Mediterranean Minimalism

Designer Ann Lowengart's clients purchased a Mediterranean Revival home in a tree-lined neighborhood of Mill Valley to raise their young children. Like many houses in the town, it started as a cottage built during the late thirties. Over time, it expanded without cohesion. Lowengart collaborated with Brad Hubbell of Hubbell Daily Architecture + Design and Jeff Jungsten of Jungsten Construction to gut and remodel the dark interiors and integrate the spaces. A lyrical color palette punctuated by organic textures and minimalist artisanal furnishings now welcomes family and friends.

Lowengart utilized crisp white plaster throughout the house for the walls and ceilings, highlighted by Rocky Mountain bronze door and cabinet hardware. On the main floor, the front door opened abruptly to the living room. Hubbell and Jungsten reoriented it to what was a formal dining room, transforming the square footage into a light and airy foyer. The designer hung an oversized wicker pendant from the pitched beamed ceiling in the living room, where she arranged the conversation group in front of the fireplace. Over the mantel, John Mayberry's gestural abstraction holds court. A live-edge walnut coffee table centers the seating, which consists of a linen armless sofa and a pair of beige leather sling chairs. Marc Phillips' ivory wool rug grounds the space.   

At the rear of the house, the design team flipped the kitchen and family rooms. Now, the family room flows from the foyer. A tailored sectional upholstered in C&C Milano's natural-hued performance fabric is perfect for children and adults. Lowengart anchored the room with an ivory and black Beni Ourain rug. Built-in bookshelves flank the TV. In the kitchen, a floating island gives a clear sightline to the family room. The designer selected Bateig blue limestone for the countertops. Referencing the home's architecture, a Mediterranean-inspired terra cotta tile in gray and off-white embellishes the kitchen island, while a pair of porcelain pendants by Farrah Sit illuminates it.

Eschewing a formal dining room, the homeowners wanted to eat in the kitchen. Lowengart carved out a dining area with a corner banquette upholstered in a greige Great Outdoors textile. A bleached walnut dining table companions Scandinavian-styled teak and leather chairs. The designer crowned the grouping with Bone Simple's oblong dome rope pendant. Adjacent to the dining area, a small study doubles as a bar. Built-in shelves hold liquor bottles, and the wet bar displays an industrial-inspired copper faucet. A pocket door reveals a powder room showcasing Phillip Jeffries' indigo wall covering.