Room of the Week: Interior Design Inspiration We Love

When we talk about the California luxury lifestyle, what do we mean? Sunny, coastal California conjures up mental images of Hollywood celebrities, Michelin-star restaurants, and ocean-front villas with breathtaking views.

Similar to the Florida lifestyle, it allows for a style of living that is both active and free, figuratively powered by saltwater and ocean breezes. And the luxury homes in California take advantage of that, often featuring large balconies and decks with stunning coastal views. Inside, you’ll enjoy open floor plans, vaulted ceilings, and tons of windows to let in that natural light. 

Whether you’re beachfront or more inland, you can get a taste of luxury with the right architecture and interior design elements.

Read on to see how we gorgeously designed this Del Mar, CA home with contemporary coastal interior design.

First: What is a Contemporary Coastal Style?

Contemporary interior design incorporates a lot of clean lines and natural materials, often with a neutral color palette and one or two accent colors by way of the furniture or other decor. Think sleek, fresh, subtle, and sophisticated. Check out this portfolio of contemporary coastal interior design.

Coastal interior design can be very similar to this, also with a neutral palette but sometimes bringing in vibrant colors, particularly shades that remind one of the ocean: blue, turquoise, coral, and other warm colors.

With these styles blended together, a room should feel light, bright, and airy as soon as you walk into it. You’ll see this as we explore the photos below. 

Pops of Coastal Flair

This room is gorgeous thanks to its high ceilings, exposed wood beams, and beautiful half-moon window framed with matching wood. The soothing and neutral wall color, tables, chairs, and rugs contribute to the contemporary feel, along with stunning florals that work as centerpieces and bring the outside in. Here we’ve also got a pop of coastal flair with the modern-style palm tree artwork, a focal point above the table. Other final touches we love: the industrial-style light fixtures add to the visual appeal of the room but don’t overpower the space, and the geometric candle holders catch the eye without being overbearing.

A Warm, Welcoming Patio

On average, Del Mar gets 264 sunny days per week. Who wouldn’t want to be outside with that kind of gorgeous weather? This home features large doors opening to the backyard, which give it a welcoming feel that’s perfect for entertaining. Here, we continued the coastal accents by adding beautiful ocean-swell artwork and matching candle holders above the stunning fireplace.

When it comes to living room interior design, remember that the space is meant to be lived in. Here, we’ve created a truly relaxing space, whether you’re enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon of reading inside with a light breeze coming through the open doors, or you’re entertaining guests and want quick access from inside to outside. Keeping the focus on the room’s function (relaxing or entertaining) is a key element for a contemporary style. You’ll also see plenty of soft elements, such as throw pillows, blended with the angular marble “XO” decor and the modular coffee table.

A Luxurious Space to Get Ready

Now, this is the type of master bathroom anyone would love spending hours in as they get ready for the day. The pops of silver from the faucets, mirror frame, and patterned marble floor work well against the warm wood door. A fuzzy and luxurious rug adds visual interest alongside the contemporary bench and chair, again continuing with the coastal blue accents. Florals bring the outside in and complement the gorgeous walk-in shower.

Playing with Colors and Textures

In the den, we went for a bolder look—but one that still ties in the coast theme with the artwork and blue color palette. Contemporary styles favor playing with different materials and textures as well, so the masculine yet warm leather reading chairs play into this beautifully, pulling out the tones from the darker wood window frames nicely. 

The throw pillows add visual interest and provide a cozy, soft feel. This would be the ideal place if you need a break from entertaining guests for a few minutes.

Silvery-Cool Luxury

One of our favorite rooms of the house, the bedroom here features some of our favorite interior design ideas: beautiful distressed-wood dressers mixed with the blue and silver accents found in the bed frame, linens, and pillows. The light fixture above the bed is a fantastic focal point and provides a ton of visual interest to an otherwise clean and uncluttered look, again prominent in most contemporary designs. A pop of shiny blue from the flower pop holds the theme true throughout the home.

Let Us Design Your Dream Home

Looking for that coastal, luxurious flair in your home— or perhaps your next home? Contact our experienced team of interior designers at Kern & Co. View our other modern luxury interior design examples in our portfolio and learn about our different services. We’d love to work with you and make your dream home a reality.