Entrepreneur Matt Jarvis and writer Amie Steir dreamed of a place where they could spend time with their two teenage kids in nature. The Los Angeles–based couple felt that a second home removed from the city could be a haven of togetherness and much-needed simplicity.

“They lead busy, heavily scheduled lives,” architect Talbot McLanahan says. “So they wanted a remote location for family and guests, with access to empty beaches where they could hang out.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

As far as the surroundings were concerned, the house they found surely fit the bill. It’s set in a remote, rural canyon north of Santa Barbara, near a quiet beach that can be reached by a short bike ride. “There is a lot of open land between houses, and you don’t see people unless you’re on the main road, or at the beach,” McLanahan says. The existing single-story property was elevated on a slope, and its rooms were cramped together with too few windows and too-low ceilings.

Before: Dining Area

After: Dining Area

McLanahan and the owners pictured a brighter and more connected layout, with materials that could withstand the climate and whatever adventures the family had in store. “Since they aimed for easy access to the coast, the house needed to be casual to accommodate sandy feet and wet towels,” she notes. “At the same time, the site has its own microclimate—temperatures can be extreme, and wildfires and heavy winds can be threatening. The design had to also consider wind, views, and natural light, which were elements the existing house did not fully take advantage of.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

McLanahan’s 1,600-square-foot plan introduced a ground floor (beneath the original upper level) with a bunk room and a recreational area for the kids. It also moved the storage and laundry downstairs, freeing the elevated floor for two additional bedrooms and a communal living area.

Before: Lower Level

After: Lower Level

“The owners asked that the design not extend beyond the existing footprint of the house and elevated deck, so as not to disrupt the surrounding natural landscape,” McLanahan notes. “The new stairs that lead down to the bunk room have a new corner window above it, letting light down into the space. We also added an extension to the existing roof at the upper deck for outdoor dining, since the existing deck was open to extreme sunlight.”

To keep the palette as straightforward as possible, the owners and McLanahan agreed to cover the walls in yellow, tongue-and-groove pine that could be complemented by classic white paint. “The existing ceiling had pine tongue-and-groove paneling, so we decided to also use it on the walls to make the spaces feel more unified, seamless, and rustic.” Paired with handcrafted ceramic tiles, cool linens, and custom wood light shades, the laid-back interiors keep all attention on the ocean view.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

The two-year project was completed in 2020, and the only challenging aspect was that everything was kept very simple—even modes of communication.

“There was no internet at the site during construction, so detailed sketches could not be quickly shared through text or email as questions arose,” McLanahan says. “This meant that we spoke to the team daily in-between visits, and ended each call with the hopes of understanding each other.”

Before: Exterior

After: Exterior

In the end, though, the easy quality of the home turned out to be its best feature, making for the type of getaway everyone had hoped to achieve. “The family wanted it to feel different from their house in Los Angeles, and now they can experience more freedom and unstructured time here.”

More Before & After Stories:

Fresh Finishes Bring a Bay Area Eichler Into the Future

A Ranch-Style Home in San Jose Gets an Infusion of Caribbean Cool

Project Details:

Architect of Record: Talbot McLanahan Architect

Builder: G-Force Construction, Bruce Gale

Structural Consultant: Patrick Bambrough

Landscape Design: Jay Griffith

Cabinetry Fabrication: Pat Carson

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Before & After: A Rural Home on the California Coast Exudes Simplicity in Materials and Mindset