In the exclusive coastal enclave of Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, where architectural trends typically lean toward the hyper-modern—slick glass facades, cantilevered decks, and a relentless focus on outward-facing ocean views—a colonial-style residence has emerged as a defiant, soulful outlier. Designed by Melissa Rohani and Lisa Berman, co-founders of the AD PRO Directory firm Studio Gutow, the property represents a departure from the "glass box" status quo of Southern California luxury. Rather than posturing toward the bay with transparent walls, the home turns inward, prioritizing architectural depth, historical resonance, and what Rohani describes as an "Old World soul."
The project, a comprehensive renovation of a house built roughly two decades ago by a local artist, serves as a testament to the designers’ philosophy of "emotional living." By eschewing a signature modern style in favor of a curated, layered aesthetic that blends East Coast clapboard traditions with California’s light-filled sensibility, Studio Gutow has created a residence that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
A Serendipitous Acquisition in Emerald Bay
The story of the home’s acquisition was less a calculated real estate play and more a fortunate accident. Rohani and Berman were initially scouting for a gallery space to house their growing collection of furniture, textiles, and glassware. Rohani, a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, made a cold call to a Spanish-style casita up the street, which happened to be the office of a local realtor. While the realtor was not interested in selling his office, he informed Rohani of an off-market colonial property in the Emerald Bay neighborhood.
Upon visiting the site, the potential for a family home became immediately apparent. The house featured a clapboard exterior and a layout that centered on an inner courtyard featuring a twisted willow tree. For Rohani, the vision of a home where her children could run through French doors into a protected yard while she watched from the kitchen was the deciding factor. Despite its "ugly duckling" status relative to its modernist neighbors, the property possessed the "bones" required for a sophisticated transformation.
Architectural Chronology and Structural Refinement
The renovation was a collaborative effort involving LS Architects and Tony Valentine Construction. The primary objective was to correct structural idiosyncrasies while deepening the home’s architectural "envelope." The original floor plan contained several quirks, including a staircase that landed awkwardly close to a wall and a lack of defined transition spaces.
The construction phase focused on the following key structural and aesthetic updates:
- Reorienting the Core: The staircase was moved to improve the flow of the entry and living areas, creating a more logical progression through the home.
- Defining the Rooms: Moving away from the open-concept layouts prevalent in modern builds, Studio Gutow reclaimed space to create "little rooms." This included the installation of a new wall with a hidden door behind the living room fireplace, which now leads to a secluded speakeasy.
- Millwork and Paneling: Working with Kerry Gorman of ICD Architectural Woodwork and H & J Cabinets, the team extended existing chair rails into full-height wall paneling. This added a sense of historical weight to the 20-year-old structure, making it feel decades older.
- Flooring and Light: The original stained oak floors were sanded and lightened. This was a strategic choice for coastal living, as lighter wood tones effectively mask the sand inevitably tracked in from the nearby beach.
The Materiality of "Quiet Luxury"
The interior palette is a study in subtle tones—toasty beiges, sage greens, and golden ivories—punctuated by the rich textures of marble and wood. In the living room, the walls are finished in Portola Paints’ Patagonia, a Roman Clay finish that provides a velvet-like depth. The primary bathroom features Blue de Savoie marble, while the kitchen utilizes custom cabinetry by H & J Cabinets paired with Waterworks Henry fittings.
In the primary suite, the designers introduced a bespoke version of the siding found on historic Laguna Beach bungalows. This woodwork integrates seamlessly into the windows and ceiling, creating a cocoon-like environment. The suite also features a custom burl cabinet with a concealed television lift, inspired by 1920s case pieces, ensuring that modern technology does not disrupt the room’s serene, pared-down aesthetic.
Curating a Museum-Quality Living Space
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Rohani residence is the integration of high-caliber art into functional, high-traffic areas. Collaborating with Los Angeles-based art consultant Sharon Zoldan, the homeowners curated a collection that bridges the gap between a gallery and a family home.
A Josef Albers "Homage to the Square" hangs above the fireplace in the breakfast area, while a ceramic plate by Pablo Picasso is positioned casually near the Wolf range in the kitchen. The living room features works by Fu Xiaotong, illuminated by a vintage Itsu floor lamp, while the guest rooms house pieces by Yoan Capote, created using reclaimed fish hooks and barbed wire from the sea.
This "art-as-life" approach is a hallmark of Studio Gutow’s work. By placing museum-quality pieces in the kitchen or children’s rooms, the designers challenge the notion that fine art must be cordoned off in formal galleries. Instead, it becomes part of the daily visual fabric of the household.
Functional Spaces for Modern Family Life
Despite its sophisticated design, the home is engineered for the rigors of family life and frequent entertaining. The kitchen was entirely retooled to reject the traditional formal dining room in favor of a large, connected breakfast space.
Key functional features include:
- The Island Design: The kitchen island features bar seating that wraps around a corner rather than a single row of stools. This encourages intimate conversation rather than a "forward-facing" cafeteria feel.
- The Banquette: A Studio Gutow-designed banquette, upholstered in de Le Cuona’s Island Felt, provides a cozy nook for morning coffee and can expand to accommodate up to 14 guests for dinner parties.
- The Speakeasy: Painted in Benjamin Moore’s Mudslide, the hidden room serves multiple purposes—from a quiet date-night spot for the Rohanis to a themed space for parties, such as a recent event featuring a tarot card reader.
- Children’s Suites: Each child’s room is customized to their personality. The daughter’s room is a "warm little cocoon" featuring Basking Ridge Beige walls and a custom walnut daybed, while the son’s room features leather-topped shelves to protect his Lego collections and piles of books.
The Exterior and the Coastal Connection
The Emerald Bay location offers a unique microclimate and landscape. The home’s exterior maintains its classic clapboard appearance, but the surrounding grounds were overhauled to enhance the connection to the outdoors. Working with Kerry Gorman on the landscape, the team replaced sections of brick with gravel seating areas to create a more relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere.
The primary suite remains the only room in the house with a direct view of the Pacific Ocean. Large windows in the corner lounge frame a vista where whales and pods of dolphins are frequently visible. At night, the view shifts to the surrounding hillsides, which Rohani notes "glow rose gold in the evening" as the sun sets over the canyon.
Broader Impact and Design Implications
The Rohani project serves as a case study for a growing trend in high-end residential design: the return to "traditional" forms as a response to the perceived coldness of modern minimalism. In markets like Laguna Beach, where property values often exceed $10 million, the impulse is frequently to build the largest possible glass structure to maximize equity. By choosing a colonial style and prioritizing internal courtyards and "soulful" materials, the Rohanis have made a case for architectural character over sheer transparency.
Furthermore, the project highlights the importance of historical research in renovation. By studying the bungalows of early 20th-century Laguna Beach and the works of 18th-century American designers, Studio Gutow created a home that feels original to its site, despite being a modern construction. This approach provides a blueprint for how designers can "manufacture" heritage in relatively new structures through the clever use of millwork, art, and period-appropriate lighting.
As the "Quiet Luxury" movement continues to influence the interior design industry, projects like the Emerald Bay Colonial demonstrate that true luxury lies not in the size of the windows, but in the depth of the details. From the custom-upholstered Grizzly Mohair sofas to the hand-painted De Gournay Malwa paneling in the children’s wing, every element of the home is a deliberate choice intended to foster a sense of permanence and peace.
In a neighborhood defined by the "look at me" architecture of modernism, the Rohani home is content to look inward, offering its inhabitants a private, art-filled sanctuary where the only thing more captivating than the Picasso in the kitchen is the sight of dolphins breaking the surface of the bay just beyond the bedroom window.
