Warning: This Newport Home Is Not Your Typical Beach House

Industrial Kitchen

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

 

When you picture a house in Newport Beach, your mind likely conjures up images of bright white interiors, surf-inspired décor, and mod designs. However, one home located in Newport Beach, California is turning this image completely on its head. Instead of crisp interiors with coastal décor, it offers a dark and moody color scheme, industrial details, and hints of unexpected glam.

The final design of this newly constructed 3700-square-foot property, which boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms, is the result of three distinct creative points of view: the glamorous style of the owner, lifestyle blogger Andee Layne, the California fun sensibilities of interior designer Raili Clasen, and the darker, hip influences of architect Eric Olsen.

"Our style has been labeled California cool and out of the box, but for this project, we had a huge design collaboration experience with three styles coming together," Clasen tells MyDomaine. She notes that not having free reign over the design was the biggest challenge of the project; however, the differences between the varying perspectives ultimately created something completely unique and everyone was able to work together towards the common goal. "It was fun collaborating with a client with a different twist on design taste," she admits.

Ahead, see what happens when dark and moody comes together with California cool and glam.

Mud Room

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

Upon entering the coastal abode, this dark entryway is the initial space that greets you, offering quite the first impression. It teases at what's to come throughout the rest of the space: luxe materials and surprisingly daring colors. "We chose a usually clean and bright space to set the tone for the house [and, instead, used] dark vertical siding with cognac leather bench seats," Clasen explains. The result is a refreshingly modern look.

White and Gray Living Room

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

One of the brighter areas of the home, the living room spills directly into the kitchen, making the most of an open floor plan. "The living area, dining nook, and kitchen are all in one big, interactive space, so we wanted to create a super cool, but not formal party room," according to Clasen. White walls and ceiling contrast with a gray sectional sofa and dark cabinetry visible in the kitchen while natural light streams into the space through tall sliding glass doors—one of Clasen's favorite features in the home.

Black and White Kitchen

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen 

The barstool set up on the edge of the kitchen is meant to flow with the colors and materials found in the living space nearby. "We brought in relaxed sofas and lounge chairs with oak side tables to work with the oak barstools in the kitchen and oak nook table," Clasen points out. "Our philosophy for interactive rooms is that each material needs a friend in the adjacent room," she adds. Take note of this tip if you're working with large, open floor plan spaces in your own home. It's like the buddy system, but for furniture and décor.

Sophisticated Play Room

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

When you think of a playroom, we wouldn't blame you if the first image that pops into your mind isn't as sophisticated or as chic as this dreamy space. "The kids' play area was tough to design," Clasen admits. "We had a big open space, but not wide enough for a sofa and side chairs, and it needed to handle movie nights and sleepovers," the designer explains.

The solution turned out to be this seven-piece sectional sofa that's ideal for cuddling for a movie in a cozy setting. "We ended up with a mosh pit sofa, but I'm not lying when I admit we measured at least 10 times and still didn't know if it was going to look like an elephant in the room," she adds. Luckily, the sofa fit and thanks to high ceilings and textured pendant lights, the space still feels utterly expansive.

Black Bedroom

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

This bedroom is a masterclass in color, something that Clasen is no stranger to. "For someone who injects color into most projects, we kept this project to charcoals and grays and used brass and accessories to punch in some contrast," she notes. Here, a bold yellow bedspread manages to work perfectly with the dark wall paint and nightstand. It's proof that black and yellow can go together without appearing gimmicky.

Master Bathroom

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

If you thought you'd already seen the most envy-inducing rooms in this Newport Beach house, think again. The primary bathroom is a true sanctuary from the daily grind. A tall A-frame ceiling with white siding makes the space feel infinitely vast while a contemporary standing tub sits beneath a gold chandelier for a glam look.

Primary Bathroom

The term "Primary Bathroom" is now widely used to describe the largest bathroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term "Master." Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

You can definitely see Layne's design influences in this room; however, it still feels connected to the rest of the house with the tub's black and gold faucet and the moody framed photograph on the wall.

Newport Backyard

Karyn Millet; DESIGN: Raili Clasen: PROP STYLIST: Melissa Libbey; Architecture: Eric Olsen

Of course, no Southern California home would be complete without a finished backyard. This space is ideal for entertaining thanks to the classic wicker patio furniture, a rustic coffee table, and a striking outdoor fireplace to tie it all together.