northern California purchased their La Jolla Shores home as a second home, they wanted a place where their family could escape, relax, and create memories together. With two young daughters and busy careers, they needed a designer who could not only transform the home aesthetically but also manage the entire remodeling process while they were living hours away.
This project was completed almost entirely remotely, but from the beginning, we created a seamless process built on communication, organization, and trust.
The home needed a complete refresh to better reflect their vision of a relaxed modern coastal farmhouse retreat. Together, we focused on creating a home that felt beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming while also making thoughtful decisions based on how they planned to use the property.
Designing With the Future in Mind
One of the most important conversations we had early in the process was deciding where to invest and where to wait.
The kitchen was dated and needed a complete transformation, so it was an obvious priority. However, because the home would be used as a vacation property and rented for much of the year, I recommended leaving the guest bathroom as-is rather than investing in a remodel that would immediately experience the wear and tear of frequent visitors.
Instead, we focused the budget where it would have the greatest impact and planned to revisit the guest bathroom years down the road when the timing made more sense.
Great design isn't always about doing everything at once — sometimes it's about making the right decisions for how a home will truly be used.
A Modern Coastal Kitchen Designed for Family Life
The kitchen became the heart of this transformation, creating a space that felt fresh, functional, and connected to the home's coastal setting.
We selected finishes that balanced the clean lines of modern design with the warmth and character of farmhouse details. Natural textures, layered materials, and thoughtful details helped create a kitchen that feels relaxed rather than overly designed.
Throughout the home, we looked for opportunities to add personality and unexpected moments. One of my favorite details was adding wallpaper to the ceiling — a small design decision that transformed an ordinary surface into something memorable.
Managing Every Detail From Concept to Completion
Because the homeowners were not local, project management was a critical part of this remodel. I coordinated contractors, vendors, budgets, timelines, selections, and installations to keep the project moving smoothly from start to finish. The homeowners were included throughout the process, and together we navigated each decision with transparency and care. What could have been a stressful long-distance remodel became an enjoyable experience — one where they felt confident knowing their home was being thoughtfully managed.
A Home Designed for Making Memories
The final result is a La Jolla Shores coastal home remodel that reflects the way this family wants to live — relaxed, comfortable, and connected.
From the first design conversations through construction management and final details, every decision was made with their lifestyle in mind. The result is a home that feels like a true beach retreat — a place for family time, weekends away, and years of memories to come.