In sync with the laid-back lifestyle that is synonymous with Southern California, the family’s distinctive environment combines deluxe design with lighthearted elements for a refreshing dwelling that looks as good as it feels. Even the outdoor space is unique for the area because the front elevation is higher than the back. “The back of the house goes into a gully that leads to the Environmental Nature Center, which gives the property depth and privacy. The basement is a full walkout and opens to the pool,” she explains.

Indoors, whimsical elements helped this design stand out from too-traditional interiors. For instance, the wallpaper that backs the built-ins in the great room really made them pop, says Wagner, while the Lucite cubes make the Lucite stools in the kitchen more cohesive. The colorful seat cushions add a visual kick. “The Lucite stools were a client fave,” she adds. The soapstone countertops contrast with the dark cabinetry, while relating to the dark range. Another aesthetic connection exists between the island slab in the kitchen and the matching fireplace surround in the living room.

The glass-enclosed kitchen nook is positively dreamy. “It had such great natural light that we wanted a fixture that complemented the space,” says Wagner, who went with a cast resin with bubbles. “Nearly 100 percent of the space is glass, so we wanted a fixture that kept the fresh look, plus kept it interesting.”

In the dining room, the forty-two-inch-wide host and hostess seats make a statement. The innovative teamwork with her client led to many delightful details that Wagner says were fun to do. “The client’s initial is an ‘H,’ so we tried to add the initial in some spaces like the bottom of the dining room table that features a vertical ‘H’ on either end as well as using some Hermѐs fabrics throughout.”

Wagner credits her client and their collaboration for the success of the project. “She is really involved and had great insight, while giving us room to be creative,” says the designer. The artistic wall treatments, like the reclaimed wood wall in the game room and the gold-brick tile accent wall in the spa bath, are examples of this. “We always like to add wallpaper where we think it will add the most depth to a room,” adds Wagner, which she did in the master bedroom and guest room.

Whimsical touches include a papier-mâché lion’s head in the playroom and the graphic “Wash Behind Your Ears” tiles in the Jack-and-Jill bath. “The saying was the client’s idea,” says Wagner. “We just needed to figure out how to execute it to fit her vision.”