Krasne began remodeling her 1970s craftsman into the dynamic, contemporary space it is today with the help of local architect Aaron Anderson nearly 15 years ago. “We started with this custom gate, actually,” Anderson says, pointing to a large, suspended steel-and-glass opening at the entrance of the Krasne residence.

Past the gate, guests step into the front courtyard that serves as an outdoor dining room. Beneath a custom steel canopy filtering sunlight into the space—an effect inspired by the oak trees of San Diego County—sits a grand stainless-steel communal table topped with zebra quartzite stone. Along the north wall, a smoky gray mirror magnifies the space.

The intimate courtyard brings the outdoors in, while the architecture and design of the house spill outwards.

“Both Karen and I grew up in San Diego, so the house is heavily influenced by that sort of outdoor living,” Anderson says. “But the interesting thing about Karen is her travels. What she does, as a chef, is heavily influenced by her international travel, so we also brought all that influence into the house. It’s anchored in San Diego, but it has all kinds of international flourishes.”

The south wall of the courtyard is a striking cement fiberboard privacy screen that’s been pierced with an intricate design. “The very first day I met Karen, she brought these Moroccan lanterns she bought on a trip to Marrakech into my office and she said she wanted the front part of the house to be about these,” Anderson remembers. “I had [the lanterns] on my desk, and we just thought about unrolling them and cutting out the design onto a piece of slim fiberboard. The piece is backlit so, at night, this side glows just like a lantern does.”

The old-world, international influences don’t stop in the courtyard. Inside the home, Krasne’s love of traveling is reflected in every room. A hand-carved wooden Moroccan cabinet has been repurposed into a bathroom door. Ornate candle holders from Bali adorn the master bathroom countertop. And in the living room—which expands into a second, bamboo-flanked courtyard through massive stacking glass doors—a feature wall was inspired by traditional azulejos tile Krasne once saw in Spain.

“We tried to take all these different influences—Morocco, Bali, and Paris, where Karen went to culinary school—and balance them with the edgier, modern stuff,” Anderson says. “It’s really hard to take a craftsman house and modernize it without it looking terrible, so I think one thing we all did well was elevating it without overtaking it.”

The kitchen, where Krasne spends most of her time while she’s at home, was renovated last. A large island topped with a Japanese-inspired lithograph on natural quartz sits in the middle of the sunlit room, nearly always covered in a food spread for Krasne’s family and friends. Floor-to-ceiling, built-in cabinetry is coated with a self-healing gray Fenix laminate, giving the space a calming atmosphere.

“Those,” Kranse says, gesturing to ornate, art-deco chandeliers hanging over the kitchen table, “are from an old opera house in Austria. I had them sprayed silver to match the sconces, which all came from the same opera house. I also wanted to bring in French Champagne buckets—I really wanted the space to be about us drinking wine and entertaining.”

The Champagne buckets line a shelf hung above built-in lounge seating. Next to the lounge is an in-wall desk with a stack of her favorite cookbooks on display. There, Krasne researches and experiments with new recipes.

“I have a huge office at my restaurant, but I can’t think straight there,” Krasne says. “You feel the frenetic energy, you hear the tamping of the espresso machine and the phones ringing.” It’s here, in this calming, creative space (and in her personal gym downstairs), that Krasne finds inspiration.

As we exit Krasne’s kitchen and step back out into the front courtyard, she jokes with Anderson that she recently came up with a landscaping idea for the front entrance while on a trip to Puerto Vallarta with her husband.

“I know, with Karen, there’s actually a good chance that it’ll happen,” Anderson laughs. “Karen knows more about construction and putting a house together than any other client I’ve ever worked with. We actually get to a detailed level of thought and design. That’s super rare.”

