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Big Sur Residence by Electric Bowery
When Electric Bowery co-founder Cayley Lambur first encountered Big Sur Residence in 2018, she could feel its magic. Though its gardens were overgrown and interior charms concealed, she had the vision and patience to restore it to glory.
Originally designed by local architect Mickey Muennig – with its first sketches drawn on a bar napkin in the early 1990s – the home later became Lambur’s pandemic project. What began as a weekend escape gradually evolved into a family compound and secondary base for her design studio. In addition to the main residence, the property includes a guesthouse and a 1955 Spartan Imperial Mansion trailer, both meticulously updated with a built-in desk, original checkerboard linoleum flooring and a connected deck featuring an outdoor shower and sweeping ocean views.
Inside, the design team set out to restore the warmth of Muennig’s original vision. They stripped away dark grey paint to reveal the terracotta-hued concrete floors beneath and refinished existing elements like the handrails and cherrywood fireplace surround. Original redwood panelling was preserved, while new-growth redwood was used to extend the living areas, creating interiors that feel cosy and cohesive. The layout was reimagined to improve flow, including the transformation of a once-awkward mezzanine into a lounge and bedroom.
Outside, the landscape was reclaimed, with 14 bins of trimmings cleared away. Years later, the revived gardens have matured into lush outdoor gathering spaces – one of Lambur’s favourite features. “They’ve really become a big part of what it means to live here – all the little outdoor rooms,” she adds.
A key moment in the renovation is the reimagined kitchen. Though compact, it was reconfigured to maximise workspace and frame views of the garden and ocean. Since Lambur often hosts friends, family and colleagues, she collaborated with Henrybuilt and custom woodworkers to create a kitchen with redwood shelving, under-counter refrigeration and integrated storage that reduces visual clutter. “There’s no grocery store in Big Sur, so cooking is a daily ritual,” she says. The layout now flows easily – whether for two or 20 people – notes Stephanie Luk, director of interiors at Electric Bowery. Quiet statement pieces, including Thomas Hayes Studio counter stools, a Cielo quartzite countertop and a Gaggenau cooktop complete the space.
The comfortable, large-scale furnishings are a testament to the home’s understated warmth. In the main living room – a long, linear space with a dramatic glass wall offering canyon views on one side and a fireplace on the other – furnishing proved to be a challenge. “It’s like two rooms in one,” says Lambur. “You want to embrace the view when the sun’s out, but people always gather around the fireplace when it sets. It’s still the place where everyone ends up.”
A pair of Percival Lafer chairs sit near the hearth, beneath a Noguchi pendant that hangs overhead. In the dining room, a custom table is paired with Paul McCobb shovel chairs and a chandelier by Brendan Ravenhill of Ravenhill Studio. The use of organic materials and collectable design pieces continues into the primary bedroom, where a bespoke walnut bed, table lamps from In Common With and a mohair rug from Woven add softness.
In the mezzanine, an extensive record collection and a vintage Togo lounger – beloved by both kids and adults – nod to Muennig and Electric Bowery’s shared philosophy of blending residential with hospitality. Outside, custom Adirondack chairs by Dusk encircle the firepit, a favourite gathering spot for Lambur and her guests, rain or shine, day or night – an “amazing addition” to the home.
Architecture, interior design and landscape design by Electric Bowery.
