The master bedroom, with its mosaic tile dome roof, adds to romantic ideals found throughout the home

Banner image above: The 1920s - style theater is the perfect place to view Jane Mansfield’s old films, from whose home many of Estrella Mar’s objects were acquired

La Jolla Living
When custom homes are designed or remodeled, there are varying degrees to which a permanent collection of art, antiques, and the objects that are all too often considered the afterthoughts of interior design elements, are allowed to influence the modeling and form of a home’s architecture. The integration of object and architecture is heavily dependent on the relationship between curator and architect and in the case of a custom home, an intimate relationship between the architect and the collector.

There are several reasons Estrella Mar is a home unlike any other, but certainly it would have never reached its current state of majesty without the passion of the current owners and their architect. Remodeling one of La Jolla’s first homes began with a true dedication to researching historic precedents that not only exemplify the original intent of this Spanish Colonial home, but improve upon it in ways that would have never been possible in 1929 when the foundation was first laid by the home’s first owner, an East Coast oil tycoon who, like so many people affected by the Great Depression, was forced to halt construction on the remaining unfinished 4,000 square feet of his 9,000-square-foot summer home.

When the current owners of Estrella Mar saw the potential of the remaining unfinished 4,000 square feet, they decided to redesign the entire house by reusing and reclaiming much of the material from the existing structure while bringing in artifacts from other historic buildings. Various architectural elements from Jane Mansfield’s home can be found alongside antique European windows and light fixtures. Each room is sculpted around objects chosen for authenticity and the timeless quality of antiquity that the finest collections aspire to. From cathedral stained glass to a 1700s hand-carved fireplace, the uniquely individual building components, turrets, corbels, lighting fixtures, and even the smallest details of historic hardware drive the design like a beautifully choreographed dance of old and new.

The solid wood beams and rafters, originally in the upper level ceilings, were moved to the lower level and replaced with beautifully hand-carved and painted wood coffered ceilings. Deep curved alcoves and sculpted arches that vary in depth articulate the connection between the ceilings and metal lath and plaster walls. The walls are further accentuated with cavernous recessed windows set in custom framed mahogany.

The treatment of wood and metal is playfully inversed in application as the ironwork details the stairs and the railings lining the various terraces and balconies are finished with hand-turned mahogany. Each bedroom opens to a private veranda offering a vantage point to ocean views. There is, in fact, not a single room in the house that doesn’t open to the 180-degree views of La Jolla and the ocean beyond — with the exception of the 1920s-style theater and the wine cellar located off the library.

Outside, private and intimate spaces flow from one to the next, articulated with landscaping, dual-sided fireplaces, fountains, and a mosaic tiled pool and hot tub set in picturesque surroundings that conjures up romantic notions. The sense of continued space from one level to the next is achieved inside by way of the grand gesture of the central staircase, where antique sculptures dating back to the 1600s stand on display beside balconies and iron railings that conjure memories of Romeo and Juliet.

The romance of space comes to a climax with the master bedroom suite, built as a dome with a hand-painted mosaic tile roof. A curving two-sided staircase dignifies the entrance into this perfectly proportioned circular room, where the very nature of the walls seem to be like a modern ring setting designed with intricate facets to hold the family heirloom stone, in this case, however, each jewel is an exceptional antique window, chandelier, or artifact.

This house is listed on the market by Maxine and Marti Gellens. (858/551-6630, www.gellens.com)
— Lauren Bender, photography by Vincent Knakal

William Yeoward linen pillow, martini glasses and shaker, and frame from Seaside Home; seashell potpourri from Adelaide’s; and Wickle bath products from Capricorn Boutique — all in La Jolla

La Jolla Style
The La Jolla lifestyle is among the most coveted in the world, and the warm weather, stunning coastline, and timeless architecture are just a few reasons why. The historic seaside village has become home to some of the most influential people and best design in San Diego, and boutiques here offer a clever combination of relaxed and understated elegance. "Being so close to the beach in Bird Rock, our customers are always looking for something that is easy and low maintenance that coordinates with their lifestyle," says Lisa Ovadia, co-owner of the new Capricorn Boutique. "Whether they’re running around with their kids all day or having dinner by the beach there is something for everyone to indulge in," adds her partner Krissy Heinz.
— Tanja Kern

Ankasa pillow, Cipolla pewter candlesticks and platter, and Artel Atlantis blue glassware from Seaside Home; white ceramic pitcher with seashells from Adelaide’s; and Jonathan Adler ceramic fish from Capricorn Boutique — all in La Jolla

Anchors Away
Ahoy, captain! Let the sea be the inspiration to your interiors. This summer marks a return to a color palette perfect for seaside relaxation. The classic navy and white combination anchors a neo-nautical trend and works well as an overall theme or a quick change for the season. Punch up clean white upholstery with deep blue pillows, brighten dark bookshelves with white accents, and dress up any table with sparkling accessories. Old-world silver and pewter gleams like pirates’ treasure. — Tanja Kern