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Inside the vibrant, family-friendly home of interior designer Lisa Franco
Lisa Franco didn’t plan to become an interior designer. She and her husband, Luis, met while working in biotech. But when the couple’s daughter, Samantha, was a year old, she was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome. Lisa left the industry to focus on Sam full-time. And when the Francos bought their first house in San Diego shortly thereafter, Lisa—armed with a more flexible schedule and a hunger to explore her innate love of design—decided to take the reins on the interiors.
The Francos had tapped Mark Morris of Oasis Architecture to refresh the home. He was skeptical; homeowners who go the DIY route usually end up regretting it. But Lisa’s knack for design was apparent. She pulled samples, chose colors, sourced finishes, and visited showrooms, and others in the industry treated her like a fellow pro. “I just started calling myself a designer, and other people believed me,” she laughs. “My career was in science. Science is problem-solving. Interior design is, too. It’s solving a problem, and making it look good.”
When Morris walked through the finished product, he said, “‘You need to come work for me,’” he recalls. Soon after, she did. Their first project together won Bathroom of the Year in San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine.
As Samantha, now 24, and the couple’s son Ethan, 21, got older, the Francos set out to find a forever home—one that could accommodate a future live-in caregiver for Sam. In 2017, a La Jolla Heights gem jumped out from a listing in the paper: an Old Hollywood–inspired, 1960’s home, once owned by an oil baroness. The Francos bought it, and Morris signed on to bring the build into modern day. The bones were good, and “the house had the perfect entry—grand, yet understated,” Morris says.
The inside, on the other hand, needed work. Full of small, closed-off areas, it had level changes at every turn, like step-downs into bedrooms. Morris and the Francos modified the floor plan with two goals in mind: to create a seamless flow for family time and entertaining and to make the layout safe for Sam to have as much independence as possible.
They leveled out the floors, opened up the once-enclosed staircase for visibility, and installed pocket-door gates to block rooms and stairs as needed. Though the layout changed, “Lisa loved that house and wanted to respect it,” Morris says, so they preserved some original elements: crown molding, light fixtures, closet doors, built-ins.
Today, once you cross the threshold, you step directly into the main living space, or the great room. Just past the L-shaped couch is a million-dollar view: La Jolla’s hodgepodge of terracotta rooftops, the coast, all the way to Mexico.
The home’s primary palette is one of soft gray and white walls with chocolate-brown wood floors. But the Franco house is anything but muted. Lisa’s style is bold, colorful, happiness-inducing. In the great room, velvet pillows add pops of pink, blue, and ochre to the couch.
The great room flows into the kitchen, separated only by a peninsula. When Lisa and Morris design a kitchen for a client, they ask about their everyday routine—and that’s exactly what informed Lisa’s own space. Daily essentials receive priority; open shelves hold flour, sugar, oil, and tea, while a full butler pantry around a corner offers hidden storage.
The most innovative feature is a pass-through cabinet between the kitchen and dining room. Dishes and glassware are accessible from either side, and the configuration lets the dining room borrow the kitchen’s natural light.
The Francos wanted an additional space to unwind with friends, so they tucked a bar into an alcove off the great room. “Sometimes we have a couple come over, and we just want to hang, but our dining room is big,” Lisa says. “So this is an intermediate. It’s cozy.”
The couple pulled the blue from the kitchen island and incorporated gold and stone accents. The wire accents on the bar island are both aesthetic and functional—no need to worry about scuffs from guests’ shoes. Closed cabinets hold their collection of wine and spirits.
On the other side of the great room is Lisa’s office, easily the most colorful space in the house. Her desk is framed by a bay window overlooking the courtyard, while a pendant light fixture, original to the home and refreshed with deep teal paint, anchors the room. “I love whimsy,” Lisa says. The owl-print wallpaper was a touch she couldn’t resist. Luis was skeptical until he saw it installed. “That’s why she’s the designer,” he laughs.
Right across the hall is Sam’s media room, furnished with durable pieces. It’s near the kitchen and dining room, so Sam has her own space but is still in the mix. A mother-in-law suite, which can eventually function as a caregiver’s room, is next-door.
The great room might be the heart of the home, but the lower level is where the fun happens.