The post Home Tour: The Sweetest Mission Hills Oasis appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood
La Mesa

Stats
1,400 square feet, with two bedrooms, two baths, and a detached art studio

Her Story: Somewhere off a winding road on Mount Helix, tucked into a hillside overlooking El Cajon, lies an unassuming midcentury treasure of a house with a story to tell. The home’s current residents are KPBS culture reporter Angela Carone, 46, who also pens San Diego Magazine’s monthly book column, and Joe Porteous, who works by day as the general manager at Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla and as an amateur photographer by night. The house was built in 1948 by sculptor and woodworker John Dirks. An art professor at SDSU, Dirks enlisted his graduate students to help erect the structure almost entirely by hand. He lived there until he died, after which his family worried new owners would tear it down. So they entrusted its care to Angela and Joe. Turns out, Angela had photographed Dirks for a story. The couple quickly fell for the house’s rich history and log-cabin charm. These days, they love to host large parties with friends. (Their Thanksgiving dinners are legendary.) Imagine the likes of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Rye playing on the sound system, which just so happens to be built into the walls—a Dirks signature. Angela says, “It does suit our personalities and style very much.”

Home: Handmade on a Hill

Birds of a Feather

Angela and Joe met through a mutual friend eight years ago. “She was pretty adamant,” Angela says of the matchmaker, who knew the couple shared a love of photography, the arts, books (see their colorful collection above), and so much more.

Home: Handmade on a Hill

Rear Window

When Joe and Angela moved in five years ago, the surrounding lot was mostly dirt. Joe added all the landscape seen today. This slightly elevated view of the house is one of Angela’s favorites. During dinner parties, she likes to step outside for a second and examine the scene. She says, “The house emanates this warmth and glows from within.” Joe agrees: “It’s almost like looking from across the street into an apartment. There’s this voyeuristic quality.”

Home: Handmade on a Hill

Social Setting

The couple arranged the living room as one long gathering space. A vintage sofa from Mid-Century on Park Boulevard faces a built-in sofa. A stone fireplace with a patina-perfect copper shield stands in the corner. Angela’s architecture books, Joe’s travel keepsakes, and stunning photographs taken by both of them are sprinkled throughout. A KPBS producer made the burlap ottoman with coffee sacks from Caffé Calabria.

Home: Handmade on a Hill

In-Home Horticulture

One of the property’s coolest and most unique features is this large terrarium that runs along the hallway, leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms. At first, the couple planted all kinds of things, but a lot of it failed to thrive. Today it’s filled with asparagus ferns, spider ferns, and jade. “We’ve had a tough time finding what will live in there,” Angela’s says. “It’s a work in progress.”

Home: Handmade on a Hill

These Bertoia midcentury dining chairs and the bubble lamps over the table and built-in sofa are originals, and came with the house.

Home: Handmade on a Hill

Snappy Style

This small mounted alligator head is part of a vignette of meaningful mementos in the kitchen. Angela laughs as she describes how Joe likes to collect things on his hikes and various excursions. Some of these souvenirs reappear later as birthday gifts. Hence, the alligator. “He always manages to get me jewelry,” she says. “But then I get some weird things, too.”

Home: Handmade on a Hill

Rustic Slumber

“It was easy to move into the house, in so many ways,” Angela says, referring to the home’s clever and practical design. There are built-ins throughout, including a sofa in the living room and drawers and cabinets in the bedroom. Exposed wood beaming and paneling also run throughout, giving the space a log-cabin feel. Angela found the painting above the bed at ObjectsUSA, a local curator of all things midcentury. Joe says, “I’ve been so inspired by the imperfections of the house. It’s polished, but with a notch.”  (Pendleton blanket from Progress in South Park)

Home: Handmade on a Hill

“Sometimes in the morning, the whole valley is covered in fog. It feels like you’re living in the clouds.”

Home: Handmade on a Hill

The post Home: Handmade on a Hill appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Traditional Elegance

Traditional Elegance

Winter white florals, calligraphy place cards, and sparkling rosé make for a festive candlelit affair.

Get the look »

Storybook Soirée

Storybook Soirée

Woodland fairies, floral crowns, and snowflakes made from old book pages create a dreamy setting, based on a beloved children’s tale.

Get the look »

Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

Rustic Glamour

Farmhouse woods and Southern cooking meet vintage crystal and gilded stemware in this fancy-casual feast.

