Seaside Escape

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Kendall Wilkinson Design curates a cozy Santa Barbara escape for a prominent Bay Area Real Estate Agent

Furniture throughout was sourced from De Sousa Hughes, Shears & Window and Sloan Miyasato.
Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.

San Francisco power agent Gregg Lynn and his husband fell deeply in love with the coastal California living after hosting their wedding in Montecito and decided to embark on a mission to purchase their own beach escape locally. “When this beachfront home, that was crumbling and in moldy condition, came on the market, they lost no time swooping it up,” says Kendall Wilkinson, founder and principal of Kendall Wilkinson Design. “Initially they thought the townhouse would just be a rental, but since its completion, they have fallen in love with the residence’s beach energy and endeavor to spend as much time there as possible.”

The dining table features a top made from Cambria stone, surrounded by six MCM-style dining chairs. The focal point is the abstract expressionist painting by San Francisco artist Ronnie Genotti.  The flooring throughout is from Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring.
Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.
The kitchen cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen Blue (HC-156) one of Kendall’s favorite blue paint colors. All plumbing fixtures were sourced from Belmont Hardware. Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.
Flooded with natural light, the breakfast nook includes a built-in banquette with adjoining side-tables which adds a polished, comfortable, look for cozy and intimate dining. The lighting in each room was sourced from City Lights. Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.

Lynn and Kendall’s team aligned that the overall design direction should focus on enhancing the surrounding coastline views. They worked with Martin Manzo of Manzo Construction and Gary Frolenko Engineering to rethink the 1,700-square-foot floor plan and started by removing a wall that cut off the kitchen from the living room. “The full interior demolition and rebuild included a significantly modified layout which meant the replacement of all surfaces, installation of a new kitchen and breakfast nook, new window treatments, overall lighting design and fixtures, new bathrooms and all new furnishings. This open concept layout offered the opportunity for sound to travel better throughout the residence,” she recalls. “The proximity to the water means the clients can enjoy twenty-four-seven access to soothing sounds of the waves softly crashing.”

For the entry powder room, Kendall Wilkinson Design opted for a lacquered coral, painting it in Benjamin Moore’s Coral Spice (2170-40) to emulate the ballroom from the nearby Coral Casino, where the clients were married. The stone selections were found at Carmel Stone Imports. Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.
The Mid-century abstract steel sculpture (artist unknown) atop the stairway was acquired through Market Market of Palm Springs. Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.

Having worked together on two previous projects, the Kendall Wilkinson Design team has an established relationship with the couple who allowed them to run with their creative concepts. “The clients love a Mid-century flair, so we combined warm wood tones and a custom MCM-inspired sofa with calming blues to absorb the peaceful energy of the seascape,” says Wilkinson. “Capturing the movement of the ocean is reflected in the living room’s coffee table and fabric selections.”

In the primary bedroom, the wood-veneered wallpaper from their friend and designer Fameed Khalique of London, the Linea upholstered panel king-size bed frame is from Bernhardt-Century and the rug was purchased from Stephen Miller Gallery.
Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.
The custom mosaic tile floor in the primary bathroom was made by All Natural Stone. Photos by Blake Bronstad Photography.

When the couple was able to see the completed design they were beyond happy that their design dreams of the home became reality. “Their vision of an open and airy floor plan encapsulating dramatic ocean views was exactly what they desired in a beach home,” she remarks. “They are so thrilled will the result they’re spending as much time there as possible.”