Before and After: A California Cabin Becomes a Coastal Retreat

The winding road from San Francisco to Katherine and Murat Bicer’s weekend home in Muir Beach, California, has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean — and very spotty cell service. “That’s the best part,” says Murat. “As soon as you’re out of the city, you’re forced to switch to vacation mode.”

Katherine found the property by accident, shortly after the family moved from Belmont, Massachusetts, to the Bay Area. “I got lost looking for a hiking trail and ended up at the most gorgeous overlook,” she says. “I called Murat and said, ‘We should have bought a house here!’ ”

Two years later, the couple closed on a 2,000-square-foot cabin in that very spot. The house was built in 1972 and needed a lot of structural work, plus an overhaul of the interior. The Bicers worked with designer Mary Jo Fiorella to transform it from a woodsy cabin to a bright beach house. “I wanted to use a lot of white so the inside would look almost blank, because the outside is what’s important here,” says Murat. Katherine was worried the home would feel sterile, so Mary Jo brought in cozy natural fibers, light wood accents and textured tile. “There’s a serenity that washes over us when we walk in this house,” Katherine says.

The original house was covered with battered redwood boards.

The Bicers replaced the wood with fire-resistant Hardie siding in arctic white. Expanding the upper deck was the family's biggest renovation spurge. "This gave us more opportunities to enjoy the view," they say. "We love to have a cocktail and watch the sky turning brilliant colors at sunset."

“We liked the original fireplace, but it was a behemoth,” says Katherine. (It was also wood-burning, which is now restricted in California.)

They replaced it with a modern two-sided gas option covered in limestone. Light walls and furniture, including a Lee Industries sofa and Bernhardt swivel chairs, bring the calm Murat wanted. To add texture — and a wow moment — Mary Jo suggested an oversized rattan chandelier from Palecek.

The original dining room layout worked well for taking in the amazing views, but all the wood paneling distracted from the scenery.

White walls and a stunning chandelier add airiness that plays off the ample natural light.

This brown-on-brown color palette needed a coastal refresh.

Mary Jo originally suggested these shimmery backsplash tiles from Clé in white, but when Katherine saw them in light blue, she was smitten. “The coloring varies and there are little chips and cracks because they’re handmade,” she says. Natural wood accents, like the open shelves and CB2 stools, nod to the house’s former life as a cabin. The pendants are from Visual Comfort.

The existing bookcase in the living room couldn’t be salvaged, so the Bicers’ contractor built a new one in a similar style with plenty of storage.

“The house is small and so are the closets, so we keep beach toys, dog food and games in here,” says Katherine. They painted it the same blue as the kitchen island (Atmospheric by Benjamin Moore). The gold pulls are from Rejuvenation.

Wood paneling on the walls and ceiling made this space feel dark and drab.

The Bicers kept the living areas neutral, but Katherine wanted color in her bedroom. “White and beige are not usually my style!” she says. Mary Jo helped her pair an orange pendant from The Urban Electric Company with linens from West Elm and Anthropologie. Katherine says the oil painting on the wall, by local artist Charlotte Bernström, reminds her of the sky at sunset. The finishing touch: a Brownstone Furniture bench upholstered in striped velvet.

This small space lacked size and style.

Katherine and Murat chose elongated blue hexagons from Lunada Bay Tile for a beachy look. The white oak vanity was custom-built to maximize storage in the small space.

The family gets lots of visitors, so a guest room with one bed wasn't going to cut it.