Cape to Views | Modern membership
Organic Modern is not just a design style, it is a lifestyle, and more specifically, a lifestyle that is strongly influenced by design style. A calm, organized and connected environment influences a calm, organized and connected mind, and the power of this has never been more evident than in our latest project, Cabo Dos Vistas. Modern organic is when two distinct design styles blend to create a cohesive space, and the defining characteristics of these two are clean lines, simplified shapes, natural materials, color palettes and textures. Organic Modern blends a sense of simplicity with the beauty of nature. It is often a sophisticated aesthetic, not necessarily in a critical way, but rich with warmth, comfort and a lot of personality and soul. Cabo Dos Vistas embodies all of these things and above all, exudes an atmosphere of calm, orderliness and connectedness. Below, follow along as we tour through the key spaces of the home’s serene interior, sharing the details and design choices that make this home a study in organic, modern design.
No. 01 | Outdoor spaces
No. 02 | Living room
No. 03|Kitchen
No. 04 | Primary bedroom
No. 05 | Basic bathroom
No. 06 | office
No. 01 | Outdoor spaces
The outdoor space at Cabo Dos Vistas consists of a central courtyard, the architecture of the house surrounds it in a U-shape on three sides, and a stepped staircase through which you enter the house on the fourth side. Walking into the center of the house where the shared living spaces are located (divided by steel and glass doors that open up the room space), you are greeted by the endless horizon of the Pacific Ocean, a sundeck and a swimming pool. “It’s a concept of indoor-outdoor living in every space,” explains Shea. There are many other opportunities to enjoy the Baja sun throughout, such as the side patio, bedroom balconies, fire pit, and lounge area. These spaces and the entire project were designed in collaboration with Brandon Architects and Cabo Development Group.
In the evening, the courtyard is lit from above by woven pendants hung from tree branches. “It’s very romantic,” explains Shea. On opposite ends, Shea and the design team created potting areas where the client could collect new pots and plants that represent the history, culture and flora of the area. These vintage Mexican pottery sits on rough-hewn wooden benches, giving way to an elegant infinity pool, illustrating how a modern, organic design aesthetic is evident in these outdoor spaces.
No. 02 | Living room
The living room at Cabo Dos Vistas is part of a large open space that also includes the dining room and kitchen. Stone was brought from the home’s exterior to the fireplace wall, further defining the indoor-outdoor living concept, and is used to frame two subtle arches, one to create a built-in shelving unit and the other leading to the home’s pavilion. The house is where the bedrooms are. “The wall becomes a beautiful focal point,” Shea says. These stone arches represent a beautiful juxtaposition of steel and glass sliding doors that open to create one cohesive space with the outdoors. This is perhaps the best example of modern organic design in a living room in Cabo Dos Vistas.
The client wanted to be able to host a lot of people, so for the furniture orientation, “we designed two sections that faced each other and then a huge coffee table,” explains Shea. The space’s design sticks to coastal colors without relying too heavily on a beachy aesthetic. Earth tones dominate the palette.
No. 03|Kitchen
With the dining room in between, the kitchen is located opposite the living room in one long, continuous space. Rooms are separated by their furniture. The dining room has a long live-edge table that seats fourteen. The kitchen’s signature materials are the various tiles throughout. Hand-patterned blue and white tiles are placed on the stovetop, giving way to a plaster mantle that blends seamlessly with the plaster walls found throughout the home. The hood arch is lowered into the work surfaces so that the adjacent built-in flush and shadow line are introduced for some depth and visual interest. Simpler tiles were brought in in the remaining areas, for a streamlined look that gives the backsplash room to shine. Matte-finished light oak cabinets and antique nickel hardware keep shiny elements out of the space and add a patina feel to the new construction.
Interior cabinetry provides a sleek, streamlined look versus more textured elements, such as handcrafted tiles, connecting a modern, organic aesthetic to the kitchen.
No. 04 | Primary bedroom
The primary bedroom uses a soothing color palette of light blue. The plaster walls were stained with Sherwin Williams Dew Drop, a neutral, dusty blue. Natural sandy tones are tied together throughout with a hand-knotted antique rug and a mix of new and antique pillows. “We don’t go with a heavy pattern on the pillows because we made the sofa (at the foot of the bed) with a pattern,” Shea says of the design decisions made in the room. Surrounding the bed are side tables made locally from Rosa Morada wood and along the other wall, a piece commissioned by Nashville-based artist Charlotte Terrell hangs above a console table. The same exterior stone was used in the bedroom fireplace, a hallmark of the modern organic aesthetic when combined with the retractable steel and glass walls that open up the corner of the entire room.
No. 05 | Basic bathroom
The master bathroom is perhaps one of the best examples in Cabo Dos Vistas of Organic Modern as a whole. Through a louvered arched door, there is a stone wall covered in steel and glass windows with a counter at the front. “It feels contemporary and straightforward,” Shea explains. The oak cabinets feature grasscloth drawer fronts. One solid piece of hand-carved Crema Marfil marble serves as a stunning bathtub. The master bathroom’s walk-in shower showcases a textural mix of limestone pavers and Zellige tiles laid in a herringbone pattern.
No. 06 | office
The client’s desk is covered in artwork with special meaning, with masculine cowboy touches sprinkled throughout. The cowhide rug helps define the direction of the room, filling floor space and connecting the office desk, leather sofa, and gaming table with two swivel chairs. A stunning view of the Pacific Ocean is picture-like within the glass and steel walls.
