BAY COTTAGE
MEHDITASH DESIGN
For the Bay Cottage , designer Jennifer Mehditash wanted to create a comfortable space that would feel like a home away from home , blending East and West Coast styles through fabric selections , wallpapers and stylish indoor / outdoor materials that are also durable enough for a hotel setting .
“ We brought a hint of nautical [ elements ] into our design through the use of textures and natural materials that echo the materials we find by the seashore ,” says Mehditash , who owns Mehditash Design in Newport .
The cottage features a prominent wood-tiled wall in a TV room between the rooftop terraces . The glass tiles in the master bathroom are hand-cut and have a unique iridescent quality . The cottage ’ s flooring is a distressed European oak floor , which combines cooler gray tones and natural oak and ties all the rooms together .
“ It was important to introduce color into our design choices because that is what we are known for ,” she says . “ But we wanted to ensure a soft and careful balance between the hints of color with the natural elements and wood tones .”
Mehditash loves the way the living room TV wall turned out — books in different shades of blue , turquoise and sea green fill the custom oak shelves . Not only does it add a pop of color against the custom-designed wallpaper by Fromental , but it also doubles for anyone needing some extra reading material . Curl up with a good book indoors or on the rooftop terrace — or in the private , indoor sunroom .
The design team also sourced the cottage ’ s interior art , including the painting of a lady holding a big , red-and-white beach ball at the shore that welcomes passersby through the main window . An East Coast artist was commissioned to hand-draw several Newport-representative sketches , which now fill the cottage ’ s stairwell . On one of the rooftop deck walls , tiles were hand-cut to include the phrase “ Surf ’ s Up ,” with a view of the ocean in the background .
Designer Rona Graf ( inset ) incorporated old-school glamour , vibrant art and bold fabrics for a retro-playful look in Balboa Cottage .
BALBOA COTTAGE
GRACE BLU INTERIOR DESIGN
In her research for designing the interior of Balboa Cottage , former Newport Beach resident Rona Graf , who lives in Dana Point and owns Grace Blu Interior Design in Costa Mesa , interviewed locals and people who grew up in Newport . And Graf ’ s willingness to experiment allowed her team to create a retro-playful appeal intersecting California vibrancy with East Coast sensibility .
“ From the moment that I found out that I was given the opportunity to design one of the cottages in the Lido House , I knew I wanted it to be authentic and memorable . … I wanted the essence of the cottage to evoke … nostalgic
[ feelings ] and bring back fond memories ,” Graf says . “ Hence , the more playful aesthetic and a modern popretro aesthetic to honor the
[ simpler ] days in Newport Beach .”
The Grace Blu team drew inspiration from midcentury Newport , incorporating old-school glamour with marble and brass to brighten the space along with vibrant art and bold fabrics . The designers were given creative liberty and Graf wanted the cottage to be a whimsical and fun place for all who stayed or visited there .
“ We used bold pops of color and shapes … to give the cottage an approachable and memorable feel . … [ It ] is certainly a conversation piece ,” she says .
Durable yet playful furnishings were selected , adding to bright hues and a juxtaposition of textures from fabrics and wallcoverings made of natural materials . The bathroom features a fun , claw-foot yellow bathtub , the kitchen boasts a sunny breakfast nook and hand-painted backsplash .
Graf ’ s favorite part of the design : the neon Ferris wheel and Balboa Fun Zone mural , which set the tone of the space .
TOP : INSET : RYAN GARVIN ; BOTTOM INSET : DAVID TOSTI INSET : RYAN GARVIN
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