Get the look »

More

Watch the Behind the Scenes video for a sneak peek inside the making of this feature »

The post Decorate Your Home for the Holidays appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood
Cortez Hill

Stats
1,100 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths

Her story: Interior designer Kelly Hinchman of Studio H Design Group always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. The native San Diegan, now 33, spent her childhood stenciling gold stars on her bedroom walls and moving the furniture around. She went on to study interior design at the Design Institute of San Diego. Today her client roster ranges from residential to commercial properties, including yoga studios, clothing boutiques, and more. Her condo in Cortez Hill showcases her flair for mixing patterns and pops of color. It’s a synthesis of modern and vintage with high- and low-end pieces. “I like to blend all different styles and price points,” she says. Although small, the space packs a punch. Because she spends her days in a sea of fabric swatches and paint chips, making other people’s houses beautiful, Kelly admits that she didn’t want her own house to feel like work: “When I walk into my home, I want it to feel soothing. It’s my sanctuary.”

Home: Little Space, Big Style

Parlor Room Chic

In keeping with the original 1926 architecture, Kelly opted for a traditional parlor room style in her living room. Layered rugs add texture; mixed patterns give the space a modern twist. Here, Kelly’s Pomeranian, Liz Taylor, relaxes by a pair of antique French Louis XV chairs with cabriole legs. Kelly painted the frames and recovered the seats in a blue-hued fabric by Stroheim. A vintage Art Deco vase by Lenox holds Kelly’s collection of Japanese and Chinese calligraphy brushes. (Carrera marble side table from Ocean Beach Antique Mall, wool accent rug by Safavieh, blue sisal rug available at West Elm)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

The designer topped an Ikea table base with a custom terrazzo slab. She found the tolix-style galvanized-metal stools at overstock.com and spray-painted them chartreuse. Tucked in the corner, a fiddle leaf fig tree brings a little bit of the outdoors inside. (Stelton gold jug available at Barneys, cups and saucers from Anthropologie, high-back stools from Classic Home, cowhide rug available at World Market)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

Kelly enjoys a morning cup of joe with Liz Taylor on her outdoor terrace. “The views are always nice,” she says of the vistas that sweep from San Diego Bay to Coronado to Balboa Park. (Rug, table, and all other items from Pigment boutique in North Park)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

“I have trinkets that I love sprinkled throughout my home,” Kelly says. This bar vignette displays a piece of driftwood she found on the beach in Costa Rica. “I just tied some twine around it.” (Cat bowl by Waylande Gregory, marble cutting board by Kelly Wearstler, West Elm gold pillar lamp topped with a Hillary Thomas agate finial)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

Built in 1926, the El Cortez was once the tallest building in San Diego, and counts Elvis and President Eisenhower among its former hotel guests. The building converted to condos in 2004. Kelly was inspired by its charm: “This old building has lots of extra character, and I love living in Cortez Hill. It’s a 15-minute walk to everything.”

Home: Little Space, Big Style

K is for Kelly

The master bedroom is a mix of mauves and neutrals. Some of the details pay homage to another Kelly—design maven Kelly Wearstler—including her custom throw pillows and the two antique Berger chairs upholstered in Kelly Wearstler fabric by Kravet. “I’m obsessed with her,” Hinchman confesses. The art above the bed is from Blackman Cruz in Los Angeles. “It’s made from a Barneys New York window display.”  (Bed and throw over headboard from West Elm, lamps from Home Goods, ottoman with hoof legs by Noir)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

Statement Piece

Kelly says, “You can make a lot of things look good if the proportions are right.” Case in point: This starburst mirror by Thomas Pheasant for Baker, which demonstrates the designer’s eye for scale. She also switches out accessories as needed. “It’s a way to not get bored. I can change up the way things are arranged and breathe new life into the space.” (Antique dresser custom-painted in European fine paints by local artist Mark Chavis)

Home: Little Space, Big Style

The post Home: Little Space, Big Style appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

SEE IT

Mingei International Museum through March 15, 2015

During the centennial of the 1915 Panama–California Exposition, Mingei International Museum is celebrating, but not by looking back with nostalgia. It’s zeroing in on the cutting edge of architecture with the ongoing exhibition Three on the Edge, featuring photographs of works by starchitects James Hubbell, Kendrick Kellogg, and Wallace Cunningham. These longtime friends and associates are influenced heavily by the landscape and materials of Southern California and Baja. Rolling hills and canyons, the wide ocean, and abundant light give way to seductive silhouettes and imaginative shapes. Three on the Edge highlights many of the trio’s site-specific designs, one being Cunningham’s Wing House in Rancho Santa Fe, shown here. The S-shaped house was featured in the December 2002 issue of Architectural Digest.

