Before moving to Redondo Beach, Malena Higuera and Ryan McKillop enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle, investing in experiences across the globe. “We had lived together in New York and Paris, and came to Los Angeles for Malena’s company at the time,” shares Ryan. “We thought we would live here two to three years and go back to New York, but the South Bay captured us in a way we never expected.”
Having lived in more than 15 apartments between them over the years, they never felt a sense of personalization where they dwelled. Now that they decided on more permanence with their South Bay investment, it was important to create a home their children would grow up in and someday bring their own children to.
“We built for the long game,” says Malena. “It meant we could make it truly ours in every detail, in every choice. It meant our kids’ rooms were designed to be loved at 12 or at 22. It meant designing for timelessness.”
The home they purchased in Redondo Beach was built in 1968 by the one and only owner prior to them. Despite not being remodeled all those years, the couple says it was in incredible condition. “When we walked in, we knew it had always been deeply cared for—even if it needed significant updating,” says Malena. “It felt as if the love of this family remained in its walls.”
“It is drenched in tones of white and beige, done so in a way that feels like we escape every time we close the door.”
To help them realize their vision for the home, they hired Alexis Vitale of Vitale Design Group, who previously designed a close friend’s home following a fire. Malena and Ryan loved her work and aesthetic, but most importantly they appreciated “how she keeps family as the center of gravity.”
“My favorite part of the design process is getting to really know and understand clients’ way of life and how they want to live,” explains Alexis, who collaborated with architect Brett Horton of REBLD in Manhattan Beach. “We spent a lot of time talking about heritage and also reviewing their heirlooms. All of this helped inspire the design in the home.”
The couple describes the home as Old World-meets-New World. While every door handle is vintage and speaks to the aesthetic of each room, spaces like the living area, kitchen and dining room have a clean, modern design.
“The soft wood tones, natural texture and movement of white oak in the kitchen inspired us to give the oak more movement by fluting the cabinets with a scallop-like finish,” says Alexis. “We believed it was important to add just the right modern touch of the soapstone, while the plaster hood and organic stone fireplace keep it visually dynamic.”
The design exudes warmth and character, and the lighting creates a harmonious mood. Subtle touches of art act as finishing pieces to tie the rooms together.
To create a neutral aesthetic, the home’s palette includes soft shades of cream, beige and taupe with accents of deep greens, blues and terra-cotta for added boldness. “We wanted the home to feel inviting and calm by using earthy tones with just a touch of richness,” adds Alexis. “The furniture, accessories and artwork provide just the right contrast grounding the palette.”
Hidden under the stairs, a “Cubano speakeasy” is drenched with a moody green plaster and then finished with family heirlooms and pieces: “little aged photographs, tattered albums and other small but meaningful relics—from Cuba to the East Coast,” explains Malena.
She and Ryan note that the contractors and subcontractors greatly impacted the final product. “The woodwork in our home is one-of-a-kind and stands out as art itself,” says Ryan. “Also, every single slab is amazing—especially the leathered slab for our bar area. Malena was involved in every choice, so it was hard to surprise her. But Alexis outdid herself with those slabs by surprising us.”
For Malena, the primary bedroom stands out as a favorite. “It truly feels like a manifestation of a warm hug every time we are in it together,” she says. “It is drenched in tones of white and beige, done so in a way that feels like we escape every time we close the door.”
Alexis couldn’t be happier with the home she designed for her clients. “I know this home is filled with love by not only them but by every person who touched it,” she says. “It’s truly beautiful to be part of creating a home where memories will be forever cherished.”
