Christina Haack's Best Design Ideas for Every Room

Searching for a cheat sheet on modern California design? SoCal designer Christina Haack, of Christina on the Coast and The Flip Off, makes acing this effortlessly cool look feel like a day at the beach. Read on for ways to capture her warm and casual style in your own home, no matter how close you live to the waves.

Christina has been transforming California houses for more than a decade. Her approach is all about connecting SoCal homes to their sunny locale. She configures layouts to let in natural light, and pinpoints designs that strike a balance between approachability and sophistication. The trick? Christina gravitates toward natural woods and stones mixed with striking details that add playful and inviting textures. Ahead, step inside properties that look the way putting on a pair of dark sunglasses on the beach feels: confident, timeless and totally cool.

The standout feature of Season 6's “Worth the Wait” is Christina's use of allover wood in the midcentury-modern kitchen. While this era often made use of wood in dark shades, Christina lightened the finish for the new cabinetry and coupled it with a bright marble backsplash and countertops. The results are decidedly on trend while still feeling appropriate for the property.

Christina gave this airy living space a sophisticated edge with a structural sofa and a marble coffee table that coordinates with the surfaces in the kitchen. Stacks of books and accessories make it feel like a grown-up lounge.

A fluted marble fireplace surround and wood built-ins provide an oh-so-fancy backdrop to a showstopping seat. This nook encapsulates Christina's style: upscale, but casual enough to curl up in.

A trend-proof wood vanity feels extra special thanks to brass hardware that matches the mirror and sconces above. And for an unexpected layer of texture, Christina picked a woven seat with a curved back that coordinates too. It's beachy and sophisticated.

Christina often lets the details shine in her bright and airy designs. Take this fluted dresser and oversized graphic art in Season 6’s “Building Up and Going Over,” for instance. It’s a straightforward combination of easy shapes and neutral shades, but it adds just a bit of interest to make this beachside primary feel welcoming.

The owners of this home live near the beach and wanted their midcentury-modern reno to have coastal influences. Christina ordered a custom bed with a wavy headboard upholstered in an ocean-like shade, and then used sculptural accents in the art and lighting to play off that feature. The result is a fun-meets-calming retreat.

Christina complemented the curve of the upholstered headboard with linens that have a scalloped edge, and then hung a wavy light fixture overhead. The collective look is proof that you don’t need to be literal to embrace a coastal feel.

A neutral palette in this living area allows the black-framed panes to bring in as much natural light as possible. But does it feel boring? No way. The curves, textures and shapes of the furnishings add interesting layers.

A freestanding tub highlighted by a terrazzo backdrop and a sunny shower accented by green tiles gives this primary suite a relaxed yet luxurious feel.

Christina did something slightly out of her comfort zone for this vanity’s design: She made the sink the star with a patchwork of saturated colors. The squares of that installation match the neutral ones in the backsplash — and the palette coordinates with the project's overall design — resulting in a memorable statement.

Here’s another way Christina brought a hint of playfulness to her upscale designs in her “Worth the Wait" renovation: She placed a full-length mirror in a familiar wood finish behind a dining table to bounce light around. The shape and finish of the mirror match those features in the dining set, providing functional character.

Christina is a longtime fan of a black-and-white motif, and this bathroom showcases her ability to make that classic combination feel fresh again and again. Thanks to a floating marble vanity that has a geode-like appearance, that neutral backdrop acts as a strong supporting feature.

Even when Christina is designing with luxury in mind, she still incorporates details that keep those furnishings from feeling too stuffy. The curves of the mirror and console in this living room soften its edges, giving it a more relaxed finish.

This dual-sink vanity’s wood base and marble countertop boast fluted detailing on the cabinetry for an elevated touch. Another high-end detail? The gold-rimmed mirror and sconces, which make “California casual” feel luxe.

A honey-hued wood stain and bold marble veining are more examples of Christina's penchant for polish, this time seen in Season 1 of The Flip Off. Like her other uses of warm woods and striking marble, this winning duo makes a room feel thoughtful and calming — not overwhelming.

Christina loves to accent her main materials with personality-packed light fixtures, and this modern example is no exception. Its geometric appearance contrasts with the fluid marble veining, giving the design an intriguing layer.

Christina uses accessories to add unexpected textures and patterns into her spaces, and this bookcase showcases her coastal modern sensibilities with that covetable twist. Don't be afraid to mix and match pieces in your styling too.

Christina doesn't always stick to the script when it comes to a marble-and-wood palette, though. In keeping with her playful approach to design, she added a checkerboard pattern to the shower of this project in Season 1 of The Flip Off, proving that a trusty combo can sometimes benefit from an unexpected component.

Christina used a fluting detail to highlight the headboard in this guest bedroom from The Flip Off and accessorized with a sculptural light fixture. It's proof that you can use the same details in different designs, from bedrooms to bathrooms and beyond.