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.

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.

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.

Shop the Look

It 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.

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