Finding bliss in a clifftop retreat where the great outdoors—and the killer Santa Cruz surf—are always calling.
Perched on a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific, this deliberately low-key weekend retreat sits in the mist. Swells form and skate below on the water’s surface, cresting at impressive heights. But peering out of the home’s wall-to-wall windows, the waves seem small in context to their vast ocean setting.
“It was really about creating these ribbons of wraparound windows and doors and then, when we went inside, vaulting and expanding the feeling of space.”
Its quiet exterior palette and native plantings help nestle the house into the coastline, with expansive doors that provide easy flow through the house from a protected courtyard to the coast. Inside, exposed rafters recall the underside of a boat hull, connecting them to the sea beyond.
A palette of fresh white and sea blue complement the coastal setting, while whimsical touches of tie-dye and chunky rope recall the nearby boardwalk. Ample storage for surfboards allows the family easy use of nearby beaches.
“This Santa Cruz home is quintessential California style. Young, sporty, comfortable, not fussy, like the family.”
