A Del Mar Haven
by Miriam Raftery
photography by Vincent Knakal

“What’s important to us is lifestyle — walking to everything and extensive travel,” Ingrid Hoffmeister says of the decision that she and her husband, Jerry, made to sell their spacious Spanish-style home and purchase a contemporary seaside house in Del Mar. “We wanted a no-maintenance situation so we could be free to travel anywhere and not be tied to the house.”

The contemporary-style home with Cape Cod shingling suits their active lifestyle. Created by architect Gary Allen (best known for designing Qualcomm Stadium), the angular home features three levels of living space plus a rooftop deck ideal for watching sunsets or listening to the surf. Skylights and clerestory windows fill the home with sunlight from dawn to dusk.

Accommodating both homeowners’ preferences did pose obstacles, however. “I’m the contemporary guy and she’s the historical traditionalist,” says Jerry, who prefers minimalism to clutter.

By contrast, Ingrid notes, “I’m a collector who likes things that have age and a bit of a story to them, so coming together in this house was quite a challenge. Fortunately, it has a happy ending.”

A new kitchen, created by knocking down a wall to combine the dining and kitchen areas, exudes warmth and charm. Wood floors and cabinetry, caramel-hued granite counters, and hand-hewn furnishings combine with contemporary stainless steel appliances.

Glass and teak folding doors transform the living room into an indoor-outdoor living space that flows easily into a remodeled deck crowned by a sailcloth shade. New, built-in cabinetry beside a refaced fireplace provides ship-shape storage for books and more.

An upstairs loft off a sunny master suite overlooks both living and dining areas, serving as an idyllic home office for Ingrid, a retired marriage and family therapist who now enjoys writing and producing public television programs for her local community TV station and studio, where she also serves on the board of directors.”

Downstairs, Jerry’s office — a retired engineering executive, he now enjoys serving on boards of nonprofit community organizations — overlooks a private xeriscaped canyon created by Schnetz Landscape. “We have a total succulent garden — there isn’t any maintenance,” he says.

Throughout the home, minimalist contemporary furnishings are eclectically interspersed with treasured antiques, including family heirlooms. Abstract paintings by Ingrid and family friends add vivid splashes of color.

“We made it into something that we love,” Ingrid says of the seaside residence. “It suits our lifestyle perfectly.”

Ingrid has given up collecting items — but she has no regrets. “This house has freed me,” she explains. “I’m not putting time into what I did in my old house, so my creative spirit has soared.”

The happy homeowners now enjoy freedom to travel the globe, visiting children and grandchildren in Europe and the Pacific Northwest. But Jerry concludes, “We love coming home, because it’s full of memories of people that we know.”

 

Kitchen Warmth: Removing a wall enabled homeowners to combine the home’s dining room and kitchen, which was fully remodeled by Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards of Valley Center. Birch cabinetry with glass insets display the homeowner’s collections of Limoge miniature pillboxes and heirloom Dutch teacups. Hand-carved dining set from the Peter Grau Gallery in Solana Beach and a crackle-finished sideboard with decoupaged roses provide additional warmth and whimsy.

On Deck: Teak folding doors open onto an elevated deck shaded by sail cloth; stainless steel cable rails continue the nautical theme in a private sideyard.