A mural of Lisa’s late brother, Michael “Howie” Mandell, who she calls “the life of the party,” is front and center, smiling with arms outstretched. The local artist they commissioned tagged the names of Howie’s loved ones around him, and band posters harken back to Howie and Lisa’s shared love of music.
In the corner is sapo, a Peruvian game (also called “toad in the hole”) that Luis grew up playing. The objective: Throw a gold coin into the toad’s mouth or the nearby holes. The sapo table was a gift from Luis’s mom, who transported it in pieces via plane.
A far wall holds a candy bar, stocked with guests’ favorites, and a mini kitchen with a pink SMEG fridge and toaster. The oversized sliding window opens up onto the grill, the outdoor dining space, and the pool area.
It’s a stunning pool, considering it was once surrounded by green carpet. “It was like going into a football locker room,” Morris says. “The pool itself was spectacular, and we didn’t want to lose that character.” The Francos kept the exposed beams, opened the ceiling and walls, and wrapped the columns in dark brick. “During the day, it feels like you’re outside,” Morris says, “but at night, all lit up, it really feels like its own room.”
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Morris and Lisa treated the outdoor space like an extension of the home, creating “rooms” for different functions: grilling, playing, resting, entertaining. A fire pit at the farthest point is an ideal spot to sit and reflect. Lisa designed a “rug” made from tiles that frames the outdoor dining area. They added a ping-pong table for Ethan and his friends. And in the polished, turfed yard, which mimics the shape of the pool, there’s always room for an impromptu game of soccer.
Looking up from the backyard, you can see the family’s gathering spots—great room, basement, kitchen—framed like vignettes through the windows. “Being a good architect is not about bringing your sense of style to the table,” Morris says. “It’s about being sensitive to the environment, the existing [house], and the client’s interests. And if you can cohesively pull that together into a beautiful design that feels like home, you’ve done your job.”
"The Distinct Modernism of San Diego" tells the story of how some architects pioneered their own style in 20th-century San Diego
San Diego is just out here minding its own business. It’s long been cast as Los Angeles’s less ambitious sibling—the chill one, the one who shows up late for dinner reservations in flip-flops with a few provocative opinions. Architecturally it’s often cast the same: secondary, derivative, a footnote to California modernism that seems to begin and end with the Stahl House (Case Study House #22). LA has Pierre Koenig, Craig Ellwood, John Lautner. San Diego has the original fish taco.
But this version of the story is redacted, metaphorically speaking.
While the jazz hands of Hollywood and its hills cast a spell on historians and architecture buffs, San Diego had, and has, its own quiet evolution: It invented and reinvented itself through homegrown modernism, beginning with The Allen House (1907) in Bonita by Irving J. Gill.
“The biggest misconception is that San Diego was following Los Angeles,” says Keith York of Modern San Diego, one of the city’s top guides to modernist architecture. “Those who consider Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra as the fathers of Southern California Modernism often fail to recognize the outsize influence Gill and his buildings had on their work.”
A new book, The Distinct Modernism of San Diego—written by Mark Hargreaves and Hallie Swenson, published by York—focuses on eight architects who were born, raised, or built their careers in San Diego. It illustrates how the city wasn’t hosting weekend warrior architects on side quests. It was a staging ground for a less look-at-me modernism from luminaries like Gill, Lilian J. Rice, Richard Requa, Lloyd Ruocco, Frederick Liebhardt, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, Sim Bruce Richards, and Cliff May.
“Absent the backstabbing competition for projects, a collegial group of architectural peers collaborated and maintained lasting friendships with one another as they designed in response to the temperate climate and slower economy,” York says.
Largely unknown until the mid-1960s, Gill is a marquee name today. He arrived here from the East Coast at a moment when San Diego was still defining itself, which gave him the freedom to invent something new, experiment, rebel.
Instead of imposing the flourishes and frills of the time, he considered San Diego’s climate, light, landscape, history—the joie de vivre—and designed for this place. “[Architects of the west] must have the courage to fling aside every device that distracts the eye from structural beauty, must break through convention and get down to fundamental truths,” he once said, a sentiment that nails the un-ornate, total lack of pretension that’s defined San Diego people and culture.
