Riding the Wave

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Raili CA Design curates a colorful and relaxing retreat in Malibu

(In the kitchen, a LED liner pendant from Una Malan hangs over an island that is flanked by barstools covered in fabric by Zak+Fox. The cocktail lounge wallpaper is by Lake August. Photos by Karyn Millet.)

“For this weekend surf retreat in Malibu, we wanted to ensure the home felt inviting, casual and fun,” recalls Raili Clasen, founder and principal designer at Raili CA Design, about a colorful beach home she and her team recently completed. “The homeowner lives full-time in a beautiful but much more traditional home, so we wanted to create a retreat where the minute you walked in the door, felt like the party (or a nap) was ready to go.”

(In the dining room, the lights are by Stahl+Band. An entry wash area features wallpaper by CW Stockwell, a sink by Kast and a light from Schoolhouse. Photos by Karyn Millet.)

Located in Point Dume—the 2,800-square-foot home that has 180-degree-views of the ocean and foothills—was built after the prior structure was ruined by the Malibu fires. “Our client is an extremely busy business owner and wanted a place where she was able to ‘turn it off’ on weekends,” Clasen notes. “She loves to entertain and wanted this house to be full of color, light and laughs! There is so much natural sunlight, it’s hard to not be invigorated.

(The primary bedroom is doused in bold, organic colors. In the primary bathroom suite, the lights are by Stahl+Band, the tile is from Zia tile. Photos by Karyn Millet.)

“Our client kept using the words playful, not serious and colorful, so we got to work on creating that feeling and vibe,” she recalls. The most significant feature of the house is the access to endless views. To enhance the views, the team opened up the dining, living and kitchen flow and re-oriented them all to focus on the Pacific Ocean. “We even created a window in the primary bath so she can watch the waves while brushing her teeth,” says Clasen.

(An artistic guest suite features custom paint accents and oversize art, while the bathroom makes a statement with geometric tile from Concrete Collaborative. Photos by Karyn Millet.)

An avid entertainer, the client needed to maximal sleeping quarters and seating. “Our client wanted us to make the most of each room so in came trundle beds, comfy sofas and plenty of outdoor seating,” she notes. “We turned one guest room into a bunk space for both kids and adults and added a window that stretches from her primary bathroom into her bedroom to capture an extra ocean view.”

During the big reveal, Clasen’s client was blown away by how perfectly the Raili CA Design team delivered on her requests. “She loved every single space and all the details that we pondered over for the year of development,” says Clasen. “It is the ultimate weekend dream house.”