All the Right Ingredients
Coastal Living|Winter 2023
One of the first purchases homeowners Mary McDonald made for the house was a medallion that she commissioned sculptor Stan Bitters to create for the front entrance.
Paige Porter Fischer
All the Right Ingredients

"I put it by the front door so that you could see it through the window," she says. "It's double-sided, so it can be enjoyed walking up to the house or from inside."

Raili Clasen is a natural matchmaker. "I love unpredictable pairings," says the Newport Beach-based designer. "So many people are terrified of mixing two different woods in the same space, but I love nothing more. It's organic. It feels lived in and layered when it's unexpected. To me, the element of surprise in a house is what makes it sing."

So, when Mary McDonald hired Clasen to design her family's brand new, modern-eclectic house in Laguna Beach, California, the designer knew she would need to prove her theory that opposites do, in fact, attract. "The structure itself was very contemporary-think fixed steel beams, board-formed concrete walls, terrazzo floors, and metal windows," she says. "But Mary is a potter, a talented artist with eclectic taste, a lively personality. [She] has a real sense of nostalgia for the 1970s. So I suggested we take all the warm elements of that erathe wood grains, the earthy tones, the playful patterns and textures and have a little fun. Mary smiled and said, 'Don't hold back. Let's do it. Nothing is too wild or crazy for me.""

Clasen was inspired. She knew that the antidote to all the structure's industrial elements would be adding plenty of hand-formed elements, from handmade tile to one-of-akind ceramic pieces-including ones from Mary's own "Double M" collection, as well as works of art by noted sculptor Stan Bitters. She would soften the hard edges with organic shapes, a warm color palette, and nostalgic patterns. And, of course, she would bring in as much wood as possible.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM COASTAL LIVINGView all
CAPE CODDER
Coastal Living

CAPE CODDER

With its ruby red cranberry hue, this sublimely simple cocktail joins the holiday fun in winter as nimbly as it reigns as summer's happy hour essential for New Englanders from Maine to Massachusetts.

time-read
1 min  |
Winter 2024
MIZNER & ME
Coastal Living

MIZNER & ME

What better way to explore Palm Beach than with the ultimate guide and bon vivant? JANCEE DUNN locks arms with the resort's visionary architect, Addison Mizner, to explore the enclave's legendary sites

time-read
6 mins  |
Winter 2024
Tropical Obsession
Coastal Living

Tropical Obsession

BRING THE BEACH TO ANY HOLIDAY WITH AN ICEBOX PIE THAT'S A PIÑA COLADA ON A PLATE

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2024
BAHAMIAN BASE CAMP
Coastal Living

BAHAMIAN BASE CAMP

A magical compound in Nassau's historic Old Fort community is a relaxed gathering place for a large, London-based family

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2024
old soul
Coastal Living

old soul

A restrained, rustic getaway off South Africa's Western Cape bows to the regal landscape

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2024
Caribbean Queens
Coastal Living

Caribbean Queens

Meet the six islands—and their showstopping stays that should be at the top of your winter escape vacation list

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2024
elements of surprise
Coastal Living

elements of surprise

A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILY REIMAGINED THEIR MEDITERRANEAN HOME AS A MODERN OASIS WHERE EVERY SPACE AND DESIGN DETAIL UNFOLDS LIKE A SECRET

time-read
6 mins  |
Winter 2024
ST. ELSE WHERE
Coastal Living

ST. ELSE WHERE

Part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is often overlooked compared to her sister islands of St. Thomas and St. John to the north. But a visit to this lesser-known gem reveals a place rich in gifts from deep culture and history to fantastic food, beautiful beaches, and a soulful style that may have you yearning to stay

time-read
6 mins  |
Winter 2024
Character-Driven
Coastal Living

Character-Driven

On Florida's Siesta Key, a family built their forever house from the ground up, fashioning a home that could fool even a local into believing it had been there all along

time-read
6 mins  |
Winter 2024
ELEUTHERA'S CULTURED CLUB
Coastal Living

ELEUTHERA'S CULTURED CLUB

Are you actually staying here? You'll quickly get used to this question if you're lucky enough to occupy one of just 11 cottages, suites, and villas at The Potlatch Club, Eleuthera's dreamy, intimate new boutique resort.

time-read
1 min  |
Winter 2024