Beach Cottage Homage

This 1940s adobe cottage is a nod to the owners' family homes.

- AUTUMN KRAUSE

This house sits on a hill overlooking Rim Rock Canyon in picturesque Laguna Beach, California, but its roots reflect another locale as well. The 1940s adobe cottage blends luxe, laid-back, beach-cottage style with the aesthetic of a beautiful, effortless lake house.

"Nicole Anderson, the homeowner, is from Michigan and her husband, Peter, was born and raised in California," says Kelly Shannon, owner of K Shan Design and a friend of the family, says. "It truly does mix the two styles for perfect results." Nicole adds, "Peter and I love classic and simple but elegant design."

Undergirded by the vision of combining the styles of a lake house and beach cottage, the couple focused on designing a new kitchen, redoing the bathrooms, creating better use of the outdoor living space and installing new white oak floors and stairs. And, of course, what is a remodel if you don't move a few walls to open the floor plan? They did just that to convert the living/dining/kitchen area into one open space. Though the renovation was extensive, they had the right team for the task as they turned to their community: Peter's brother and father are contractors and they are also surrounded by talented friends.