Coastal Cottage Surprise

A designer adds unexpected elements to the classic style.

- MERYL SCHOENBAUM

Most designers will say that the ultimate project to be tasked with is a new-build home in which they have free rein over the design decisions from the ground up.

Hillary Stamm, founder of HMS Interiors, set out to build the perfect coastal-modern cottage. With its location only a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Hillary knew this Manhattan Beach, California, cottage's surroundings would play a major role in the interior design, but she also wanted to take it to the next level.

"We set out to build and design a coastal-modern home that would evoke a Hamptons/ East Coast feel with elements of the Southern California beach vibe," she explains. "The home is a classic coastal cottage, but we wanted to imbue it with some modern elements. From the lighting fixtures to the bifold windows to the hidden doors and cigar room, 1 think we did that.

"We wanted it to be a throwback to coastal modern spaces but extended with spaces such as the powder room and the beach bar room. We wanted the house to feel as if you're walking into a beach bungalow hotel at sunset. With the ocean breezes and inside-outside feel of the home's view, this was achieved.

"The process involved endless swatches, samples and tables of color. This brought to fruition our vision of a small hotel at the beach' with many beautiful spaces that somehow come together to create a textured and curated, yet warm and classic, coastal space."