Casa Moderna by Olga Doykhen

With its Spanish Colonial-style architecture and elevated interiors featuring considered applications of travertine – courtesy of Ollin Stone – Casa Moderna embodies contemporary Californian living at its best.

Located in south Orange County between Los Angeles and San Diego, Casa Moderna is just a five-minute walk from the harbour and beach. In response to its balmy environs, the house champions Spanish Colonial-style architecture via its white walls, red clay roof tiles and arches. “Unfortunately, a lot of houses in suburban areas use fake architectural features,” says the home’s owner, interior designer Olga Doykhen. “But I thought, ‘Why not transition this house into a Spanish Colonial-style residence with real architectural features?’” The result is a contemporary iteration of the vernacular, in which essential stylistic elements are thoroughly integrated.

Pocket doors in the kitchen open to an alfresco dining area with a firepit and outdoor kitchen leading to a pool, outdoor shower and sauna.

The fence surrounding Casa Moderna offers a hint that something interesting lies beyond: instead of a gate, the site entrance is marked by minimal Flos lights. Then, having first passed through a modest wooden door, residents and visitors enter the home through a glass front door integrated into a rotunda. Inside, a hallway leads to a dining room, butler’s pantry and kitchen. Pocket doors in the kitchen open to an alfresco dining area with a firepit and outdoor kitchen, leading to a pool, outdoor shower and sauna.

While the ground floor is mostly dedicated to communal living and dining, the first floor is split into private bedroom wings. “One [wing] is my daughter’s, where her bedroom is located along with her extra living room and a guest bedroom,” explains Doykhen. “Both bedrooms have their own bathroom.” The other wing comprises a primary suite with two closets and an ensuite bathroom, where stone is a commanding presence.

“Olga came to our team looking for authentic natural stone. We worked with her to find the most authentic Italian travertine for her to signify different rooms.”

“I used a lot of natural materials: timber, stone … wool, leather and limewash in all of the bathrooms,” says Doykhen. Travertine supplied by Ollin Stone is employed across the first floor to reinforce the home’s European character. “Olga came to our team looking for authentic natural stone,” says Scott Foster, creative director at Ollin Stone. “We worked with her to find the most authentic Italian travertine for her to signify different rooms.” The resulting product is vein-cut, silver-crystal in colour with contemporary expression. On the ground floor, ocean-silver-coloured stone visually unites the kitchen, outdoor kitchen and external water feature.

Instead of creating a semblance of Spanish Colonial architecture, Olga Doykhen committed to incorporating multiple details vital to the style. The seamless application of natural stone across Casa Moderna solidifies not only its character, but also its status as a sophisticated but highly liveable family home.

Architecture and interior design by Olga Doykhen. Landscape design by Garden Studio Design. Stone by Ollin Stone.