Worth The Wait | Pacific Beauty by Summer Jensen

Photography by Manolo Langis
Architecture: Brandon Architects
Interior Design: Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co.
Landscape Design: MDZA Landscape Architecture
General Contractor: Gallo Builders

However, this new build didn’t rise overnight—in fact, it was a five-year project thanks to forces of nature, according to Jensen. First, she says there was a year of planning, followed by a foundation that had to be poured in four stages.

“Then we had rain delays,” she recalls. “In fact, there was so much rainfall in 2019 that the governor of California declared a state of emergency. Then, COVID-19 hit right after that, which made the process even longer.”

Jensen says the delays had a bright side—the design/build team had plenty of time for adjusting the plans, which created an even better home.

Photography by Manolo Langis
Architecture: Brandon Architects
Interior Design: Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co.
Landscape Design: MDZA Landscape Architecture
General Contractor: Gallo Builders

Designed for a couple with two school-aged children and wanting a place to raise their family, entertain, and host events, the 8,400-square-foot, five-bedroom abode features what architect Ryan McDaniel has dubbed a “reverse living concept,” in which the main living spaces, including the living and dining rooms, kitchen and primary suite are located on the top floor to capture the best views.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: CORONA DEL MARVELOUS HOME

The garage and staircase to the entry are at street level, while the middle floor includes secondary bedrooms, a den and the theater. With a terraced plan and varying deck sizes, the home was built with raked limestone walls, floor-to-ceiling window systems, metal accents, Western red cedar ceilings and eaves.

Having collaborated with Brandon Architects on previous projects, Jensen understood the home’s pared-down-to-the-essence aesthetic. She echoed the architecture’s cream and black palette, choosing the same hues to keep the focus on the shimmering views and light-filled spaces. “The drama of this home comes from the stark contrast of the black and neutral colors,” she says. “It feels strong and edited.”

Photography by Manolo Langis
Architecture: Brandon Architects
Interior Design: Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co.
Landscape Design: MDZA Landscape Architecture
General Contractor: Gallo Builders

For the living room, which melds seamlessly with the kitchen and dining space, Jensen designed a custom island sofa with seating facing two directions to provide options for entertaining groups, not to mention front-row seats for seasonal whale-watching along the coast. 

Above a Holly Hunt dining table and Poltrona Frau chairs, Jensen suggested suspending a sculpture by Korean artist Bahk Seon-Ghi made of hanging pieces of charcoal illuminated by light fixtures in the ceiling. “It’s what I call an inverted chandelier,” Jensen says, who is also a lighting designer. “The light sources are outside of the sculpture.”

The kitchen’s black rectangular island is a statement piece—a block-like art object that balances the long, narrow space. “I also wanted to hide the cabinets and appliances,” says Jensen of the kitchen’s sleek appearance. “The upper cabinets are lime-washed to blend with the walls, and the lower cabinets are recessed into the wall to make them disappear.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: HEART OF THE HOUSEHOLD | KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS WITH MONOGRAM AND EGGERSMANN

Photography by Manolo Langis
Architecture: Brandon Architects
Interior Design: Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co.
Landscape Design: MDZA Landscape Architecture
General Contractor: Gallo Builders

While much of the home and its interior are strong and linear, the primary bedroom is a cocoon of ivory tones and curvaceous furnishings. “It’s a stress-free environment of soft shapes that counterbalances the architecture,” Jensen explains.

The new home was a fresh start for the owners, who relocated to Southern California from Las Vegas, meaning Jensen specified everything from sofas to spoons. “When you see a space in your head, you see all the way down to how the salt and pepper shakers should look,” she says. “It was fun to get into the details with this house.”

While the owners patiently waited out the design phase and natural forces that prolonged the construction timeline by biding their time in a rental home, Jensen saw the delay as a gift. “We came up with ideas halfway through construction like adding a rooftop cabana bar and deck,” she says. “We found we had the luxury of time to deliver a more nuanced design.”