And, lo, did Gill fling: His flat roofs, clean lines, and almost no ornamentation—though not necessarily modernism in the Eames or Eichler sense—foreshadowed what would later be called minimalism. Gill eventually became synonymous with the Los Angeles narrative, but broader architectural histories overlook the fact that his most progressive designs happened here.
Another key to San Diego’s architectural movement was Lilian J. Rice, who often worked behind the scenes with little credit. She was one of only about 10 women in America licensed as architects at the time. Even though she died from cancer at 43, she somehow managed to complete an estimated 170 projects in the region, many in Rancho Santa Fe.
Born and raised in National City, Rice also wasn’t importing ideas. She shaped her own based on her understanding of this region and her commitment to protect the natural environment. Her work has been categorized as Spanish Colonial Revival, but she wasn’t reviving as much as she was refining a style suited to our border region—serene, mirroring nature, beautiful.
“San Diego architects were designing for a way of life, not just a look,” says York.
Like Sim Bruce Richards, who was his own way of life. While Gill stripped away ornamentation and Rice focused on the peace of open spaces, Richards came along several decades later and went full emo. By then, modernism had grown deep roots; its steel-and-glass structures took themselves very seriously. Richards came to party.
An eccentric, unpredictable man with half a face (part of his jaw was removed following a bone infection when he was a child), his life was a jalopy of adventures. He was opinionated and passionate about design, music, texture—and he created what he called a “sensuous environment.” He wanted his clients and their guests to feel the spaces as much as to be in them, appealing to the visual, tactile, nasal (“a cedar house smells good”), auditory (“acoustically superior”), even taste. “Though, I‘ve never had a client lick my houses,” he once wrote.
Organic, woodsy, textured, aromatic—if you ever find yourself in a Sim Bruce Richards house, a licking impulse might not seem so outrageous.
Gill, Rice, Richards and the other architects in Distinct Modernism built a legacy in San Diego that resonates nationally. And the work of these heavy hitters isn’t stuck in an inaccessible collectors realm: This October, homes by Kellogg and Liebhardt will open to the public as part of the La Jolla Modernism Home Tour—an opportunity to experience it not as a museum relic or magazine image (ahem), but as something alive.
Modernism in San Diego was never about glamour or an intention to be iconic. What transpired here is more nuanced, more ingrained with a less shouty aesthetic. A very San Diego aesthetic.
San Diego architects and designers spill on the trends, textures, and ideas shaping the city's homes today
Craftsmans and Spanish Revivalists and mid-century modernists—why does San Diego have so many different architectural styles? What makes a home distinctly San Diego? What are the trends shaping the look of the city’s neighborhoods for years to come? We asked the experts: architects and designers honoring the past, crafting the present, and radically altering the future of San Diego living. They opened their portfolios, shared points of view, and treated us to snapshots of their latest work that speaks to the ideas they’re playing with. The result? Six trends, design choices, and a proposal to make local homes unique. Grab a lemonade and get a little inspo for your own place.
“Clients are now reaching for comfortable outdoor spaces that can be controlled for subtle shifts in the environment—heated covered porches, or patios with controlled louvered ceilings with integrated fans, lighting, heaters, and adjustable light.” –Mark Morris, Oasis Architecture & Design
“I think outdoor spaces in San Diego can be as useful or even more useful than indoor spaces. Relating to the site, view, [and] neighborhood can bring so much value and richness to a home.” –Bill Bocken, Bill Bocken Architecture & Interior Design
“After years of modern farmhouses—black windows, white houses, and gray walls and floors—natural tones are coming back. We are seeing a return to organic textures and more saturated color. Homes feel layered rather than stark.” –Susan Wintersteen, Savvy Interiors
“There’s a move toward homes that feel like every element has a purpose. I see a strong desire for warmth and natural stone, wood, organic textures with softer transitions, and materials that age well.” –Jen Pinto, Jackson Design & Remodeling
“I would like to see even more architectural integrity, fewer quick flips, and more thoughtful renovations that respect proportion, scale, and context. San Diego deserves homes that feel timeless, not transactional.” –Susan Wintersteen, Savvy Interiors
