Megan Robertson’s Design created a waterfront entertainer’s paradise with a serene aesthetic and standout features in Huntington Beach.
Megan Unger, founder and creative director of Megan Robertson’s Design (meganrobertsonsdesigns.com), lives with her husband, three children and five pets in O range—and likewise considers her clients’ lifestyles when designing projects. “While many interior designers may say that, I really do try and step into my clients’ shoes and envision that I am living the life they are, with the same priorities, functions and values,” she says. In January 2019, a semiretired client she’d worked with for nearly 15 years enlisted her for his custom new build: a waterfront 8 ,000-squarefoot home in Huntington Beach. “He really wanted a stunner of a home meant for entertaining. That means we had some super-unique requests in the home, such as a fish tank, cigar room and theater!” she says. “My client loves to host parties and have friends and family around, but at the end of the day, the house has to function for all the times he isn’t entertaining, too.” She set about creating “an entertainer’s dream home in a harmonious and livable way.”
The kitchen is highlighted by a 14-foot island with a waterfall edge that offers seating for up to five. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN GARVIN
Unger tried to create a sense of beauty in a clean and calming manner. “Every detail was chosen with the idea of creating simple lines that still exude strength of character,” she says of the transitional yet modern design. While situated on a prime corner lot in Huntington Harbor, the home was a challenging pie shape rather than linear. “But [it] also allowed us to be creative in how we approached the floor plan and overall design that led to some unique results!” she shares.
Designed to maximize ocean views, this four-bedroom, 10-bathroom open-concept home features three levels with a clean and calming aesthetic. PHOTO BY RYAN GARVIN | RYANGARVINPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
“MY GOAL WAS TO HAVE PEOPLE WALK THROUGHOUT THE HOME AND LIGHT UP WHEN THEY SAW A UNIQUE FEATURE IN EACH ROOM.” –MEGAN UNGER
Designed to maximize ocean views, the four-bedroom, 10-bathroom open-concept home consists of three levels with rooms that flow seamlessly. “My goal was to have people walk throughout the home and light up when they saw a unique feature in each room,” Unger says. The first floor flaunts an open living room with a cozy fireplace made from concrete and panel-stained wood, while the kitchen contains a 14-foot island with waterfall edge, and the dining room features views of the harbor. She notes, “I kept the design clean and neutral because I didn’t want to compete with the stunning views, [and] instead play into them and make them the star of the show.”
Megan Robertson’s Design went for a neutral look so the view would be the star of the show PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN GARVIN
The first floor also houses a family room and guest room—as well as a cigar room with its own air unit, a tank with fish ranging from wrasse to triggerfish, and a wine tasting room that opens to a courtyard filled with different materials, such as stone, stucco, metal and wood. “The fish tank was one of my client’s requests, which we placed in the [living room] bar area below an 85-inch TV for his enjoyment,” says Unger, noting he’d originally wanted a shark tank until aquarium professionals led him in this direction. “The wine tasting table is a custom piece I had made out of a quartz slab. When you can’t find the furniture you want, make it yourself!” She also incorporated pieces from Restoration Hardware, Essentials For Living and Four Hands.
Art from Frame It for Less livens up the staircase PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN GARVIN
Head to the second floor for a large theater, a game room, an exercise room, two guest rooms and the primary bedroom. “I wanted this room to look and feel like a hotel room, while reading clean and with depth,” she says of the suite. “One fun feature are the wood tiles with heated floors [that are] instantly inviting.” The bathroom features “his” and “her” vibes, and the third floor boasts a scenic roof deck. “You can see Catalina views as well as the snowy mountains,” Unger says.
The living room boasts a bar area, a fish tank and an 85-inch television. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN GARVIN
Despite the hurdles of the pandemic, Megan Robertson’s Design, Caldwell Builders and Harts Landscape Design & Excavation completed this project in June 2022. “The new house not only flows beautifully, but works for my client’s lifestyle,” Unger says. “He said he now loves it when people come over and say, ‘How did you ever think to do that?’”
A Restoration Hardware dining table offers views of the harbor PHOTOGRAPHED BY RYAN GARVIN
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