Enter the Rustic Santa Monica Canyon Home of Your Dreams

When you own a home in Santa Monica Canyon, the property's exterior surroundings are just as important as its interiors as far as the design is concerned. That's why interior designers Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl of Studio Life.Style were inspired by the idea of bringing the outdoors in when they tackled a recent project in the sunny, Los Angeles region.

The pair were tasked with decorating a six-bedroom, eight-bathroom 1972 contemporary Tuscan villa spanning 7000-square-feet. Purchased by an aerospace engineer and an artist with twin six-year-old boys, the abode's opulent surroundings and striking architecture provided plenty of inspiration.

"[The home] is engulfed in a lush landscape with magical garden moments accessed throughout the home via steel frame doors and windows, along with nature-inspired wall treatments," the designing duo tells MyDomaine. "Statement materials with tons of patina and antiques rich with history were blended with contemporary lighting and furnishings in order to create a uniquely artful and sculptural home," they continue.

Ahead, step inside the rustic modern home inspired by the natural elements it's surrounded by.

The living room was designed to be a showcase space for the entire house, according to Wollack and Zwickl. "Playing with textures, a warm monochromatic palette, and grounding the space with a show-stopping antique carpet, the living room balances formality with California living," they say.

The dining room is the first space you see when entering the home; therefore, Wollack and Zwickl knew they had to use it to make a statement. For them, this room was the perfect opportunity to deliver on their goal of bringing the outdoors in. "We repeated the exterior stone on a focal feature wall and introduced a rich deep green color on the chair upholstery to echo the landscape," explains the designers.

This spacious kitchen began with a selection of mixed materials that inspired the design of the space. Think painted cabinets, stained wood islands, Moroccan backsplash tile, and an aged brass range hood for a metallic moment. Wollack and Zwickl call the custom range hood the star of the kitchen and we couldn't agree more.

Dubbed the breakfast room, this space is adjacent to the kitchen and features tall glass doors that let in breathtaking natural light and expose the room to the green surroundings of the backyard. In order to differentiate the space from the rest of the open kitchen, the designers opted for inset herringbone floors that define the boundaries of the room.

Wollack and Zwickl describe this room as "masculine, earthy, and modern." It includes more of the stunning exterior stone found outside as a bold feature of the fireplace along with exposed wood beams on the ceiling and an array of light wood materials from the desk to the shelving. "The main floor study is a perfect backdrop for a rocket scientist’s imaginative work," they note.

The words tranquil, soothing, and peaceful immediately come to mind when looking at this primary bedroom. Aside from the magnificent view offered through large sliding glass doors and a private balcony, the room features a large bed, chaise sofa, two modern armchairs, and a silver accent table. "We used a calm, serene, and neutral palette and played with textures and tones to create richness," Wollack and Zwickl share.

Few things are cooler than a stone sink and a distressed mirror in a dimly lit bathroom. "The moody and chic powder bath was another opportunity for great textural play," according to the design duo. "We converted an antique granite vessel into a sink and paired it with a brass wall-mounted faucet, custom-aged mirror, and lime-washed wall treatment," they explain.

The kids' room is just as rustic and stylish as the rest of the house while offering plenty of playful and functional spaces. We love the lofted area filled with throw pillows and the wooden accents that make the room feel more like a cabin than a bedroom.

Just outside the house lies plenty of open space fit for entertaining and enjoying intimate moments on warm nights. "The dining area was chosen for its proximity to the kitchen and adjacency to a fire feature, and was finished with an outdoor pizza oven," Wollack and Zwickl point out. There's also room for sun loungers and daybeds by the oversized pool to complete the outdoor area. It's indoor/outdoor living done right.