Bondi Beach Meets California Chic

Who hasn’t gone on vacation to a beautiful area and thought, I could live here? Since it might not be practical to up and move across the world, many homeowners will draw inspiration from their travels when designing their homes. While you might not be waking up on a beach, with the right home design, you can almost smell that sea salt air.

One couple drew inspiration from the place they met: Bondi Beach on the Australian coast. They sought to transpose elements of the beachy oasis into their dated, rustic, midcentury modern home in California. To bring this vision to life, they needed some experts. That’s where Leslie Lamarre and Randy Grange of TRG Architecture + Interior Design, interior designer Tineke Triggs, and Carlisle Wide Plank Floors stepped in.

Transforming California to Bondi Beach

For TRG, the process of embarking on a new project often looks the same. “We really start off big picture, with inspiration to get a better sense of what it is that a person likes, what they gravitate toward, and what kind of look they want,” Leslie explains. Clients will use tools like Pinterest to curate pictures that they like. “Then we pick out the common threads and create a vision board of the look that they’re going for.” Guided by that vision board, they’ll work with the client to go room by room to define the finishes and look of the rooms.

In conceptualizing the project, TRG took a deep dive into the architectural nuances that make Bondi Beach a unique and beloved locale. Their meticulous research into Australian coastal architecture informed the foundational elements of the project, from the choice of materials to the layout and flow of spaces. By integrating features commonly found in Bondi Beach homes—such as expansive windows for natural light, open-concept living areas, and a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.

 
This architectural alchemy was pivotal in achieving a seamless blend of two distinct geographical influences, making the home a true embodiment of global design sensibilities. It was a look that Leslie describes as “very bright and fresh, clean and airy and beachy.”

Having studied Australian architecture for 20 years, Tineke was particularly ready to tackle this transformation. Drawing from Australian architecture and beachy colors and textures, the goal for her interior design was a kind of “modern warmth. “The Bondi Beach project is really about the connection of America and Australia and the love that the clients share for each.  They wanted the home to feel like it was in Bondi Beach, even though it was in California. It’s about the bright, beautiful happiness they feel every time they go there, this incredibly bright, light part of the countryside. It has a contemporary vibe with a mellowness to it.”

With high stakes and a particular design vision, the team at TRG felt Carlisle Wide Plank Floors was the right choice to ensure the perfect flooring for their design vision. In planning for the project, the selection of hardwood was needed to best suit the home’s design ethos. The chosen wood was soft and quiet, harmonizing perfectly with the overall theme.

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Customizing the Perfect Floor with Carlisle

The design team relied on wood as a central design anchor to make the contemporary space still feel warm while hitting the bright, airy, and beachy design target. That’s why it was so important to invest in quality hardwood products.

The process of picking out flooring was a true collaboration between Leslie and Randy, and Terry McLaughlin, Sales Manager at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors San Francisco showroom. TRG described the beachy theme, and Terry was relied on to pull out the right recommendations for both Collections and custom finishes. Terry says, “I feel lucky that you trust me enough to just bring me your vision and have me pull together ideas and samples for you to get quickly to you. Then, we can kind of start to edit through and figure out the best flooring option. It’s a very collaborative process.” And it’s a collaborative process that’s unique to Carlisle, Leslie points out.

The team narrowed in on Aquila from the Traditional Collection and personalized the widths to 7 ½ inches per the contractor’s request.  It has a double white stain and urethane finish  — and Tineke couldn’t be happier. “The finished flooring has a slight warmth to it, but it is so beautifully white with an undertone of gray which complements the cabinetry,” she shares.

Designing Your Dream Home

Bondi Beach was one dream project, but Tineke’s experience in and passion for interior design is enough to encourage any homeowner looking to revamp their space. Tineke’s book, Design Mixology: The Interiors of Tineke Triggs, offers nonstop inspiration for artistic and imaginative interiors by mixing the art and science of design.  The book is available on Amazon.

“As a designer, I have a common thread within my designs,” she reflects. “But I’m not designing for me; I’m designing for them. I want to bring out that inner persona of people. And there are some fun, cool personalities that you can bring out.”  And she loves working with Carlisle—for the personalization and customer service. Throughout all the projects she’s worked on with Carlisle, she’s been impressed by their products. “Once we choose a finish, the materials are very consistent throughout, which is fantastic,” she says. “And the customer service is world class—if we do have any issues with anything, they’re very responsive. And, of course, the representatives are amazing.”

For every home, Tineke’s biggest priority is ensuring that when her clients return to their homes, it feels like them—from Bondi Beach to California chic.

Strong Partnerships Bring Your Dream Home to Life

Carlisle and TRG have collaborated on over a dozen projects in addition to Bondi Beach. While every client is different, there are some similarities—many projects tend to be modern, with lighter color palettes, and Rift and Quartersawn floors are very popular.

Most clients take advantage of Carlisle’s ability to personalize just about every aspect of their flooring. The biggest trend TRG is seeing in the luxury flooring space? Engineered planks. “These days, the quality of engineered floors is just so good,” says Leslie. “The construction of the floor is great because it allows the floor to move—it’s not going to cup or buckle.” “I never see regular solid hardwood flooring anymore,” agrees Randy.

No matter the project, all their clients have high standards—which is why the TRG and Carlisle partnership is so successful. Leslie puts it aptly: “The clients that we’re dealing with in these projects aren’t interested in getting the cheapest product. They want the best products.”