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Bonsall Malibu

Front of home

Nestled amongst mature oak and maple trees deep in Bonsall Canyon, this Malibu home’s transformation was designed for a family of five who sought to pay homage to the original structure while optimizing its redesign for a modern, indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Taking cues from old Belgian stone farmhouses, the architecture aimed to distill the home’s existing agrarian form even further, emphasizing its classic single-gable pitch and adding wide, sliding glass doors throughout that pocket to dissolve the line between home and garden. The exterior was clad in understated wood emblematic of the design’s rustic inspiration, while eaves were cut back throughout to modernize its midcentury roots.

This home is a balance of old and new, relaxed country and modern, restrained and luxurious – it is a home meant to be lived in for years to come.

Backyard with pool and back of home
Pool chairs with surrounding greenery

"By virtue of its solitary whereabouts under the shade of mature oaks and maples in Bonsall Canyon, the family home that [Interior Designer and Client] Vanessa Alexander shares with her husband Steve and three teenage sons quietly shifts the idea of what exactly makes for a quintessential Malibu pad."

Leilani Marie Labong, Architectural Digest
Stairway
Living Room
Day bed

Various points throughout the home, including the living room’s original fireplace, were adjusted to create total alignment, which resulted in more thoughtfully framed views of the lush surrounding landscape of Bonsall Canyon.

Kitchen with skylight
Kitchen table
Kitchen with skylight

Special care was taken when transforming the kitchen. “‘Given its promise of food with a view, family hangouts mostly happen [here]. A long sight line stretches from the room through the adjacent family area and out to the pool. This is where we gather after coming home from our disparate lives,’ [Client and Interior Designer] Vanessa Alexander says. The unique slotted skylight echoes the floating stairs in the entry hall,” writes Leilani Marie Labong for Architectural Digest.

Kitchen island with large plant
Dining room table
Dining Room table
Bedroom

"While the design is elegant and has moments of luxury, it’s still meant to be lived in."

Vanessa Alexander, Interior Designer and Client, Architectural Digest
Hallway
Bathroom
Pool and back of home
Living room
Living room
Butler pantry
Living room
Bathroom
Child's Bedroom
Pool Table
Bedroom
Closet
Outdoor table
Outdoor patio
  • Interior Design

    Alexander Design

  • Landscape Architect

    Terremoto

  • Photography

    Douglas Friedman and Adrian Gaut

  • Styling

    Lisa Rowe and Colin King

Backyard with pool and back of home
Pool chairs with surrounding greenery
Stairway
Living Room
Day bed
Kitchen with skylight
Kitchen table
Kitchen with skylight
Kitchen island with large plant
Dining room table
Dining Room table
Bedroom
Hallway
Bathroom
Pool and back of home
Living room
Living room
Butler pantry
Living room
Bathroom
Child's Bedroom
Pool Table
Bedroom
Closet
Outdoor table
Outdoor patio