When you buy a cliffside house in Carmel Highlands with a guesthouse and a jaw-dropping view of the Pacific (and a backstory that includes some rush-to-finish design by the previous owners), personalization and polish are paramount. These longtime S&F clients brought some existing furniture, their architectural preferences, and zero hesitation. The goal? Zen, but make it a little schmaltzy. We unified the home with a serene, sage-meets-stone palette pulled from the surrounding landscape, then layered in texture, whimsy, and a few showstoppers (hello, floating pebble installation and lacquered David Weeks chandelier). We reimagined cabinetry, softened hard lines, added dimension via wallcoverings in grasscloth and cork, and brought every light fixture into the 21st century. And while the views do a lot of the work, custom mohair chairs, muraled walls, and rice paper sconces make the interiors just as transportive. It’s calm. It’s collected. It’s cliffside couture — and it’s got a sofa in plaid. Naturally.
