This Designer’s Bay Area Home Is a Blend of Sunny Cali Hues and Her British Design Roots

Interior and furniture designer Lisa le Duc, originally from the U.K., moved to the Bay Area six years ago with her husband and two children. After initially settling in a Craftsman-style house in Ross, she found its design confining and desired a home with a view, especially for her sailor husband. While casually browsing Zillow, le Duc discovered a "funky" property in Tiburon with multiple roof heights and a "battleship gray" facade. Despite its unconventional appearance, the unbeatable location, offering scenic views, convinced her. Her immediate actions included painting the exterior black and reconfiguring the outdoor bar area with her own grill. Inside, le Duc incorporated elements that provided comforting nods to their former London life, such as wallpaper from British brand Farrow & Ball, muted green cabinetry, and European-approved wall-hung toilets. For her children, Sebastian (11) and Annabelle (10), le Duc designed their bedrooms with longevity in mind. The twin beds are placed in nooks, measured precisely to accommodate queen-size beds in the future, and can be oriented in multiple ways. Sebastian’s sleeping area is accentuated by floor-to-ceiling oakwood panels and a deep ledge for books and toys, created by a closet in the adjacent room. Both children have individual desk setups featuring integrated window seats and modular String bookcase systems. Currently, open shelving is prioritized, but the units can be easily adapted with more cabinets as the children grow into their teenage years, fostering organization by making items visible. For efficient closet design, le Duc ingeniously utilized IKEA’s kitchen cabinet section due to its greater variety and hackable nature. She demonstrated this by transforming wall cabinets into under-counter storage and covering all surfaces with marbleized peel-and-stick wallpaper. The children’s shared bathroom features a deep soaking tub from Signature Hardware, inspired in part by the film Totoro and the room's limited square footage. This tub is ideally sized for two children and doesn't overwhelm the space. In her own bathroom, le Duc updated an existing circa-1980 tub with allover terrazzo tile, using leftover pieces for shelving niches in the main bedroom. She aimed for a calm, neutral, and soft aesthetic, introducing pink hues to avoid a sterile beige palette. To enhance the softness, she installed a motorized curtain with a drop-down blackout, eliminating visible cords and chains and providing full side-to-side coverage. Her attention to detail extends to the garage, which doubles as a mudroom. The floor is made of epoxy resin, allowing for vehicle storage, with le Duc carefully selecting the three colors that create its speckled surface. She painted the cabinetry a complementary muted green, reminiscent of the surrounding hills, ensuring the wood grain remains visible. This design choice visually connects the interior space with the natural environment outside, visible through the open doors. #InteriorDesign #BayAreaHome #BritishInfluence #KidsRooms #SpacePlanning #RenovationIdeas #SustainableDesign #IKEAHacks #Tiburon #InteriorDesign #BayAreaHome #BritishInfluence #KidsRooms #SpacePlanning #RenovationIdeas #SustainableDesign #IKEAHacks #Tiburon