Spanish Refresh

In Montecito, this oceanside abode is everything a beach house should be—bright, easy, breezy—with a comfortable interior that keeps the focus on the surrounding lush landscaping and the cerulean sea a short stroll away.

The sandy-feet retreat is thanks to the talents of Santa Barbara interior designer Debra Lynn Henno, who worked on the project with her daughter, Lauren Christine Henno, transforming a dated interior into a welcoming home for the client, a single woman.

"This home is in a well-maintained condominium community" explains Debra Lynn Henno, "but this particular unit had a very '70s look that needed to be updated. Our client had spent many summers in coastal Spain, and she wanted to recreate that ambiance here. It seemed perfect for this area, with our history of Spanish revival architecture."

Henno began the transformation of the cozy, two-bedroom home—and the homage to the Iberian peninsula—by enlarging the openings for the sliding glass doors that link living spaces to the patio from the once- standard eight feet high to nine, adding more light and views to the interior. She also replaced a standard kitchen window with a European- style crank window that opens outward to capture cool breezes.

Textured walls were smoothed out and refinished with a glossy white paint that bounces sunlight across the spaces. Throughout, old flooring was replaced with a narrow-plank oak floor in honey tones, detailed with a slight gap between the planks for a vintage look. The living room's original fireplace was recladded with a whitewashed brick surround that reiterates the interior's rustic theme.

Crafted by local artisan Miles Rucker, a zinc countertop, open shelving, and a tongue-in-groove wood backsplash, also painted a glossy white. Ditto for the two bathrooms, brightened with white subway tile and retro-inspired plumbing fixtures.

Henno kept the furnishings simple, shopping mostly in Southern California for pieces with clean lines and choosing fabrics and finishes that invite post-beach lounging. The polished white color scheme was juxtaposed with natural woods and interesting textures. In the entry, a Moroccan chest from Badia Design is inlaid with mother of pearl and underscores a pair of pearlescent pendants from Maison K. For the living room, Henno suggested two slouchy white linen sofas—custom designs—to pair with a rustic wood coffee table and a jute rug, while the dining room's vintage table is surrounded by lacy rattan chairs.

Accessories and details were also well-edited, leaning toward the rustic and organic, such as a grouping of the owner's favorite ammonite fossils on a living room shelf and Spanish pottery in the kitchen, handcrafted basketry that Henno's daughter found during her time traveling through Ecuador and the simple embroidered linen draperies that cool the bedrooms. The piéce de résistance for the refreshed interior was a beach scene painting by Karen Bezuidenhout, hung in the living room. "She's a Santa Barbara artist, says Henno, "and she captured the whole local vibe with this piece."

After the renovations were completed the transformed home is an inviting, soothing space for the owner, family, and friends. "I love spending time there," says Henno. "It's comfortable, simple, and then there's all that beautiful streaming sunlight and the gorgeous views."