This Corona del Mar Home by Beth Hoffman Takes Low-Tox Living to the Next Level

By: Hannah George By: Hannah George | April 3, 2025 | Home & Real Estate, Home & Real Estate, Community, Home & Real Estate Feature, Creators, City Life, Home Feature,

For their second project together, principal designer Beth Hoffman crafted a client’s forever home, integrating low-tox living with heritage-inspired touches.

The guest casita incorporates various cultures with a Tarz bedcover, a handmade Chindi patchwork Kantha quilt and Turkish pillows. PHOTO BY PUBLIC311DESIGN

THE PROJECT

As the demand for homes in Corona del Mar continues to rise, properties are being designed to maximize every inch of the coveted area. For one Orange County client, they knew who to look to design their 4,000-square-foot, single-story home as a sophisticated sanctuary with a neutral palette. Having previously worked together, the client called on local interior designer Beth Hoffman for their forever home. Architect Eric Aust, Silverman and Luman Builders, and landscape architect Molly Wood Garden Design were also brought in to bring the project to life. “The goal was to create a space that felt both comfortable and cozy, with everything serving a meaningful and functional purpose,” shares principal designer Beth Hoffman. “Our client envisioned a wraparound home, with every room opening to a central courtyard.” Ultimately, the design aimed to evoke the feeling of a luxury wellness retreat while maintaining earthy, soulful elements centered around the client’s personal heritage.

Principal designer Beth Hoffman poses alongside the wellness bar, featuring a fusion blue quartzite countertop and custom-made shearling stools. PHOTO BY PUBLIC311DESIGN

THE INSPIRATION

With three golden retrievers and a recent shift toward low-tox living, the active client’s needs had evolved since their previous project with Hoffman. “As the homeowner embraced lifestyle changes, it became essential to adapt the plans to their shifting priorities,” says Hoffman. “Their growing interest in health and wellness became the foundation of the design.” Meaningful touches also remained a significant factor. “Inspired by their Greek heritage, they wanted the essence of their background to resonate throughout the home with treasured collectibles and symbolic elements both inside and out,” she continues. This motivated Hoffman and Aust to play up the old-world aesthetic, incorporating timeless materials of wood, stone and clay with notable Greek motifs, including a gabled roof and thoughtfully placed olive trees that hug the outskirts of the property.

Wraparound windows, pocket doors and stone interior walls incorporate the indoor-outdoor living the client was seeking. PHOTO BY PUBLIC311DESIGN

THE HIGHLIGHTS

“From the moment you step through the front door, your eyes are immediately drawn to the expansive central courtyard, the heart of the property, which is visible from every room in the house,” says Hoffman regarding the stunning work of landscape architect Molly Wood. “Large-format antiqued limestone floors and one-of-a-kind vintage planting pots create layered heights of greenery, with the knurled character of the olive tree taking center stage.” Thanks to pocket doors and wraparound windows, the boundary between the home’s interior and the courtyard dissolves. The home’s stone siding exterior continues seamlessly onto the interior walls, while the same oak and reclaimed wood are used throughout.

When it came to filling the space, “The furniture had to be both cozy and functional—ideal for entertaining family and perfect for plenty of napping,” notes Hoffman. Think daybed swings, a soothing Zellige-tiled fountain, an outdoor pizza oven, a Gloster Furniture woven rope and quilted dining set, and a two-sided fireplace in the California room, surrounded by a custom terrycloth Muskoka Living sectional. At the same time, the abode embodies the tranquil luxury living the client was seeking. The wellness bar features a warm antique brass backsplash, fusion blue quartzite and custom-made shearling bar stools, “perfect for enjoying juices made from hand-picked fruit gathered from the many trees scattered throughout the property,” she adds.

As for staying true to the client’s roots, the dining room takes center stage. “With the help of a local woodworker, we sourced an ancient teak tree stump from our client’s hometown of San Diego, using it as the table base and topping it with a leathered black granite slab,” says Hoffman of the custom-made dining table. For the finishing touches, “We added a custom brass plaque featuring a special Greek message for our client [and] designed a side bench upholstered in patterned fabric depicting a mountainside village on the serene island of Amorgos, Greece.”

“Our client’s genuine love for infusing meaning into every aspect of their life was a true inspiration. Their vision for each room wasn’t just about filling space with beautiful things; it was about creating intentional environments that foster creativity, celebration, healing and rest.”–Beth Hoffman

THE RESULT

Achieving a look that weaves together wellness, culture and durability was no easy feat, but the end product is a testament to the team’s intentionality. “Every space, both indoors and outdoors, has its own distinct aesthetic but flows seamlessly with cohesive materials,” states Hoffman. “Our client’s genuine love for infusing meaning into every aspect of their life was a true inspiration. Their vision for each room wasn’t just about filling space with beautiful things; it was about creating intentional environments that foster creativity, celebration, healing and rest.”