Three on the Edge is part of Mingei’s exhibition series, American Icons: Celebrating Folk Art, Craft and Design from Coast to Coast.

Architecture Exhibit: Three on the Edge

The post Architecture Exhibit: Three on the Edge appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood

Bird Rock

Stats

3,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a guesthouse

Her Story

Brazilian-born Paula Hermanny first came to the United States to learn English, and later enrolled at San Diego State University. During those years, she spent a lot time surfing and hanging out at the beach. It was there that her customized swimsuits from Brazil caught the attention of friends and led to the launch of her internationally renowned resortwear company, ViX. Today, at 41, the designer exudes the kind of confidence and effortless sensuality Brazilian women are known for. The home she shares with her husband, José, and two children is a reflection of her heritage. “We tried to do a Brazilian flair,” Paula explains. “There’s a lot of wood and white and a tropical yard.” The décor is stylish, but not overdone. Polished, yet lived in. Beachy and relaxed. Fashion books touting icons like Kate Moss and Diana Vreeland juxtapose with surf- and skateboards. The sound of smoothies blending in the kitchen and the family’s Jack Russell terrier bounding up the stairs create a cacophonous glee. “I don’t even think about it,” she says. “It’s just personal taste.” Like we said, effortless.

Home: Brazilian Beauty

Teak and Chic

Paula often hosts large dinner parties without a lot of fuss. “I’ve loved cooking since I was a little girl,” she says. “Eating healthy is a big part of my life.” On the back porch, Anthropologie goblets and Crate and Barrel water vases top an outdoor dining table from Teak Warehouse. The floral napkin rings are from Brazil. “I thought it was so pretty.”

Home: Brazilian Beauty

Paula wears a dress from her new ready-to-wear collection, debuting this month (available at Tucci Boutique in Del Mar).

Paula wears a dress from her new

ready-to-wear collection

, debuting this month (available at Tucci Boutique in Del Mar).

Home: Brazilian Beauty

Haute Harem

“She wanted neon, pink, and trendy,” Paula says of her daughter, Sofia’s, design wishes. But mother knows best, opting for something a little more “stylish and Indian,” as Paula describes. She filled the room with Moroccan textiles, mixing colors and patterns. Her friend Ramon Zarate of Autonomous Design Studio created the custom double bed, made to fit the entire length of the wall with extra storage underneath. (Pillows from One Kings Lane, bedding by West Elm, rug and drapery from Anthropologie)

Home: Brazilian Beauty

Gone Fishing

Paula commissioned this painting by Brazilian artist Vilmar Madruga. It’s a nod to her love of the ocean and adds a pop of color to the smooth white walls, a traditional Brazilian element. She found the ceramic vases at Girard Avenue Collection in La Jolla. The console is from Crate and Barrel.

Home: Brazilian Beauty

Brazil Meets Bird Rock

The house’s exterior includes more Brazilian elements, such as the terra-cotta roof and wood beams. The tropical landscaping—a small forest of banana trees, plumeria, and palms—also showcases Paula’s roots. Outside, bicycles line the driveway. Surf- and skateboards stand stacked against the front porch—ready for adventure. Paula keeps a second house in Brazil and visits there about six times a year. But San Diego is very much her home. “I love San Diego, the laid-back beach style,” the designer says. “Here women get dressed up in a more subtle way.”

Home: Brazilian Beauty

aula wears a red silk jumpsuit from her 2015 resort collection. The earrings and cuff are from Brazil. “I’m so picky about my jewelry,” she says. “I buy it when I’m traveling.”

The post Home: Brazilian Beauty appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood

Leucadia

Stats

3,000 square feet, with two bedrooms, a converted office, and an enclosed indoor/outdoor kitchen

Their Story

After 15 years on the corporate track, Betsy Vonn Ginn reinvented herself, launching Smid design studio in August 2013. Without an existing portfolio to show prospective clients, the first major project she took on was her own house. She then hosted a gathering of local tastemakers and industry insiders. Things exploded from there. Today she has a client roster that includes residential properties and commercial spaces like Lone Flag boutique in Flower Hill Promenade and the new Café Cantata, which is attracting as much attention for its hip design as for its custom coffee blends. Betsy is a flea market huntress with the keen ability to see past the wear and tear of age to the patina and jewel underneath. As the mom of two dogs and two children (Paxton, 4, and Charlie, 6, pictured above with her husband of 13 years, Stewart), she designs with lifestyle in mind. Her kids whizz through the house on their scooters and draw on the walls, so she widened the hallways and covered an alcove with chalkboard paint. It’s all part of her unique aesthetic—modern and glamorous on the surface, livable and functional in reality.