“We want to see people respecting the original character of their homes while re-imagining them for modern life, rather than erasing character in favor of quick transformations that look ‘cookie-cutter.’” –John Kavan, Jackson Design & Remodeling
“Homeowners are staying in their homes longer—some 15 or 20 years. That has shifted design away from trend-driven choices and toward architecturally driven spaces that are functional, cohesive, timeless, and designed to support daily life over decades.” –Jen Pinto, Jackson Design & Remodeling
“There’s a noticeable move away from literal ‘coastal themes’ and toward more layered, textural environments. San Diego homes today often feel cleaner, more architectural, and more personal.” –Julie Crosby, designer
“Today, the aesthetic is more refined but still rooted in ease. It is coastal without being cliché and modern without being cold. The throughline is light, air, and a relaxed sophistication that reflects how people actually live here.” –Susan Wintersteen, Savvy Interiors
“When you can live outdoors most of the year, architecture and interiors must support that. Large format doors, layered patios, durable materials, and seamless flooring transitions all stem from lifestyle.” –Susan Wintersteen, Savvy Interiors
“Nearly everyone wants to take advantage of the constant sunshine, so we see a huge desire for indoor-outdoor living, light and airy fabrics, organic materials that bring the feeling of nature into the home, and a desire to incorporate a relaxed, coastal lifestyle into everyday living.” –Lilli Fish, LS Design Studio
Lili Kim is a content coordinator and writer for San Diego Magazine, with experience highlighting local businesses and communities. When not writing or shooting film, she is likely brewing her seventh cup of tea of the day or strolling along Sunset Cliffs.
Take your sanctuary to the next level with high-end fixtures that turn your space into a dreamy escape
Your bedroom is your sanctuary—a haven for your favorite shoes (the ones you never actually wear but love to admire), the place where your best thoughts sneak in before you drift off, the safe space that’s seen you through anxious nights and joyful secret dance parties.
With a little guidance and intention, this space can feel just as dreamy as that one nap you never want to end, anchored by warm burl wood, smooth (and sustainable) upholstery, and stone nightstands that read as art. And we’re not talking about the overly staged look-at-me rooms you see on HGTV. Great design prioritizes feeling just as much as form. We’ve handpicked upscale, quietly chic finds from local home stores to bring your ultimate bedroom vision to life.
Mary had a little…chair? Wrapped in camel-hued wool, the Allora Chair proves that one standout spot for lounging is often all a bedroom needs to feel like the penthouse suite at a fancy-schmancy hotel.
Room & Board sources the Sitara Rug from India, where skilled craftspeople hand-knot every inch of this soft wool carpet. Tiny flecks of gold silk add a subtle shimmer. Just try not to drop any earring backs on it.
Everyone loves flowers, but real lilies lose points for fading fast—and being dangerous for pets! Sub in these hand-painted faux calla stems suspended in crystal-clear “water” for a fresh bouquet that never withers.
Who said canopy beds had an age limit? Add a little whimsy to your sleep schedule with this walnut burl frame. Arhaus’ Morley Collection is artisan-crafted, meaning no two beds are exactly alike, so your room is as unique as you are. Go ahead, sleep like royalty.
Wrapped in a pale mint (Moonstone) velvet, the Berlin Bench delivers a soft pop of color. Equal parts functional and beautiful, it’s made for collecting discarded shirts during an outfit-planning sesh and supporting dramatic swoons.
Bonjour, bedroom—meet your new obsession. Inspired by traditional French design, this mirror’s iron-and-resin frame features delicate floral-and-vine detailing. Your reflection just got a vacation in Nice.
If the Pixar lamp got a glow-up, it’d look a lot like the Christie Floor Lamp. Thanks to a curving brass post, milk glass globe, and coralle stone base, it’s a killer source of mood lighting, but it’s also a whole mood in itself.
Whoever said recessed lighting was enough clearly hasn’t met this chandelier. Finished in antique brass with three layered tiers of glass that gently diffuse light, the fixture resembles a soft cascade of feathers. Showgirl glam or one with nature? Why not a little bit of both?
This dresser has a backstory: Mexican artisans collect ash trees felled by storms; cut them into cross-sections that show off their natural rings, cracks, and watermarks; and piece them together into a patchwork that has bits of sustainably-farmed European ash burl.
