A True Famlily Home

A designer transforms an old and dingy frat house into a picturesque seaside home that’s suited for entertaining and multi-generational living.

- By Autumn Krause

NAUTICAL GLEAM. The kitchen is a clean space that feels elegant and beachy. It’s accented with patterned tile, hemp-wrapped sconces and a navy runner. Pendant lights above the island add a nautical feel and tie in with the brass hardware, giving the kitchen a hint of gleam.

Family culture and community were a couple’s top priorities when it came to renovating a Newport Beach, California duplex which, in its previous life, served as a frat house and had the dartboard holes to prove it! When they first purchased the residence, the place suffered from boxy and dated interiors and was not suited for entertaining or the multi-generational living situation they desired. So, they turned to designer Mindy Laven, owner of Mindy Laven Home, to achieve their vision of open-concept beach living with accommodations for their close-knit family and love for entertaining.