What Is it? California Casual Living Room Design
Hi Friend! Welcome to Postbox Designs, Interior E-Design…I’m so glad you found me. My name is Kristin, and as I write this blog post I’m sitting poolside in sunny Florida. I’m vising one of my best friends from college, who lives here, and I’m working on my lap top…literally in my swimsuit. So as I was deciding which recent client project to share with you…I had sunshine on the mind. Which is why I want to introduce you to a style you may not be familiar with:
“California Casual Design”
Here is a sneak peek at today’s project I want to share:
How to Create a California Casual Living Room Design
So what is “California Casual”? To me, it is a mix of neutral moderns with a more rustic, casual look. I think of soft, comfortable fabrics that are easy to live with, and a laid-back vibe. In this project, we went a step further and actually incorporated beach items like retro California prints, a real surfboard, and plenty of whites, blues, and tans. And nope, you definitely don’t have to live in California to bring this style to your home.
This Basement Makeover started when the coolest Mom came to me. She has a teenager son and she wanted to create a Basement Hang out for him and his friends (that Mom and Dad are allowed to visit occasionally as well). I told her:
“Get ready to be the cool house on the block…because no one is leaving this Basement now”
Let’s just say in my teenager days, I did NOT have a place this cool to call my own. My client requested a full Basement design with a Living Room, Home Bar, Game Room with Pool Table and bar style seating, and a place for her son’s drum set.
Want to take a tour?
Add In “Beachy” Without Being “Cheesy”
Whenever a client comes to me wanting a “beachy” type of look, they usually add in a phrase similar to “but no dolphins, starfish, or netting please!”. You can add in a coastal or beachy look without being too…obvious about it. This is how we kept the coastal look, but with a modern edge to it.
California Coastal Living Room Design
This first Mood Board above is for the Living Room portion of their Basement makeover. We started with this sleek Ikea gray sectional sofa (#3) and these wood and fabric armchairs (#2) from All Modern. Then I layered on a set of coordinating modern-but-casual throw pillows all from Etsy (#12-16). But my favorite piece is this weathered coffee table from Pottery Barn (#4)-is has that beachy driftwood look, and its distressed finish has a chance at holding up to a bunch of teenage boys! Because this is going to be a teen hang-out, I suggested these very inexpensive Project 62 vases from Target (#10 and #11) and simple decor…if they get broken, no tears need to be shed.
Sisal side tables (#5) and modern Article floor lamps (#6) helped finished off the space. To keep with that California Casual look, I found these Etsy digital download prints (#7 and #8) for the walls. And I think nothing says “beachy” more than a jute rug (#9)
California Coastal Game Room + Home Bar
The Game Room Design
My clients already had a pool table set up in their “Game Room”, but we finished off this space with this All Modern chandelier (#20) and some modern artwork. My client loves horses so she wanted to see that incorporated into the space. These horse prints are another digital download from Etsy (#30). I also added in some more modern artwork with this set of blue watercolor abstracts (#21)
I also suggested a simple wall mount “bar” (#28) with rattan barstools (#27). Friends can hang out and snack there while they watch the pool game.
The Home Bar Design
My clients wanted a modern, coastal look for their Home Bar…but also something budget friendly. So I suggested these modern black Ikea cabinets (#24) and dress them up with modern gold pulls (#25). To keep with the California Coastal look, I found a real surfboard to mount above the Home Bar (#19). A couple of weathered floating shelves from Pottery Barn (#26) can keep dishes and glasses in easy reach of guests.
California Casual Basement Makeover Version #2
All of my Postbox Designs Room Packages come with a round of revisions. I have found it is SO much easier for my clients to give feedback to a specific design, rather than try to explain their dream room. I sent over Version #1 to my client, and then asked for the whole family’s feedback. And we made some simple swap outs to the second design.
The Living Room design remained the same:
But in this version, they requested some true retro California Casual beach prints. Again, Etsy to the rescue! I found these two trio sets (#17) and (#21) that added in a fun vibe into the space. We also swapped out the large entertainment until from Version #2 into this smaller Ikea TV cabinet (#29).
In this second version, my client asked to see some soft seating in the Game Room. So, I included these Mid Century Modern armchairs in a fun teal (#35) from Target, and added an Etsy “Paddle Out” pillow (#36). Another vintage surfer print (#34) and modern West Elm sconces (#33) finishes off the space.
I also like to always ask my clients about interests and hobbies. Your home should be a reflection of YOU (not your interior designer!). Since this space was largely for her teenage son, she mentioned he loves Quentin Tarantino movies. Keeping with the modern theme, I found these fun prints from some of his most famous movies (#31) to hang in his music area with his drum set.
I hope after this Basement Makeover is finished, this son gives his ultra cool Mama a big old thank-you hug!
A huge thanks to my wonderful client for allowing me to share her design with you all today!
Want to See More California Casual Designs?
If you are starting to think this “California Casual” design is the style for you…I have some more eye candy for you! Here are some other Postbox Designs past projects you might also love:
California Casual Bathroom Design
This was such a fun project because I got to design this actual California bathroom that was over 2,000 miles away from my home in Michigan. Check out the mix of elegant, modern, and rustic that make this style:
California Casual Living Room Makeover
While this Living Room happened to be on the East Coast, and not California, this design has the same great mix of modern and rustic, and tied into a neutral, casual space:
Modern Neutral Living Room Basement Design
This Living Room doesn’t have the beachy overtones, but keeps with the casual/rustic/modern vibe. It also has the same great neutral decor of whites, grays, tans, and blues. Just like today’s Makeover, this was also a Basement makeover with Home Bar:
Thanks for Stopping By!
Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out with me today. As always if you have any questions on how Online Interior Design works you can find out more about the process at How It Works. You can see the easy steps, pricing, and how we can work together on your home. And you can also always drop me an email at kristin@postboxdesigns.com
Today is my last day of vacation, so I’ll be flying home tomorrow. But I’ll still be dreaming of these summer sunny days!
Cheers,
Kristin
airbnb property management says
A very inspiring post. Keep up the good work.