Walk Through This Single-Family Malibu Stunner

By Erin Kain

This single-family stunner gets a coastal cool revamp.

This Malibu ranch was renovated by Von Studnitz Architects before Breeze Giannasio took over the interior design.

THE TEAM

After an extensive gut renovation and expansion, the homeowners of this classic California ranch realized they weren’t prepared to decorate their newly built spaces. Enter Breeze Giannasio, owner and founder of Breeze Giannasio Interiors (breezegiannasio.com). Giannasio’s ultimate goal is to package and elevate the client’s dream through her own filter, but she admits, “I do love soulful interiors—a home that tells a story and is animated by its inhabitants. You can tell when a home is loved and is full of love.”

Giannasio crafted a
chic reading nook
with plenty of playful,
layered accessories. PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGHAN BEIERLE O’BRIEN
Giannasio crafted a chic reading nook with plenty of playful, layered accessories.

THE PLAN

Inspired by the home’s stunning ocean views, Giannasio and the homeowners agreed on a mostly neutral palette with coastal influences and lots of textural elements. The husband, a director, prefers a graphic, midcentury aesthetic, while the wife, a journalist, leans more feminine. Says Giannasio, “They wanted to blend their tastes and create a family-friendly refuge.”

The living room was designed to accent the generous ocean views. Giannasio opted for a Lawrence of La Brea vintage Moroccan rug, Hollywood at Home straw poufs, Larsen lounge chairs by Industry West and Oakland cocktail tables from Jackson Home, among other thoughtful pieces.

THE CHALLENGES

The couple’s differences in aesthetics were a common theme throughout the project. Both had strong opinions, so Giannasio created a veto rule to avoid compromises, explaining, “If everyone compromises, no one feels satisfied at the end of the road, and you end up with a neutered product that no one sees themself in.”

Another massive hurdle? COVID-19. The project had already begun when the pandemic hit, so Giannasio was forced to quarantine in Hawaii and started her designs from across the ocean. Because she couldn’t control quality in person, the designer leaned on tried-and-true brands she knew wouldn’t steer her wrong, like the furniture from L.A.’s Lawson-Fenning.

The clients originally requested a cobalt blue kitchen, but eventually went with a more toned-down approach.

THE DESIGN

A four-poster bed from Hollywood at Home makes a striking statement in the primary bedroom. Notes Giannasio, “This is a good example of where a designer can push a client out of their comfort zone. I’d mentioned the idea of a four-poster bed to have a monumental presence in the room, and the clients initially shut it down for being ‘too traditional,’ but now they both love what we chose.”

Texture was also important to the couple. They were adamant that they didn’t want boring walls, as evidenced in the dining room where a Phillip Jeffries wallcovering adds dynamic interest.

A pivot was made when it came to the kitchen, as the original plan was a bit too loud. “At first go, they were really committed to this screaming cobalt blue that just really would not have vibed,” the designer explains. Instead, they opted for a softer palette that harmonizes with the living and dining rooms.

A textural Phillip Jeffries
wallcovering graces
the dining room,
alongside a Room
Board dining table
and chairs, Palecek
chandelier and
assorted CB2 vases. PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGHAN BEIERLE O’BRIEN
A textural Phillip Jeffries wallcovering graces the dining room, alongside a Room Board dining table and chairs, Palecek chandelier and assorted CB2 vases.

THE OUTCOME

“There is something about the light coming off the water and filling the fully wood-clad home that transports you,” notes Giannasio of the home’s dreamy qualities. As for the owners? “They were thrilled,” she grins. “I can see deep satisfaction and pride in them. They were passionate about the process and can really see themselves reflected in the product.”

The outdoor patio is outfitted entirely with RH Modern furnishings, from the Balmain teak sofa and Yountville fire table to the Portofino table and armchairs and Sarno round planters.