It’s okay—you can finally let go of the beige canvas you panic-bought for above your bed. Roam Homeware’s Shell Collector feels perfectly SoCal with soothing neutrals, interesting abstract patterns, and recognizable shapes (but no faces to scare you during a 3 a.m. bathroom trip).
Furniture made from rocks can lean a little Flintstones. Not here, though. The scalloped curves and shiny finish of this charming little nightstand coax an unexpected softness and romance out of natural stone.
Candles in a glass jar are so last season. Instead, pop some beeswax tapers into these sculptural sand-cast iron holders. Set them on a shelf, and you’ve got a touch of vintage charm without the fussy fragility of antique pieces.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”
EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.
“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
See this year's list of winners, voted on by a panel of expert judges and SDM readers
San Diego Magazine’s annual Home + Design Awards returned for its third year with nearly 200 nominations from innovative architects, developers, designers, and other industry pros across the country. To select the top projects from a broad range of categories—including interior and exterior residential design, commercial design, overall home design, and student submissions—we tapped a panel of expert judges.
Daniela Deutsch works as dean of the School of Architecture at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Megan Groth is an architect and urbanist and the author of the civic-minded local guidebook Places We Love: San Diego Tijuana, Jeff Walker sells SoCal’s historic and unique homes as the founder and broker of Agents of Architecture, Inc., and entrepreneur Kristy Kropat serves as the President-Elect of the SD Chapter of the American Society of Interior Design.
Our readers weighed in, too, voting on the spaces and designs that wow’ed them. Take a moment to explore the awardees here and marvel at San Diego’s outstanding design community.
Design Perspectives/Tina Marie Koch — Communion
Nakhshab Development & Design — Cardiff Residence
Julie Crosby Design — Esperia
GroundLevel Landscape Architecture — Private Residence
Esteban Interiors — Project Coastal Luxury
Danielle Seipel/Mesa College — Chapter House
Design Perspectives/Tina Marie Koch — Communion
Tiger Veil/Rachel Larraine Crawford — Aura Gardens
AAHA Studio — Wedgwood Weddings at The Headquarters
Kevin & Alvin Monsour, Owners or Oram Hotels | Erika Baker, Leader Designer & Creative Director at Oram Hotels — Granger Hotel
PGAL — Bioterra
Bells + Whistles — Starlite
Unscripted Spaces — Unscripted Spaces Design Showroom
LS Design Studio — La Jolla Spanish Revival
Dwell West Homes — Estrella Del Mar
VisionDesign Associates — Deitz ADU
Greenway Landscape Design & Build — Poway Modern Backyard
GroundLevel Landscape Architecture — Private Residence
Brookside Landscape Design — Nevada
K2 Interiors / Designer: Kendra Araujo — One-of-a-Kind Outdoor
Greenway Landscape Design & Build — Poway Pool & Patio Remodel
The Bureau/Claire Deutsch — Claire Deutsch
Esteban Interiors — Project Tailored Historic
Mark Stocker Design — Olivenhain, CA
Laura Abrams Design — Moody Office
The Bureau/Claire Deutsch — Claire Deutsch
Dwell West Homes — Estrella Del Mar
Savvy Interiors, Susan Wintersteen — Spanish modern staircase
Keri Michelle Interiors — Villa Serena Laundry Room
Danielle Seipel/Mesa College — Chapter House
Designed by architect Drew Hubbell, this energy-efficient residence built around ancient boulders honors terrain rather than reshaping it
Strewn among the rolling hills of northern Escondido are granite boulders so huge they look like something from Jurassic Park. Snuggled among them, a new home is so closely connected with nature that it brings one massive rock inside as a major design element—and that’s only one example of how this fantastic place is fused to the land.
Designed by Drew Hubbell for Joi Lin Blake and dubbed “The Serenity Project: Under the Oaks,” it’s a subtle and energy-efficient sanctuary that demonstrates how “green design” need not mean clunky rooftop solar panels. Sustainable elements—such as concrete floors that retain heat from low winter sun and a roof of insulated panels that stabilize interior temperatures year-round—are integral to the architecture and help it achieve “net zero,” meaning the home produces all the energy it needs, drawing none from the grid.
Building a house came naturally to Blake, who managed construction projects as president of Palomar College. After she retired in 2020, she set out to create a home that would raise the bar for earth-friendly architecture.
