Little House on the Lake

A California designer got serious about her crush on the South when she bought a sleepy Alabama cottage and revived it with her signature laid-back style

-  PAIGE PORTER FISCHER

Find the Bright Spots

Known for her collection of Vans sneakers and self-professed obsession with checkerboard patterns, Clasen couldn't help adding a rug reminiscent of the shoes' iconic print. She also invited in what she calls "good ole bright yellow," incorporating it through art and throw pillows. "I love how the pops of yellow talk to each other and grab attention," says Clasen. "It's just enough color to keep things interesting."

WEST COAST designer Raili Clasen thought she was visiting Alabama for a quick college tour for her son, Rees. "When I saw the town of Auburn, I almost cried," she says. "It was so charming; I truly couldn't believe my eyes." By the time he enrolled there, she was house hunting.

"My husband, Ryan, and I took a drive to Lake Martin, and we saw only one house," says Clasen (who lives full-time in Newport Beach, California, where her firm, Raili CA Design, is based). "It was flat-out ugly, and that's the place we bought."

She saw promise in its simple bones and serene setting. "I knew I could make it fun, relaxed, and a bit unexpected," she says. But she had two hurdles to consider: their shoestring budget and the supply shortage caused by the pandemic.

So when it came time to get to work, Clasen relied on the local Home Depot and two all-important words: "in stock." Most of the rooms got quick face-lifts with paint or wallpaper, and she worked her magic with rugs and lighting. The kitchen and baths, however, needed more blood, sweat, and tears (as well as demo) to be reborn.