Home: Relaxed Palace

Counting Sheep

“I saw them in a consignment shop, and just knew that was it,” Betsy says of the rams that adorn her living room wall. Here, cement floors add an industrial feel, while the antique chandelier (purchased at Bon Bon in Solana Beach) offers a touch of glam. Rather than recover the faded armchair cushions, she threw sheepskin over them for texture. But her favorite design element? The sliding, high-gloss white barn doors that she unearthed at Builders Trading Company in San Marcos.

Home: Relaxed Palace

Perfectly Tousled

Like great bedhead and cold pizza for breakfast, there’s beauty in the leftovers. Relaxed and effortless, these messy sheets prove things don’t need to be pristine to be stylish. Betsy says, “I want to enjoy the things I love, but make it livable.”

Home: Relaxed Palace

Home: Relaxed Palace

The Details

Clockwise from top left: Get inspired! Betsy stocks her project storyboards with fabric, textures, fashion spreads, images of construction sites and vintage icons, or anything else that strikes her fancy; the designer revived her childhood bed with some high-gloss color—Unmellow Yellow by Behr; a mannequin head with a faux fur sleep mask serves as the ultimate conversation piece; Pax and Charlie enjoy an afternoon snack in the indoor/outdoor kitchen. Betsy says, “I love mixing things up and throwing things off to create something unexpected.”

Home: Relaxed Palace

Room to Grow

Because Betsy’s “littles,” as she fondly calls them, share a room, the designer aimed to create a look that was gender neutral. She added the heavy velvet drapes for height and drama, which complement the glamorous feel found throughout the house. Curtain rods made from galvanized plumbing and a bunk bed painted with Rust-Oleum’s liquid metallic silver showcase her industrial side. Betsy found the antique horse at SoLo on Cedros. (Striped rug available at Ikea.)

Home: Relaxed Palace

Peek-a-Boo

The kids’ bathroom is industrial chic with exposed brick and cement floors. Betsy painted an antique claw-foot tub black and custom designed the faucets out of copper plumbing.

Home: Relaxed Palace

Vintage Queen

Betsy credits her childhood in South Carolina and seven years in New York City as her main style influences. “I think New York made me more daring in terms of what I wanted to pair together,” she says. The orange maxi she wears in the top photo once belonged to her mother. And as for that positively Carrie Bradshaw pink tutu? “I love this skirt. I put it on to inspire me. It is actually an old prom dress that I scored last summer. I cut the top off because it felt too much like a princess.”

Home: Relaxed Palace

The post Home: Relaxed Palace appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood
Del Mar

Stats
2,400 square feet with four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a swimming pool

Their Story

Meet the Piper-Jordan clan, who completely transformed this once tract-style house left in major disrepair by its previous owner. Robyn Piper and Jay Jordan (pictured above with Mick and Cassie, two of Jay’s three children) married in 2010. Soon they started an insurance company together, which delayed the remodel. When they finally began, the house was in dire shape. “It was a train wreck,” Jay says. “The mold damage was so bad that the county came in and reassessed the taxes!” The couple enlisted architect and interior designer Bill Bocken to see them through the project, and set up residence for 14 months in an apartment above the 7-Eleven on Del Mar Heights Road. The result was worth the wait. It’s midcentury modern with a touch of French élan, thanks to Robyn’s love affair with Versailles. The home offers everything the couple dreamed of—privacy and seclusion, peace and relaxation, a little bit of urban in the ’burbs, with ample space to entertain family and friends.

