Inside a Custom California Home Where East Coast Chic Meets West Coast Charm
Words: Gigi Migliazzo | Photography: Agnieszka Jakubowicz
For a taste of the East Coast on the West, look no further than the foothills of Saratoga, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. Behind the unassuming facade of a quintessential California Ranch house lies a home that marries elements of its owners’ native Manhattan with the serene appeal of the West Coast. Yearning for a summer retreat in the San Francisco Bay Area to escape the bustle of urban life before welcoming their second child, the couple envisioned a residence that could strike a balance between their Upper East Side roots and the charm of the Golden State. The result? A true extension of themselves - elegant yet inviting, classy yet comfortable, New York yet Northern California.
In the race against time, Carolyn Brandwajn of CBespoke orchestrated a design overhaul in a mere six months. Her mission was clear: modernize the 2002 space and bring in a touch of East Coast elegance whilst preserving its original character – all before the birth of baby #2. The ethos carrying Brandwaijn’s impressive and swift transformation of the home? Small changes, big results - and Big Apple inspiration.
Red oak hardwood floors were refinished with contemporary stain, excess ornate moldings eliminated from walls, unnecessary drop ceilings and soffits removed - the result a sophisticated blend of original features and modern development, a home characterized by contrasts. Take the grand library-turned-formal dining room, where dark cabinets bask in the morning light against floor to ceiling windows. Depending on the hour, one might feel like they’re lounging in a California crib or dining in a New England estate.
The powder room is another example of this juxtaposition, which adds a rich touch of leathered quartzite to the otherwise lighter, warm veins of the home. As is the mahjong/tea room, with its refined wainscoting and intricate moldings providing an elegant setting for afternoon tea with friends, yet equally suitable for a spirited game of mahjong with the kids.
Playful details extend to the daughter’s bedroom, a pale pink sanctuary where cement tile and Schumacher sisal wallpaper add texture and charm, extending to the adjoined bathroom. If left up to the imagination, it could be mistaken for Barbie’s Dreamhouse – a milder, more sophisticated version.
The pièce de résistance is the kitchen, ingeniously expanded by architect Glenn Katz, who repositioned a non-structural wall to facilitate a spacious layout. Its breadth is accentuated by an Ann Morris two-tone pot rack suspended over the island and further emphasized by the multitude of windows bathing the space in Saratoga sunlight, which glistens against contrasting walnut and marble countertops.
The Upper East Side influence is most pronounced in the primary bed and bath, where wainscotting and leveled ceilings transport inhabitants to the heart of Manhattan – until they peer outside to a panorama of verdant trees and melodious birdcalls, a stark contrast to the urban skyline and cacophony of honking horns.
With the newborn arriving as final touches were completed, the homeowners found solace and serenity in their bespoke summer haven, a true testament to their own lives. Caught between East Coast elegance and West Coast charm, concrete jungle and sunshine sanctuary, the house is a daily reflection of the two places they proudly call home.
