Adventurous Twists Define A Contemporary Build In Newport Beach

They wanted a calm home—and a very private home—but they also kept saying, ‘we just want the coolest house in the neighborhood,’ ” remarks Raili Clasen of the overarching goal that her clients had for their new build in a Newport Beach neighborhood. Happily, these concepts weren’t considered mutually exclusive by the designer, nor by architect Eric Olsen. Frequent collaborators, the design pros share a style that emphasizes natural materials, bold shapes and light-filled spaces, all of which appealed to the homeowners. But other than a few specific requests, such as a tidy niche in the kitchen to house their state-of-the-art coffee machine, “the owners really set us loose, design-wise,” marvels Clasen. She and Olsen, joined by general contractor Ross Savage (another consistent collaborator), understood the assignment. Under their watch, typical design choices gave way to adventurous twists on flow, proportion, materiality and more, all without ever losing sight of the serenity the couple craved.

Take the wooden boardwalk that leads into their property. It arrives at a thick copse of olive trees that landscape architect Chris Brown planted to shield the front façade’s two-story wall of glass from the glances of casual passersby. “He planted so many trees around the house that it’s a journey just to find the front door,” says Clasen with a laugh, adding that the olive-filled courtyard creates a peaceful ambience while providing privacy. “The impression it gives is that you’re somewhere more remote.”

Step inside, past all those windows, to face a solid wall—an eyebrow-raising decision which underscores that “elsewhere” feeling. The wall’s limewashed brick is fronted by a lengthy water feature, providing a boundary of peaceful sounds against any exterior noise. Coupled with Olsen’s choice to pull in the façade’s cedar siding, which crisscrosses the upper third of the wall, the space demonstrates how the architect deliberately blurred the line between indoors and out. “The entry hall is like an exterior space we’ve brought inside; that interior wall appears to mark the separation from the outside, while actually being indoors,” Olsen observes. Clasen, for her part, specified a trio of gigantic forged-metal pendants to hold court in the airspace above, creating “a whole experience there that can stop you in your tracks,” she states of the dynamic effect. Then, guests can turn either right or left to proceed further into the house.

This “choose your own adventure” flow is another of the home’s unconventional choices. “There’s not a traditional, predictable path in, and the changing levels emphasize this,” explains Olsen of the layout, pointing out the sunken, split-level designs of the living and dining rooms. “Getting to the public spaces is its own journey.” Other compelling but atypical design moments are sprinkled throughout the home. See the primary bath, for instance, where a sculptural tub topped by a skylight and flanked by cedar siding is the backdrop for the shower space of a wet room. “With these clients, we had the opportunity to have fun creatively and not do the expected; it worked and never felt gimmicky or forced,” declares Olsen.

What unites all these elements is the uncomplicated allure of the abode’s materials—wood, brass, stone—and the preponderance of windows that flood it with light and frame the surrounding greenery. The challenge of contemporary design, notes general contractor Ross Savage, is that “with architecture this clean and crisp, every flaw is visible, so imperfections are not an option.” Witness the immaculate intersections where the glass extending down from the ceiling merges with the kitchen countertops; the way that the home’s siding seems to flow straight from the garden into the living room; or the orderly pattern of the bricks that line one side of the entrance hallway, race up the wall of a bathroom, and march across the header of the living room doorway. “We really enjoyed figuring out how to execute these features,” Savage says.

Clasen and Olsen took their cues from one another. “We collaborate 100%,” the designer explains. “And this is probably our 17^th project together,” adds Olsen. “We enjoy bouncing off ideas and pushing each other creatively.” Here, as the architect’s ample use of wood nods to what Clasen perceived as a “Napa-meets-Newport vibe,” she complemented this warmth in various interior iterations, designing a banquette for the dining room that appears carved out of a single piece of timber or creating a simple slatted-wood headboard for a guest room. Other naturally-inspired selections—a jute rug, a plaid throw in earthy tones, tufted leather stools with rough-hewn legs—layer in a lived-in, laid-back feeling. The result is a comfortable house with standout style, plus a cool factor that satisfies its owners. “They trusted us and took chances that I know were challenging,” shares Clasen, “but they’ve also texted me to say, ‘We can’t believe we live here.’ ”