California Living Room ~ Haines Tasty Recipe

California Living Room

Leverone Design Inc living room in Sea Ranch

In the living room of a modernist house in the Sonoma County utopian Sea Ranch community, Leverone Design positioned two A. Rudin swivel chairs so that they can take in the entire expanse of the Pacific visible through the picture windows or turn to face the seating area. A David Weeks pendant hanging above adds a delicate, sculptural element. Photo by Joe Fletcher

Christine Markatos Design kid's room in California

Ohara Davies Gaetano Interiors living room in Beverly Hills

"The goal was to maximize the ability to really be a part of the view and the outdoor experience while lounging in the living room," Ohara Davies-Gaetano says of this space in a Newport Beach house. To instill it with "allure and depth of palette," the designer employed about 15 subtly different shades of gray, tying it all together with a bold yet subtle painting Nick Gaetano created to hang above the fireplace. Photo by Richard Powers

Living room in Carmel, CA by Jamie Bush

Patio by Jonathan Winslow

For this cozy Laguna Beach cottage, says Jonathan Winslow, "the goal was to create a decor in keeping with the original Art and Crafts vernacular of the 1920s structure, but to update the furniture using all-weather wicker and a soothing color palette." With Arhaus seating, Winslow created a second living room outdoors where the homeowners can enjoy the awesome vistas and perfect California weather. Photo by Laura Hull

Living room in California by David Desmond

Thomas Callaway transformed an old Malibu beach shack into an East Coast shingle-style structure, complete with white tongue-and-groove interior walls, raftered ceilings and exposed header beams. The living room features Fairfield sconces above the mantle and Arles sunflower andirons in the firebox, both by Callaway. Photo by Lisa Romerein

"Southern California beach living is all about the indoor and outdoor spaces blending together into a unified living experience," says Callaway, describing this guest bedroom in the same Malibu project. "The goal, once again, was to bring the outside in, with window frames, doors and floors painted a seafoam blue-gray, and the rough, exposed structure of the interior painted a soft white." Photo by Lisa Romerein

"California style is comfortable, unfussy elegance," according to the Consort team that designed this Los Angeles home. "It's all about creating a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere that's both stylish and social, the kind of place where friends exclaim, 'I love what you've done with the place!' while kicking off their shoes and settling in for a good, long lounge session." The circular brass serving tray and tan Tusten II table lamp by Pletz are from Consort. Photo by Laure Joliet

Martyn Lawrence Bullard's scheme for this Malibu master bedroom embodies California style "because of the casual nature, rich employment of textures and abundant use of layered, exotic fabrics," he says. "The combination has become synonymous with California living — a casual approach to a well-travelled room that's not too precious yet captures the international tastes of California today." A framed swath of MLB Shambala fabric is mounted above the bed, while at its foot is a custom MLB bench covered in Madeline Weinrib fabric. Photo by Roger Davies

"We are so fortunate living in California to be able to take advantage of indoor-outdoor living no matter where we are in the Golden State," says Suzanne Tucker, of Tucker & Marks, who designed this Marin County home. "This living room takes full advantage of that luxury, allowing one, even in the cooler months of Northern California, to open up to these spectacular views of San Francisco, from the East Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge." Tucker created the dining table from a base by Andrew Fisher, of Fisher Weisman, and a top she designed to follow the lines of the windows. Photo by Matthew Millman

"The French doors in this stone-clad Santa Barbara living room create an open, airy atmosphere," says Cliff Fong, of Matt Blacke Inc. "The room is far from fussy. There is a plush Moroccan rug, a pair of naturally distressed Hans Wegner wishbone chairs and an effortlessly stacked book display that together bring a sense of California casual style and comfort." Photo by William Abranowicz

"California style isn't fussy, or rigid. It's open and fun and easy," says Betsy Burnham, who designed this guest room in an oceanfront Coronado home to represent "California style in the best way I know how — by taking classic elements (chambray, a turned wood bed, ticking stripes) and spinning them in a casual, 'anything goes' kind of way." A California state flag hangs over the bed, which is topped with vintage quilts. Photo by Coastal Living