Projects
Malibu Residence
A study in material, craftsmanship and the unexpected.
Malibu Residence
A study in material, craftsmanship and the unexpected
Set in Malibu, California, this complete residential renovation was designed by Rebecca Duke of The R Creative, with the studio responsible for the interior design throughout, from the kitchen and bathrooms to custom vanities, bespoke furniture and the procurement of pieces for the completed home.
The design was conceived around a balance of quiet architectural simplicity and more expressive moments. Natural timber, richly veined stone, softly textured plaster and sculptural forms create continuity throughout the house, while unexpected colour, art and statement lighting give individual spaces their own identity.
The intention was never to impose a single aesthetic. Instead, each room was developed in response to its function and architecture while remaining connected to the wider language of the home.
The Kitchen
At the heart of the home, the kitchen was designed around a restrained palette of natural oak and dramatically veined stone.
Full-height cabinetry creates a clean architectural backdrop, concealing appliances and storage to maintain the simplicity of the room. The substantial stone island becomes the focal point, with the veining deliberately allowed to take centre stage.
Dark timber counter stools and sculptural pendant lighting introduce contrast and warmth, preventing the pale cabinetry and stone from feeling overly pristine.
The result is a kitchen that is highly functional but feels more like a considered piece of the home’s architecture than a purely utilitarian space.
The Primary Bathroom
The primary bathroom continues the home’s natural material palette while creating a quieter, more restorative environment.
A bespoke double basin carved from onyx forms the centrepiece of the room. Its softly translucent character and substantial proportions are balanced by a finely fluted exterior, while the dark timber vanity beneath provides warmth and contrast.
Organic-form mirrors, wall-mounted black fittings and tactile pendant sconces add another layer without competing with the onyx.
A freestanding stone bath and pale timber flooring complete a space designed to feel luxurious through material, proportion and craftsmanship rather than ornamentation.
The Powder Room
A Moment of Surprise
Not every room needed to be quiet.
The powder room provided an opportunity to create something completely unexpected.
Deeply coloured walls and ceiling envelop the small space, while a hand-painted crane mural transforms it into an immersive experience. Against that backdrop, the pink onyx stone basin appears almost illuminated, becoming as much a sculptural object as a functional one.
The contrast with the restrained palette elsewhere in the house is deliberate.
Small rooms offer an opportunity to take risks that might overwhelm a larger space, and here the result is playful, theatrical and memorable while still connected to the craftsmanship and materiality found throughout the home.
The Dining Room
Designed Around the Way the Home Is Lived
The dining area was approached differently again.
A generous curved banquette follows the architecture of the room, creating a comfortable gathering place rather than a conventional formal dining arrangement. Channelled upholstery, warm leather and dark timber introduce softness and intimacy.
Above it, a branching sculptural chandelier provides an expressive counterpoint to the simplicity of the built-in seating.
Beyond the dining area, glimpses towards the Pacific connect the restrained interior palette to its Malibu setting.
Throughout the project, those contrasts became an important part of the design: refined and playful, quiet and expressive, architectural and organic.
The result is a home that feels cohesive without feeling prescribed, contemporary, tactile and deeply personal to the people who live there.
From Renovation to Installation
The R Creative’s involvement extended across the entire project.
Rebecca designed the renovation, specified the kitchen and bathrooms, designed the vanities and bespoke pieces, selected the materials, finishes, lighting and furnishings, and managed procurement through to the completed interior.
Maintaining that continuity from the earliest design decisions through procurement allowed individual elements to be considered in relation to the finished home rather than in isolation.
The result is a Malibu residence that feels cohesive without feeling prescribed, contemporary, tactile, individual and designed around the people who live there.
- Project
- Malibu Residence
- Location
- Malibu, California
- Scope
- Complete Residential Renovation & Interior Design
- Services
- Interior Design · Kitchen & Bathroom Design · Custom Vanities · Bespoke Furniture & Design · Material & Finish Specification · Lighting · Furniture & Furnishings · Procurement
- Interior Design
- Rebecca Duke, The R Creative
Considering a residential renovation?
The R Creative provides full-service residential interior design for renovations in Malibu, Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, from the earliest design decisions and material specifications through bespoke design, furnishings, procurement and final installation. For a closer look at the studio’s service, explore interior design in Malibu.
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