A modern white stucco house sits on a quiet stretch of Manhattan Beach, California, offering a sleek city silhouette that blends effortlessly with the laid-back Southern California atmosphere. The house, which is used as a vacation home by a couple with grown children, was part of a newly completed development when the owners asked Johnny Moallempour of MJM Interior Design to bring the blank canvas to life.
The design decisions also had to respect the modern architecture of the house and capture the California lifestyle through indoor-outdoor living, natural light, layered textures, and relaxed elegance.
Design Considerations
The finishes and furnishings had to be durable enough to withstand the couple’s active grandchildren and their lively dog as well as the harsh oceanfront environment. The 4,000-square-foot home, which is on a narrow lot and whose front has a view toward the ocean and coastline beyond, has three levels.
Moallempour created spaces that showcase and subtly reference beach life. The color palette – soothing blues, creams and light greys that say ocean – is as cozy as a summer shawl. And the custom furnishings, many of them with rounded edges, add an extra layer of comfort. He says, “I always ask myself how a space will emotionally affect someone when they walk in,” and the home was designed to feel serene, welcoming and restorative.
Interior Design
In the living room, stacking doors open to reveal the terrace and the ocean view, which looks like a dynamic mural. The living room centers around a dramatic black-granite fireplace, flanked by windows with black metal frames and built-in oak cabinetry. A large artwork with a dark background and sand-infused pigment introduces texture and hints at the nearby shoreline, while its compelling image has a 3-D quality.
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The space is rounded out with a light taupe and gray sofa with softly curved arms, a pair of curvaceous swivel chairs with sun-tolerant cerused oak backs and a trio of circular coffee tables whose glass tops give glimpses of the blue and white custom rug whose design was inspired by drops of water falling into the ocean.
Bedrooms and Dining Room
Two ensuite guest bedrooms are on the first floor, the primary suite and another guest bedroom comprise the second floor, and the open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room crown the residence. In the primary suite, the bed rests comfortably under an abstract artwork of water-like hues. It’s augmented by a curved bench that resides at the footboard and a pair of walnut nightstands on X-shaped bases whose front drawers have a slight wave.
The dining room features a curved-corner walnut table grounded by a black base. Moallempour says, “It’s distinct yet still connected to the living room.” In the bedrooms, Moallempour balances chic with comfort, creating chambers that are polished yet livable and deeply personal.
Moallempour is pleased with the result, saying, “We created a refined coastal residence that feels timeless rather than overly thematic or predictable.”
