SOPHIE GOINEAU CREATES A STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL ORGANIC MODERN RETREAT ON A STEEP CLIFFSIDE ABOVE THE PACIFIC.

In the living room, an ATRA Beluga sectional and Baby Beluga accent chairs in black boucle surround the Hugo table by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The Client

“I first was referred to and connected with the homeowners in Careyes, Mexico,” says L.A.-based designer Sophie Goineau of her client—a vibrant young family with young children and a white Labrador. “The family reside in Mexico and build exceptional homes on the Mexican coastline, but this project was their private home to use while visiting California. They have a refined taste that leans toward modernism, with a touch of natural elegance,” Goineau adds. “They appreciate clean lines, open spaces and materials that reflect the beauty of the natural environment.”

Agave Designs handled the millwork and cabinetry throughout the home. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The massive kitchen features two stoves. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The Project

Perched on a steep cliffside in Malibu overlooking the ocean, the home was initially built in 1965, remodeled at the turn of the millennium and in need of a complete overhaul. “The homeowners desired a look and feel that blended modern sophistication with natural elements,” Goineau explains. “They wanted the design to reflect the dynamic interplay between light and shadow, integrating materials that would complement the coastal environment while providing a calming, continuous flow.”

Goineau incorporated ATRA kitchen stools, cabinetry by Agave Designs, Flos lighting and Cosentino Dekton countertops in Neutral Onirka. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The Plan

The clients yearned for a home that would fit in seamlessly with the surrounding mountains and ocean and one that emphasized the views. “The house is divided into three areas: the primary wing, the children’s room and guest suites, and the main living area,” Goineau explains. “With its high ceilings and cantilevered aspect with different angles, the plan was to harmoniously connect those angles.” The designer also focused on opening walls to create an open and airy feel. A minimalist color and materials palette, including white oak floors, clay plaster, micro-cement wall finishes and marine-grade wood, help streamline the home, while contemporary furniture pieces from Mexico City-based ATRA in rich boucle fabric, saddle leather and textured wood enhance the modernist aesthetic. “Th e similarity of the materials helps to tie the building together into a very light interior, with simple, restrained accents of pale oak and soft wool furnishings that feel inherently calming,” Goineau adds.

Portola’s Sea Salt paint shade coats the primary suite, which features furniture from ATRA, Current Collection’s Strike lighting and a stunning ocean view. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The Details

The millwork and ceiling treatment significantly affect the home’s aesthetic. “The majestic ceiling sequence of ‘breaking waves,’ made from thermally modified ash wood, set the tone for the interior,” says Goineau. “This feature not only provided a natural sun shield but also created beautiful shadow patterns that reflected the coast environment’s fluidity and movement.”

This can be seen throughout the home, notably in the kitchen and dining areas. “We designed a linear suspended gantry creating a floating light visual partition; the island and all countertops feel like organic stone while tan leather and brass-plated-steel stools complement the sleek, modern finishes,” says Goineau. “The open layout and high-quality materials made it a central hub for family gatherings and entertainment.” The dining room features a rose gold bar and a Gio Ponti dining table surrounded by ATRA seating.

The ceiling is constructed from thermally modified ash wood. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

An accent chair in mustard boucle fabric by ATRA sits beside the brand’s Bullet side table. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

Framed by ocean views, the living room feels organic, airy, sophisticated and inviting. “The optic black upholstery of ATRA’s curvilinear Beluga sofa and chairs recall the wood TV-built-in unit that was custom designed using the same lines as the ceiling,” shares the designer.

Goineau implemented white oak and minimalist decor in the primary bedroom to create a calming environment, while large windows offer ocean views. And the outdoor spaces, where ATRA furniture fills the pool, lounge and dining areas, feel connected to the interiors due to generous sliding screens and expansive windows.

“A highlight was the moment when the wave-inspired ceiling was completed,” says Goineau, who calls out the living room as a favorite area. “It transformed the space and perfectly captured the essence of the home.” PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The outdoor areas utilize ATRA teak furniture throughout. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

“[THE HOMEOWNERS] WANTED THE DESIGN TO REFLECT THE DYNAMIC INTERPLAY BETWEEN LIGHT AND SHADOW, INTEGRATING MATERIALS THAT WOULD COMPLEMENT THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT WHILE PROVIDING A CALMING, CONTINUOUS FLOW."–SOPHIE GOINEAU

The living room, kitchen and guest bedroom open to the pool, lined with handmade Japanese tiles from Inax. PHOTOGRAPHED BY VIRTUALLY HERE STUDIOS

The Outcome

After successfully completing the project despite Malibu’s strict zoning laws and the constraints of working with the existing structure, Goineau and her clients are exhilerated with their new home. “Every element was chosen to enhance the sense of tranquility and beauty,” she shares. “The homeowners were proud and thrilled, overjoyed with the result with its completely new allure of Malibu’s wonders. They were especially delighted with how the design captured their vision of a modern, serene and family-friendly home.”

DESIGN DETAILS

TYPE
Single-family home

LOCATION
Big Rock, Malibu

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Sophie Goineau
sophiegoineau.com

ARCHITECT
Coscia Day
cosciaday.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Real Natives
realnatives.com

MILLWORK
Agave Designs
323.919.1845

LIGHTING CONSULTANTS
Ramona Pratt and Joell Yazzolino
prattlightingdesigns.com; designercustomlighting.com

RESOURCES

ATLAS HOMEWARES
Kitchen hardware
atlashomewares.com

ATRA
Furniture throughout
atraform.com

COSENTINO
Kitchen countertops
cosentino.com

CREATIVE ART PARTNERS
Artworks throughout
creativeartpartners.com

DESIGNER DOORWARE
Hardware throughout
designerdoorware.com

EMTEK
Kitchen hardware
emtek.com

EXQUISITE SURFACES
Flooring throughout
xsurfaces.com

FLEETWOOD
Windows throughout
fleetwoodusa.com

FLOS
Kitchen and primary bathroom lighting
professional.flos.com

LF ILLUMINATION
Entry, living room and primary closet lighting
lfillumination.com

MOLTENI&C
Living room coffee table and dining room table
molteni.it

PORTOLA
Paint throughout
portolapaints.com