When it came to updating their Newport Heights tract home, Helen and David Hogle wanted to give the 2,600-square-foot house a more modern vibe, effortless indoor-outdoor flow as well as a sense of breathing space. No small feat given the 1964 house’s original slatted windows, dated fixtures and low ceiling heights. But instead of going into full demo mode with ground-up construction, the couple opted for a top-to-bottom renovation that lasted almost – wait for it – two years.
The result turned out to be well worth the wait. The Hogles, along with their Labrador retrievers, Nick and Riley, now reside in an airy space that captures a spot-on sense of midcentury cool and modern-day flow. Rooflines were raised and tilted, sprawling glass doors now replace dated sliders, and entirely new flooring, lighting and architectural details create a sense of quiet coastal luxury, without a too-sleek surface in sight.
“There’s a feeling of serenity and simple living that is embodied in every part of the house,” Helen Hogle says. “The materials give the feeling of space and cohesiveness. We attribute the spacious feeling to the collaborative effort with the architect and designers. We all worked together to incorporate our desire to maximize the property for indoor-outdoor living space.”
To realize that vision, the Hogles enlisted architect William Guidero Planning and Design, along with Erin Flinn and Erin Curci of E2 Interior Design. Known for their ability to create coastal-inspired living spaces that capture a sense of character without using flamboyant color, the Newport Beach-based decorating team focused on giving the project a clean, modern-organic feeling.
“We felt since the architecture and house itself was so clean, we added interest in the textures and surfaces of the materials, rather than add color,” Curci says of such details as the limestone surround on the living room fireplace that keeps to a quiet palette while adding visual interest and detail. Other materials, such as white oak, ceramic and glass tile, continue the clean, organic feel and set the canvas for the designers’ mix of gently modulated neutral tones and materials used in furnishings, art and accessories. “We used subdued hues that you might find in nature,” Curci says.
When it came to the outdoors, however, the Hogles opted for more dramatic, earth-moving alterations. While they tapped Molly Wood Garden Design to create a mix of modulated greens, they also decided to install a swimming pool, which in turn led to one of the most pivotal design decisions in the entire project: to build a newly constructed pool house. Today the high-ceiling, open-air space with the disappearing wall functions not only as a secondary hangout area to the great room, but it also visually bookends the home and literally lures residents and guests outside. “You immediately see the pool house when you walk through the front door, so it really is a focal point,” says Flinn. “We used some large-scale water photographs, a deep loungy sectional with outdoor fabric, a colorful rug and pillows to lure you out to the space.”