Francophile

Francophile

Much of the décor is inspired by the summer Robyn spent in France during high school. There she fell in love with Versailles, Marie Antoinette, and French culture. “I had this idea that I wanted a very European home,” she says. “Bill built on things I loved and included some of my favorite French designers,” like Christian Liaigre (the dining table) and Roche Bobois (the family room sofa). In the living room, the custom area rug adds that Versailles je ne sais quoi. Of the purple accents, Robyn says, “Bill knew my favorite color and subtly infused it throughout the house.” Lavender was also her grandmother’s favorite color and was worn by Marie Antoinette on her wedding day. (Custom armchairs by Ligne Roset, coffee table and sofa from Hold It Contemporary Home)

Urban Suburbia

Urban Suburbia

Stone tile flows from the interior to the patio, making the space appear larger. The stairs in the background lead to a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, heated by solar panels on the roof. Two eucalyptus trees (some of the biggest in Del Mar, according to Jay) add privacy and seclusion. “You can sit back there and no one can see in,” Jay says. “It’s like our own little sanctuary.” Both Robyn and Jay have Chicago roots, and were hesitant to move out of downtown San Diego. But ultimately, “Bill kicked our lifestyles up a notch. What we ended up getting was a lot more entertaining space,” Robyn says of the extra seating areas. “I really don’t feel like I’m in the suburbs.” (Outdoor furniture from Grounded in Encinitas)

White Space

White Space

Due to mold damage and more, the Piper-Jordans were forced to gut the kitchen. Today, the custom space, built by Stan Whitkowski, opens up to the family room and dining room. The back wall of the kitchen is tricked out with luxe Miele appliances, including an espresso machine that “makes you anything you want: lattes, cappuccinos, mochaccinos, you name it,” Jay says. “Robyn uses it every day.” Bill envisioned and designed the extra-long marble island. The architect explains: “The finished home seems so much open and larger than the original home, and so much more usable, all the while bringing a little urban hip to the sleepy old town of Del Mar.”

Hall to dining

Stairway to Heaven

Robyn’s prized Christian Liaigre dining table is visible from the stairway, with custom wrought-iron rails built by National City artisan Hector Contreras of Contreras Iron Works. The Medusa chandelier by La Murrina is another one of Robyn’s anchor pieces—the elements that add “wow factor” and “really pop.” She first discovered it on a trip to Paris, and later purchased it at the La Murrina store in Beverly Hills. During her research, Robyn learned that the Town House Seven Stars Galleria, a seven-star hotel in Milan, has a larger version of the same chandelier in its lobby. And as for those conspicuous ’80s headshots in the hallway? Jay found Robyn’s old modeling portfolio and had some of the images blown up. “I call it the Wall of Fame,” he jokes. “And the kids just cringe.” (Dining chairs from Hold It Contemporary Home)

Del Mar Exterior

Before and After

The design team transformed the exterior look from 1970s faux-pueblo to sleek and modern by stripping away the false Mansard roof (or, as Jay calls it, “that awful football helmet roof”) and adding a smooth stucco finish with an eco-chic Ipe wood courtyard and landscape redesign. Check out the “Before” photos below.

Rebuilding the Dream

Photography by Shelley Metcalf

The post Rebuilding the Dream appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The photos were all stunning. But we had to make some cuts for space in the print edition. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some of the shots that didn’t make it into the home feature (“Casa de Powers,” published in June 2014).

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This is the cedar barn and stable for Power’s prized Arabian horses. They built it when they bought the property. Those leaded stain glass windows are antiques that she collected from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This is one view of the formal living room. Note all the folk art collectibles and vintage Navajo rugs. The painting of the Last Supper that hangs above the fireplace is by David Bradley. (P.S. I am obsessed with that custom Pendleton armchair.)

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This room serves as an office space (Powers’ desk and computer are not pictured). It houses the bulk of her Guatemalan and Mexican collectibles, everything from ceremonial masks to trees of life and so much more. Collecting is a lifelong passion of hers, and she loves organizing her things by region and theme. One of my favorite details in this room is the sofa, upholstered with a traditional dancer’s costume (the floral) and a vintage serape (the stripes).

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

Who needs Craft Service? We ate more food on this shoot than any other shoot I’ve ever worked on. Powers personally cooked us chicken and beef tostadas, alongside chips, salsa, and guac from Casa de Pico. It was such a treat. And by the way, I love her cobalt blue Viking appliances.

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This is the couple’s TV room, which doubles as a place to showcase all of Powers’ ribbons and trophies. Powers and her husband, Brent Gilman, travel all over the country showing their Arabian Western Pleasure Show Horses.

