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Relaxed & Timeless

With wonderful privacy, an incredible view and exquisitely designed interiors, one might mistake Tim Clarke’s project in Palos Verdes for a luxury property in the Indian Ocean.

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Unparalleled is the word that best describes the recent project in Palos Verdes by nationally renowned interior designer Tim Clarke. Perched on a cliff over the Pacific, the Mediterranean house is beautifully sited with ancient, windblown trees insulating it from passersby, yet it opens to incredible views from every room. 

Perfection is continued inside the house, where the architectural finishes and interior design seamlessly blend appropriate proportion and scale with elegant and sophisticated materials. In total, it is a house created with incredible attention to both quality and detail while remaining focused on the marriage of naturally inspired interiors.

The purchase of the oceanfront lot in Lunada Bay included a set of house plans by architect Doug Leach. The clients immediately called Tim, who describes his design philosophy as one focused on “modern coastal interiors where I incorporate natural elements of the environment into a sophisticated but relaxed interior.” 

Tim selected the interior architectural finishes and also made changes to the exterior, including the outdoor living area. By specifying a rectangular infinity pool that appears to fall into the ocean below and then creating additional living and dining areas outside, Tim greatly increased the living area of the home. Gorgeous trees and lush gardens surround the home, offering privacy and serenity while the sound of the waves softly washing on the rocky shore below provides a constant refrain. 

Traits of true Mediterranean homes include the use of stone, aged wood, plaster walls and ancient tiles that have a soft patina derived from centuries of sunlight and wear. By incorporating those materials into rooms with high ceilings and tall windows, the house yields sun-drenched spaces that remain cool and quiet in the subdued color palate used throughout the home. Bleached European wide oak plank flooring throughout most areas of the home combined with the use of antique tile mosaics and limestone in bathrooms offer pattern and texture in a calm but tactile way. Antique rough-hewn beams line ceilings, while French limestone mantels adorn walls. 

Tim believes that “the incorporation of materials varying in texture, patina and age are the elements that elevate a home to a highly sophisticated and graciously modern take on a traditional European home.”