A Designer’s Midcentury Revival in San Diego Makes a Bold Statement With Color and Scale
Designer Julie Crosby and a team of collaborators transform a rundown property near Southern California’s coastline.
Interior designer Julie Crosby had been keeping a close eye on a potential home for sale in the coastal Del Mar neighborhood of San Diego when the price was finally right to make a move. The property needed a lot of work, but its secluded location seemed like an ideal place to raise her two daughters. To be sure, Julie called on developer Soheil Nakhshab to see if its promise was actually worth believing in—and when he agreed, she bought the house as a project they would revive together.
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
Nakhshab and the homeowner soon determined that the original structure was too damaged to be saved. This, however, provided the opportunity to recreate the midcentury property from a blank slate.
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
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Homeowner and interior designer Julie Crosby worked with developer Soheil Nakhshab to transform a rundown midcentury property in the coastal Del Mar neighborhood of San Diego. The 5,400-square-foot, four-bedroom residence incorporates a natural palette and tall windows.
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
It was important to Julie to incorporate a natural palette and wide windows into the four-bedroom home, as well as to punctuate the space with details from different eras and works by local artists. With this in mind, Julie asked another contact, designer Michael Hilal, for his expertise. They focused on sourcing furnishings that would have a sculptural build, blending the confidence of midcentury colors with the clean lines of modern design.
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
Shop the Look
Sea Gull Lighting Leo Hanging Globe Pendant
The Leo Hanging Globe Pendant by Sea Gull Lighting has been a mainstay piece for over half a century; generation after generation has appreciated the refined nature of its mid-century modern design. Elegant Metal domes comprise the canopy and lamp mounting, providing sharp accenting that caresses the curvature of the shade. A single globe of opaque glass encompasses the piece, gently diffusing the light of the lone bulb into a focused ambient glow. Enchanting as a single fixture or in a series, this pendant is a versatile choice for your living space. Since their inception in 1919, Sea Gull Lighting has consistently produced high quality decorative and functional lighting for homes and businesses alike. In addition, their commitment to cutting-edge, energy-efficient technology has been widely recognized and awarded across a staggering 15 product categories. Thus, their extensive line of more than 3,500 products (spanning 15 categories) are not only on-trend and affordable, but friendly to the environment as well. Photo Courtesy of Lumens
ShopArtek High Chair K65
The Artek High Chair K65 takes its design cue from Aalto's Stool 60. That innovative original features a round birch slab seat and bent birch legs. The High Chair K65 has the same basic structure, but elongated several inches. A short bent plywood back adds visual interest as well as support to this counter height stool.
ShopNelson Platform Bench - Metal Leg
George Nelson’s Platform Bench (1946) is one of the great icons of midcentury modernism. For Herman Miller’s influential design director, utility was as important as beauty, and his spare rectangular bench is the result of this belief. It serves equally well as table, platform base or seating, depending on need and situation. No wonder it’s been called timeless; something this functional never dates. The chrome legs have a slender profile; also available with wood legs. Ships with legs unattached; simple assembly required. This is the authentic Nelson Bench produced by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.
ShopIt has been a year since the 5,400-square-foot home—known as Crosby Pine Needles—was completed. The midcentury property has been given a fresh start, all because Julie and her collaborators saw what could become of it.
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
Courtesy of Michael Hilal
Related Reading:
A Designer Couple’s Los Angeles Residence Sports a Steel Screen for Climbing Vines
A Midcentury Home Receives a Subtle Update in a Historic Community Near Seattle
Project Details:
Developer: Soheil Nakhshab, Nakhshab Development & Design / @ndd_inc
Builder/General Contractor: Soheil Nakhshab, Nakhshab Development & Design / @ndd_inc
Structural Engineer: Soheil Nakhshab, Nakhshab Development & Design / @ndd_inc
Landscape Design: Soheil Nakhshab, Nakhshab Development & Design / @ndd_inc
Lighting Design: Julie Crosby, Julie Crosby Design / @juliecrosbydesign
Interior Design: Michael Hilal, Studio Michael Hilal / @mhilal
Finishes: Julie Crosby, Julie Crosby Design / @juliecrosbydesign
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