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

A peek inside the pantry. When we asked to see it, Powers said, “It looks like my store, doesn’t it?”

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This is an example of the dancing costume and fabric that Powers used to upholster the sofa in her office.

Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch

This is the back entrance to the main house. I love the combo of red and orange here. She has the same setup by the pool. It just feels so Old Town and so her.

The post Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Neighborhood

Mission Hills

Stats

3,200 square feet, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, including a renovated mother-in-law suite on the lowest level of the house

Their story

With two working parents, two tweens, tennis lessons, homework, a dog, a gecko, a turtle (and a partridge in a pear tree), the Bailey-Klugh household is a busy one. Jon Bailey (at right, above) is the co-founder of i.d.e.a. agency, and has been a fixture in the local marketing and communications industry for decades, with clients ranging from Qualcomm to Rubio’s to Hotel del Coronado.

His husband, Triton Klugh, is vice president of design and development at InCharacter costumes. They’ve been partners for 17 years, and finally married in May at the sculpture garden in Balboa Park.

Their classic Craftsman is located in the heart of the city, perched atop a canyon and surrounded by mature trees. Over the years, they have updated it, adding a second story, remodeling the kitchen (twice!), and most recently, transforming the backyard into an urban oasis. The new eco-chic deck is primed for entertaining. But on most days, it’s a place to hang out with their daughters, Sophia, 12, and Ava, 10—tablets in hand, like typical kids, in this modern American family.

Tropical Paradise

Tropical Paradise

The backyard is a forest of creeping fig, jasmine, and ferns. “When we moved in, there was nothing; there was dirt,” Jon says. He and Triton added all the palm trees, a vegetable garden, and lemon and lime trees. The lot is set on a steep grade with cascading ironstone leading to the lowest level. Each step weighs one ton and had to be individually craned over the house.

Decked Out

Decked Out

The renovated deck by North Park-based Mooch Exterior Designs features durable and sustainable ipe wood. “We wanted something that was going to hold up that was also good for the world,” Jon says. To preserve the canyon views, they replaced the original redwood paneling with high-gauge, tension-wire railings. The custom outdoor fireplace doubles as a coffee table, with a removable hardtop surface.

Balinese Bedroom

Balinese Bedroom

The couple’s travels have inspired much of the décor. In the master bedroom, an intricate Balinese screen serves as a headboard. Jon found the dangling driftwood motifs at VI Star in Little Italy. He confesses, “I bought them without actually having a place to put them!” They eventually found a home beside the couple’s bed, which looks out toward a Juliet balcony and the canyon beyond. (Cognac leather stools from Pottery Barn, lamps from Urban Lighting, Donna Karan bedding available at Bloomingdale’s)

Arts and Crafts

Arts and Crafts

Mooch also helped put the finishing touches on the front yard. “They’re incredible—really, really talented. He had all kinds of great ideas,” Jon says of Mooch’s principal designer, Paul Hunyady. Over the years, Jon and Triton have undertaken a series of expansions, always in keeping with the original 1913 Craftsman-style architecture. They added a second story in 2006, and converted the basement into a two-bedroom, two-bath guest suite. Are they done renovating? “Oh gosh, are you ever done? There’s always that upstairs office we’ve talked about, or that expanded garage, or…”

Gathering Spot

Gathering Spot

What was once a tiny galley kitchen has been remodeled twice. “It was small and hard to navigate,” Jon says. “I come from a big Sicilian family, and food is a really important part of our culture.” New design elements include beveled subway tile, granite countertops, and a butcher-block island. The couple chose the gold and mint colors to complement the granite. “They’re also a little bit of a throwback, so we liked that too.”

Dining al Fresco

Dining al Fresco

The main focus of the remodel was to create an indoor/outdoor living space, so the couple added French doors all along the back wall. They also had their dining chairs custom-made with low backs to protect the view from the living room, which looks through the dining room, to the backyard. The lighting pendants were inspired by some Jon had seen at Jsix restaurant downtown (prior to its recent face-lift). Tim Jackson of Urban Lighting sourced them for him. Jon says, “It was cool because the golden color wrapped from the kitchen into the dining room.” (Table from Crate & Barrel)

Urban Sanctuary

Photography by Robert Benson

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