The home of a vibrant, fun-loving family with two young boys, the Edgemar residence was intentionally designed to encourage family bonding and entertainment. “Purposely flexible, both in its physical and philosophical conception, the Edgemar residence is a vertical village where a young family shares special times together or with company; casual or formal, indoor or outdoor,” explains Todd Paolillo, a project architect at Kaa Design. “And always celebrating the California lifestyle—a deep appreciation for the environment, happiness, and for memories that can only come from the gathering of loved ones in the right place at the right time.”

This focus on creating open space for social activities is immediately apparent from the overall architectural and design concept. “The living, dining area, and kitchen are all conceived as one large, open, airy space with floor-to-ceiling glass walls spanning edge to edge at the ocean side and a monumental sliding glass door system opening up to the unique central courtyard,” elaborates Paolillo.

Although this chic and modern home draws people in with thoughtfully designed spaces for cosy and intimate gatherings, it also maintains a strong connection to the awe-inspiring outside surroundings. “These windows all work together to create a seamless connection between the intimate interior gardens and pool and the vast expanse of the Pacific beyond,” continues Paolillo. “Though it seeks the soothing panorama of the coastal horizon at every moment, this home also seeks to nurture the individual and collective spirit of the family.”

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Aside from the large open living area, the Edgemar residence also features pockets of smaller rooms for cosier gatherings. The lounge and reading area acts as a natural convergence point, connecting the great room and kitchen. On the ground floor, the beach room and bar serve as a modern, clean take on Tiki bar culture while showcasing the owners' love of pub games and collector’s edition board games. With natural stained wood ceiling beams and grass cloth inlay panels that emphasise the beach theme, and custom elements like a pull-out shuffleboard incorporated into the millwork and a double-sided aquarium, the beach room and bar are the highlight of any gathering.

While a fully equipped home movie theatre might typically seem out of place in a beach house, Kaa Design uses this room as an opportunity for a modern refresh of classic beach themes. Comfortable and casual, the home theatre is clad in custom bamboo panelling and painted with a calming ocean blue and grey colour scheme. The cleverly designed platform storage in front of the screen also doubles as a stage, perfect for the kids to perform and play with their friends during neighbourhood sleepovers.

On the upper level, the kids' bedrooms act as a literal microcosm of the family’s passions. Designed to work seamlessly with the upstairs lounge as a singular open play space, the kids’ bedrooms are decorated to portray the exuberant themes of surfing, football, and tropical treehouses, complete with a functional rock climbing wall.

The luxurious primary suite cantilevers out over the entire lower building facade, creating a scenic perch with extreme view angles up and down the length of The Strand, and offering unrivalled views of the ocean. With direct access to a unique upper terrace sun deck complete with a barbeque pit and Japanese soaking tub, the primary suite is the perfect place for the owners to unwind and relax.

With the careful use of natural and sustainable materials, the Egdemar residence creates a sense of calm and harmony with the environment, weaving a narrative of tactile beauty that resonates with the coastal surroundings. Heavy, rugged, and textured stone walls wrap corners and slip past the boundaries of doors and windows to become expressive feature walls that complement the limestone floors. Stained sapele wood roof eaves extend to the interior ceilings of the primary suite, creating a sense of continuity.

“The owners wanted something both understated and elegant, wanting the residence to be an experience that tells the ‘lifestyle story’ without calling attention to itself,” says Paolillo. “It is relaxed but not shabby, elegant but not fancy. Dress it up or down, it is at once composed and effortless.”

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