Modern Coastal Home Is Pretty + Functional

This is California chic at its cleverest: a family home packed with minimalist style, maximum utility and ultra-practical pieces that just happen to be gorgeous.

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October 23, 2020

By: Lauren Oster

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

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Photo By: Chad Mellon

The Greatest of Ease

Huntington Beach, California-based designers Lindsay Stokes Kennedy and Alexandra Cole of Three Salt Design Co. are making Southern California an even lovelier place to live, one meticulously designed coastal charmer at a time.

On this Cypress Oak Creek project, the duo created a jaw-dropping master bath and developed its minimalist coastal palette in every room of the home. “We prioritized warm woods, deep and muted blues and whites, and small bits of leather to create a space that is natural and modern at the same time,” Lindsay explains. They also packed functionality behind every seemingly serene surface: this home is both extremely chill and extremely hard-working. Ready to get inspired by their thoughtful take on customized coastal living? Read on.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Subtle Storage

If the thought of a jumbled pile of outdoor accessories near the front door leaves you cold, consider how skillfully Lindsay and Alex put the space beneath their clients’ staircase to work by adding four drawers beside the front door — and where you might fill in a so-called blank. “We’re all about function that blends perfectly with form,” Lindsay says. “We were able to ditch an entry console or shoe bench by adding this storage at the steps. It’s clean and functional.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Material Worth

Take a closer look at the “hardwood” pictured here at the bottom of the stairs and throughout the home’s ground level: “The good thing about this flooring is that it’s tile!” Lindsay says. “We were able to match a porcelain wood-look tile to the stunning European oak engineered hardwood that’s installed on the stairs and second story. It’s extremely durable and easy to clean, and stunning to boot.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Pile on the Patterns

There are nine different textiles in this breezy sitting area — and it doesn’t feel cluttered in the least, thanks to the cohesive coastal palette that carries through Lindsay and Alex’s choices. Furthermore, the textures in this space echo each other just as the tones do: the nubbly area rug recalls the ivory throw blanket and pillow on the sofa, and the same subtle variegation carries through the fabrics on the sofa and the button-tufted ottoman.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Beachy Glass

Lighter-than-air table lamps like this one are always a welcome addition in neutral contemporary spaces, but they’re especially helpful in cultivating a California-chic vibe as Lindsay and Alex have here. Whisk away the white shade and splash out with a replacement in a marine hue to deepen the drama with a piece like this, or choose a rougher material to add another natural element to your space.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Play It Again

Lindsay and Alex’s clients had had this upright piano for some time, “but it was an orangey wood that needed an update,” Lindsay explains. No problem: “We were able to find a piano refinisher who painted it a cool white with gray undertones that worked perfectly in the space.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Rough-Cut Gems

Make the most of accessories like floating shelves by choosing sculptural rather than purely utilitarian pieces, as Lindsay and Alex did here with this handsome pair of graphic wooden shelves. The shelves’ geometric facets complement the bathroom’s crisp lines; their rough, striated material, in turn, adds an organic counterpoint to the monochromatic space.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Warm Bath

Colorful tubs have unfortunate associations with unrenovated bathrooms from the middle of the last century; colorful tub surrounds, on the other hand, are becoming darlings of the design world. "To warm up the stark black, white and gray, we wanted warm white oak to be present in [this] space,” Lindsay says. “It was perfect for the custom vanity, so we included more of that tone on the tub face and in the accessories.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Powder-Room Blue

Create a practical and graphic effect in a diminutive space, as Lindsay and Alex did here, by colorblocking. Bright white shiplap on the lower half of this powder room pairs beautifully with a deep shade of nautical blue.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Color Studies

If you’re looking to add an accent color to an otherwise-monochromatic space (as Lindsay and Alex did with this custom island), consider how the hue you choose appears when highlighted and shadowed at different times of day. This blue, for example, is a lovely shade of cornflower when it’s awash in sun and a steely blue-gray in more limited light (keep your eyes peeled for the same piece in later shots to see what we mean). Naturally, both of those tones appear on the abstract art in the dining area — now that’s meticulous design.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Thinking Outside the Rectangle

If you’ve got the budget to go beyond a run-of-the-mill island, consider asking your contractor to change the look of your kitchen by cutting a one-of-a-kind quartz countertop, as Lindsay and Alex did here. “We really wanted to steer away from a standard rectangular island in this space,” Lindsay says. “The perimeter cabinets were exisiting and so we wanted to make sure that the island got a new pop! Its coordination with the entertainment unit and its rounded edge break up some of the sharp corners and give the space some needed comfort. We’re pleased with the outcome.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Bottle Service

Unfussy, built-in island shelving for wine storage? Genius! This was a first-time feature for Lindsay and Alex: “Our clients are so casual that we kept things light and open here,” Lindsay says. Take a page from their book and don’t overthink your drinks storage.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

The Beauty of Built-Ins

The cozy bench seating along one side of the dining table is an ideal spot for a casual dinner and a stealthy panel of custom drawers. Painted a crisp white to match the walls it adjoins, this storage spot is an apt example of how well-designed features can (and should!) do double duty.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

An Inspirational Retreat

This elegant, minimalistic master bath was the main focus of Lindsay and Alex’s work — and once its transformation was complete, they went on to reimagine the rest of their clients’ home with its sleek look in mind. The takeaway here? If there’s a room in your home that makes your heart sing, seize its aesthetic and run with it.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

All-Weather Wood

When it comes to selecting accessories for a wet area like this one, not all pieces are created alike. "Understanding your materials is key in situations like these,” Lindsay says. “Teak is the main wood used in outdoor furnishings and showers. These dip-dyed teak stools by Serena & Lily were the perfect touch for this shower.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Deft Details

User-friendly design in a seemingly simple space like this one is all about anticipating need. This “open” space has a massive glass panel that carries no visual weight but serves as a key barrier between the shower itself and the rest of the master bath. Small hexagonal tiles add much-needed texture to what could otherwise be a very slippery floor, and a simple niche in the wall serves as an elegant alternative to a caddy.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Variations on a Theme

The laundry room is a fine example of how key elements of that glorious master bath find their way into other parts of the home. Lindsay and Alex chose flooring that echoes the spectacular shower’s walls and crisp, oxidized hardware that echoes its showerhead and faucets.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Personal Gallery

“If you’re working with a designer,” Lindsay advises, “be transparent about the things you love. Art is so subjective that my biggest piece of advice is to lean in with your heart. When you’re making decisions for your home, what you like can never go out of style or not fit in.”

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Making It Work

There’s a lot going on behind the tall blue unit in the family room, but that wasn’t always the case: it was once a sad wannabe hybrid. “Prior to our arrival, our clients used that space as a small office by shoving a ready-made desk in the niche,” Lindsay says.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Multipurpose Perfection

“To really utilize the family room properly and make it a hub for everyone to gather, we used the niche as a home for a custom unit,” Lindsay says. “It functions perfectly for the client to handle small tasks and still have family time.” Developing your space to the point where it meets all of your needs is always worth the elbow grease.

From: THREE SALT DESIGN Co.

Modern Coastal Home Is Pretty + Functional

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Greatest of Ease

Subtle Storage

Material Worth

Pile on the Patterns

Beachy Glass

Play It Again

Rough-Cut Gems

Warm Bath

Powder-Room Blue

Color Studies

Thinking Outside the Rectangle

Bottle Service

The Beauty of Built-Ins

An Inspirational Retreat

All-Weather Wood

Deft Details

Variations on a Theme

Personal Gallery

Making It Work

Multipurpose Perfection

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