“In my research on building sustainably, a friend recommended I connect with Drew Hubbell as a pioneer in green design,” she says. “I also chose him because his values aligned with the philosophy that guided the project, as far as the land, its history, and collaboration with the construction team.”
Drew Hubbell earned his degree in architecture from the University of Arizona and has traveled through the US and abroad surveying materials and building techniques. Much of what he knows about design comes from his father James Hubbell, who died in 2024, leaving a legacy of what he called “the architecture of jubilation,” celebrating kindness, understanding, and nature’s bounties.
He designed several San Diego houses with these guiding principles, and many of us have experienced them in projects such as his Pacific Rim Park on San Diego Bay, Sea Ranch Chapel in Northern California, and the Hubbell Home & Studios and Ilan-Lael Foundation in Santa Ysabel near Julian. Then there was the quirky and beloved Triton restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a cozy seaside grotto of organic shapes and stained glass. It closed in 2014 and is being remodeled into a new eatery. Ilan-Lael salvaged some of James’ work on the structure, including one of the large stained-glass windows that were his hallmark.
Drew grew up immersed in sustainable design—his father’s work was energy-efficient and prioritized materials that can be obtained with the least impact on the environment. Hubbell & Hubbell Architects, now headed by Drew, has blazed a green building trail for more than 25 years, combining elements, often sourced onsite, that range from adobe and straw bales to natural plasters, recycled steel, and insulated concrete.
James Hubbell was known for thoughtful partnerships with artisans, carpenters, and clients. That collaborative spirit continues here. Blake and Drew visited several sites together before settling on this one, secluded on a rocky hilltop covered with native plants such as coast live oaks, manzanita, and sage. This remarkable vantage provides 360-degree views, from the ocean to Palomar Mountain.
“A friend and I sat on top of a boulder one evening and said, ‘Let’s see what the land says to us,’” Blake recalls. “The house is rounded like the land. I set out with the intention of creating an experience that embraces humanity’s oneness with nature, moments of peace, moments of reflection, moments of serenity under the oaks. Every line and every detail gives a sense of movement like one gets from the terrain, the boulders, the wind, the natural landscape.”
As did his dad, Drew encourages creative teamwork. He was a perfect fit with Blake, an energetic, hands-on client who spent many days onsite during construction. She made several suggestions that were incorporated into the design, including a roof curved like surrounding boulders, spotlights that showcase those commanding rocks, and a freestanding tiled wall that wraps around a cozy shower in the primary suite.
Wood-and-stained-glass front doors lead into a relatively modest home—three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, 2,492 square feet—that feels much larger thanks to tall ceilings; open interiors; and expansive, unobstructed views. Stunning entry doors are Hubbell & Hubbell’s signature, and many of them, including these, were crafted by Dan Thoner, a longtime Ilan-Lael artisan whose career has also included illustrations for Wrangler, Taylor Guitars, and Miller Brewing; logos for San Diego State University and Adventure 16; and graphic designs for countless clients. He met James Hubbell in 2007 and remains a vital part of the Ilan-Lael universe.
Near the entry, a house-size boulder juts into the double-height main living space as part of the front wall. Steps rise along the boulder’s edge to a loft that rests on top of it, serving as a guest bedroom, office, or place to relax with a good book and great views. The open central space below encompasses living, dining, and kitchen areas, with bedrooms along one edge. It’s capacious enough for large gatherings, yet perfectly intimate for quiet days and nights.
As an experiment in green design, the Serenity house is a harmonious marriage of beauty and sustainability. A couple years ago, Blake and Drew presented it to the San Diego Green Building Council as a case study in green design, and last year, the County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June 3 as Serenity Project Day.
It’s the opposite of nearby sites where owners cut down mature oaks and manzanita, broke up ancient boulders and hauled away the pieces, and bulldozed the landscape into flat pads. By contrast, Blake’s home-sweet-home is a living part of a landscape occupied for millenia by the Kumeyaay, who built their lives around nature. It’s exactly what James Hubbell meant by jubilant architecture.
Dirk Sutro has written about architecture and design for a variety of publications. He is the author of architectural guidebooks to San Diego and UC San Diego and contributes a monthly column called CityScape to Times of San Diego online.
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
