Home Tour: A Hip Couple’s Fresh California Bungalow

When designer Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors met her clients, it seemed to be a match made in heaven. “My clients are painfully hip and super-cool!” exclaims Lewis. “They were so fun to work with because the wife, Christina, had a great vision for the space.” Dubbing them #ClientFreakinFabulous, Lewis and her team set out to help design a home for the young professional couple and their wheaten terrier that would fit in with their eclectic, casual style. Laying a foundation of bright, neutral spaces, the team layered global accents, organic pieces, and modern style into the three-bedroom traditional California bungalow. Keep scrolling to see the final outcome!

“The clients wanted the home to feel modern but not cold,” says Lewis. “So we kept the design clean and simple with lots of fun textiles.” Intricate rugs and throw pillows made from vintage fabrics inject a collected and colourful vibe into the neutral space.

An oversize mirror in the entry area reflects the space’s already abundant natural light.

“We remodeled the majority of the house,” Lewis tells us. “All three bathrooms were gutted, along with the kitchen. We removed an interior wall to make what used to be a chopped-up space feel more open.” In addition to improving the home’s flow, Lewis also added a window to introduce even more natural light to the interior.

To contrast with the light airiness of the home, Lewis injected plenty of organic elements into the design, including live-edge wood furniture, brass accents, Calcutta marble surfaces, and leather upholstery.

The home’s living room, kitchen, dining room, and family room make for the perfect setup when it comes to entertaining. A consistent colour palette and repeated materials enable the adjoining zones to seamlessly flow together.

Painting the kitchen island a deep black adds contrast to the lighter elements in the kitchen and grounds the area between the cooking and dining spaces.

Y Living Tall Retro Bullet Planter $158

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Schoolhouse Electric Isaac 1 Light Pendant $195

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When pressed for a favourite area of the newly designed space, Lewis doesn’t hesitate. “My favourite room in the house is probably the master bath,” the designer says. “The white floor tiles with black wall tile are masculine, but somehow the room feels feminine at the same time.” Lewis attributes the balance in the space to the brass details and patterned rug, which soften the harsher details of the tile work.

Schoolhouse Electric Orbit Sconce $189

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Though the remodel and design of the home were big jobs, Lewis says it was a dream experience with her fabulous and laid-back clients. “To be honest, this job was about as easy as it gets,” the designer says. “I feel that nine times out of 10 when you have an easygoing client, your job goes really smoothly.”

Organic Modernism Siena 4 Cabinet $1995

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Brian Merriam Mist Six $90

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“These clients had zero interest in micromanaging the project and for the most part just let us and the contractor work out the nitty-gritty details of the job, which in the end made for a well-designed and zero-hassle process,” says Lewis. “The clients put a ton of faith in us to just get the job done, and the best results were achieved.”