An open-flow living room, dining room and kitchen connect to a covered outdoor deck with an infinity saltwater pool and jacuzzi. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
Eilla Adi Design transformed this large contemporary Corona del Mar home into a bright, personal reflection of her clients' passions and their Asian and indigenous heritages.
A library/piano room gets a personal touch with curated bookcases PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
THE PROJECT
After purchasing this dauntingly large and modern Corona del Mar home in 2020, the clients contacted Eilla Pradier of Eilla Adi Design (eillaadidesign.com). Friends of hers, the wife is indigenous, the husband is Asian, and they have two children. “At the time, they were living in a home that was more traditional,” Pradier says. “They were concerned how their new home would adapt to channel their interests and background.” Nestled on a hill, the newly renovated property had taken over five years to build since its start in 2014. “The home is one of the largest lots in the neighborhood, covering almost half an acre with 7,685 square feet of living space,” Pradier says. However, her clients feared living in a sterile, museum-like environment. “While [they] really loved the view and scale, they were hesitant to live in a very modern home. Our goal from the beginning was to create genuine warmth to t he home’s scale and modern architecture.”
The main-level lounge area extends outside PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
THE VISION
“When first seeing the home, at the entrance, you are greeted with 360 degrees of ocean and harbor views, entering through a turtle pond,” says Pradier of the shallow pool filled with turtles and koi fish. “The home holds a vibrant energy with the dynamic views, natural light and tremendous scale. I was excited to tap into those elements and create a place they can call home, bringing in warm, intimate and elevated spaces for everyday living.” The home features high ceilings, skylights that run down the hall and floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. “The house was built on the main level to lead as a gallery would: oversize walls and open spaces flooded with light,” Pradier says. “The clients really wanted to embrace the gallery layout and bring that into the interior design.”
An ultrasuede eucalyptus-tone Knoll Womb chair and two blue velvet swivel lounge chairs add pops of color to the living room. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
THE PROCESS
“We skipped the expected nautical decor in favor of a vibrant embrace to coastal living, centered on a modern organic aesthetic,” says Pradier, who drew inspiration from nature. She tried to establish intimacy by defining spaces with unique and oversize furniture and decor pieces—such as a “pause” moment with a Gubi chaise beyond the foyer and a main-level lounge area that extends outside. “The clients wanted the design for their home to feel fun, fresh and inviting while being a place that is durable and can act as a haven for everyday living,” Pradier says. “My goal was to balance bold details while creating spaces that promote leisure, counterbalancing the home’s industrial modern architecture and scale.”
The open kitchen boasts high ceilings, bar seating and lots of natural light PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
THE DETAILS
Pradier mixed textures and colors to tap into the clients’ playful side while keeping fabrics functional and selecting timeless pieces. “In the living room, we have an ultrasuede eucalyptustone Knoll Womb chair adjacent to two swivel lounge chairs in a velvet deep blue hue, adding in pops of color,” she says of the open-flow living room, dining room and kitchen, which connect to a covered outdoor deck with an infinity saltwater pool and jacuzzi. She chose curved design elements to relieve the architecture’s sharp angles and oversize art to pull viewers in from different angles. “An original art installation of over 100 handmade ceramic cubes by Kaiser Suidan pops on the dining room wall, each cube representing the clients’ passions and lifestyle,” she notes. “To bring in the family’s heritage, we had a custom hand-carved indigenous art piece by Douglas Reynolds Gallery made.”
The main level also includes an office, a library/piano room, three en suite bedrooms, and a serene primary bedroom with oak cabinetry and a fully renovated bath. Head downstairs to a game room, wet bar, wine room, en suite guest room, soundproof theater and eight-car private garage. “For the wine room, we went for a playful moment through a floor-to-ceiling custom wall mural by Calico with ‘scrunched’ gold bar stools from Italy,” Pradier says.
The serene primary bedroom features Kelly Wearstler pendant lights and custom oak cabinets made by a local artisan in Costa Mesa. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
THE OUTCOME
When Pradier finished in April 2022, she loved seeing the clients react to the design. “The wife said she didn’t realize she could love a modern design this much!” Pradier recalls. “We started with a very angular modern space that felt cold and industrial. Through the designs, we brought in warmth, comfort and a sense of playfulness… while making sure to give the clients the joyful and family friendly home they were seeking.” Color them thrilled.
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