Eight decades back, Erin Lee-Hawk happened upon a open house whilst jogging in a Leucadia, California, neighborhood and thought, ” Oh, wow, I could spend my life.” She constantly fantasized about having a home her kids could say that they grew up, and that was the location. The home, however, was long overdue for some major remodeling and upgrading.
Eight decades after, Lee-Hawk has redecorated and reworked every single space in the home and now never wants to leave this beautiful oceanfront home, which is roughly 25 kilometers north of San Diego. She shares the home with her spouse, Jeremiah Miller, along with her boys, Spencer and Keegan, and promptly embraced daughter, Urmilla, by India.
in a Glance
Who resides here: Erin Lee-Hawk, Jeremiah Miller and children Spencer, Keegan and Urmila
Location: Leucadia, California
Size: 4,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths
That’s intriguing: The foyer is traditionally employed as a studio for rock music training.
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Lee-Hawk is usually a very happy person, and her interior style reflects that. She tends to accompany designers using an eclectic, cheerful and contemporary aesthetic, like Jonathan Adler and Jennifer Delonge. She likes iconic Eames pieces and pretty much anything using a contemporary but globally diversified vibe.
Lee-Hawk is also a fan of the plan studio Conscious Nest. “They produce looks that are both sophisticated and natural all at the same time,” she says. “Plus, they are an environmentally sound design company. All our backgrounds came from them, and they have provided a great deal of advice in our decorating”
Sofa: Cisco
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Karl Kras of Kras Design Studio transformed the front of the home to give it a wonderful contemporary facade. “He turned out a totally dull, flat, ’60s facade to a kickin’ contemporary presentation,” Lee-Hawk says. The horizontal rich wood slats next to the variation in color tones in the garage door create an unexpected and beautiful first impression.
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As you wander down the pathway along the face of the home, you enter into a courtyard filled with plants and a large copper sculpture wall socket.
Lee-Hawk says her gardening ideas came from Scott Ward in White Sage Gardening. “He’s hands down the best about for potting and yard design.”
The snowy contemporary chair juxtaposed next to the classic imported chair from India was created by Jeremiah Miller. Lights underneath the planters deliver nice ambient lighting.
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Karl Kras made the unique front door, and Bill de Clairville of Chula Vista, California, hand-fabricated it into red mahogany wood. Creating a serene, smooth indoor-outdoor flow was the objective.
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Original art by Jeremiah Miller of a mermaid and merman greet guests upon entering. Open bookshelves, drawers and a wall shelf are utilized for storage and displaying decorative items.
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The entryway, that was once part of this courtyard, now acts as a location for Spencer’s jam sessions.
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The open foyer is filled with light from large windows near the ceiling. The light-colored flooring and walls add to the airiness, and pops of color and heat from the woodwork create an inviting space. A contemporary green painting by Bradford Stewart hangs on the wall.
Lee-Hawk says, “With tons of kids in the home all of the time, everything we own should be kid friendly, preferably washable. If it’s embarrassing or can’t be cleaned, it is out. I want to dwell in a home that is a home, and our kids need to feel like that is their location also, not just a showboat.”
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The long galley-style kitchen includes beautiful rich wood. Repeated rectangular skylights include plenty of natural light and architectural interest. Notice the reflective silver door leading to the office. Miller silver-leafed the entire door.
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When Lee-Hawk bought the home in 2003, it had a lot of peach and teal in the 1980s. “There was a lot of Southwestern wallpaper in several chambers with wild ponies and coyotes with handkerchiefs. I’m not kidding,” she says. You would never know how much the space has shifted; the upgrades and remodeled regions feel as if they have been all along.
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Flowers, feathers and a beautiful branch are natural elements that bring the outdoors in.
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Lee-Hawk’s challenge on this home was figuring out the best way to maintain the shore vibe and heat that came against the bones of the home and still satisfy her need for a contemporary, clean esthetic that has been sand, dog and kid friendly.
From the family room she utilizes a mix of styles, like the compact low credenza and also the darker rustic cabinet. Both sit behind the sofas, provide storage and visually operate well together. The subtle shimmer in the fireplace tile is reminiscent of seashells and contributes to a natural beach texture.
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The built-in sitting room is a fantastic use of space in the family room. It doesn’t take up as much space as movable furniture and uses the corner without obstructing the wonderful Pacific Ocean view.
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Art by Richard Roberts in the dining room.
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The beautiful spiral staircase includes red mahogany wood.
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A detail of this spiral stairs.
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A sliding door functions as either a divider between Urmilla and Keegan’s rooms along with a place to showcase the kids’ art.
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Urmila’s room comes with a vibrant color palette and fun routines. Butterflies flutter on the walls, and colorful pillows provide a cozy environment. The room’s décor has an Indian influence that Lee-Hawk hopes will bring a familiar feeling to Urmila’s new surroundings.
Wallpaper: Nina Campbell, Collection: Lombardia, Pattern Name: Farfalla (Butterflies) bought at Conscious Nest
Beds, Corner storage unit: Pottery Barn Teen
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The corridor between the kids’ rooms is the best place to display original comic strip artwork given to Lee-Hawk by Charles Shultz. Made just for her, these are quite a treasure.
The dark wood floor is reclaimed barn wood from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, along with also the locker-style dresser is from Pottery Barn Teen.
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Keegan’s green and teal area is filled with life and color. Wall decals by Blik decorate the space above the bed, along with colorful carpet tiles by Flor attract a playfulness into the space. The reddish kid-size seats from Lexington Modern include a pop of color.
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Spencer picked his crazy zigzag wallpaper, which is fantastic for his rock star personality. He’s the rhythm guitar player for a group called Measure Forward Lads. Lee-Hawk says, “When Spencer picked his wallpaper, I nearly fell over. Now it is one of my favorite rooms in the home.”
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Any kid would be delighted to have a loft like this one. With a glass barrier to keep the boys safe, the entire loft is a committed “Lego fun zone.” It’s a win-win space for both the kids and parents, since the toys and other works-in-progress do not need to be set away, and the adults do not see a visual explosion of toys onto the floor.
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The master bedroom is Lee-Hawk’s favorite room in the home. “It tends to be the family gathering place. We’re all fans of breakfast bed and afternoon CNN or even SpongeBob,” she says. The bold poppy wallpaper is by Osborne and Little by Conscious Nest, along with the frothy linen bed coverings are by ABC Carpet and Home.
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On the opposite wall, tall vertical cabinets from BoConcept provide a contemporary storage alternative to a more traditional dresser. Double doors open up to a terrace and allow in fresh ocean air.
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The updated master bathroom is modern and fresh with magnificent glass tile. The natural form of the footstool contrasts well with the clean contemporary lines of the bathtub and the dressing table.
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The terrace includes three levels and steps leading down to the sand. Having quick access to this shore, the boys love surfing in their own backyard.
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Being near the ocean gives a calming and peaceful effect on Lee-Hawk. When requested when her home felt like it had been her own, she says, “I was just going through a divorce once I moved here fulltime. This home was a true place of healing for me. It was the first place in my life where I felt as though I had been the founder of my own identity and space. It was a growing experience, that is for certain. The fashion of my home has evolved as I’ve learned more and more about who I was as a woman and a mom by myself.”
She adds, “I feel as if there is so much love! The home embraced me, and I adopted it. We had each other. Now I am blessed to share this unbelievable area with my partner of five decades, Jeremiah. Our home has continued to evolve as we’ve made it ours together.”
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A family photo on the shore. Spencer (holding Ivan), Jeremiah, Erin, and Keegan.
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