The harmony of old and new in Southern California: Rancho Santa Fe and Stephanie Parisi

  Just 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Rancho Santa Fe, Southern California

Interior design: Stephanie Parisi Studio           

Photography  ©  Fred Licht

Designer Stephanie Parisi has skilfully updated her heritage home in Rancho Santa Fe to bridge styles and cultures: restraint in decoration, high-quality craftsmanship and harmony between a home and its site.

Stephanie Parisi: "The house has an authentic Spanish Colonial architectural layout and was built around a central enclosed courtyard. There were many charming details in place prior to the recent transformation such as niches with carved stone artefacts, quarried stone window surrounds, hand carved doors and door surrounds, custom shutters and hand painted tiles. Many of these were made by artisans and imported from Mexico. But much of this detail, although charming, was used in an excessive way, thus giving the home a sort of heavy and busy look."

Stephanie Parisi: "My fiancé and I had been looking for a property in Rancho Santa Fe for over a year, and one morning I saw an ad for the property in the newspaper. We arranged a visit that same day and signed the contract a few days later. I fell in love immediately..."

Stéphanie Parisi: "My challenges were to rework the floor-plan to make it more open and to freshen the finish details. These changes were done in a way mindful of retaining the integrity of the historical romance of the home." 

Renovation: Interior doors were replaced with wide openings headed with exposed beams. Some walls were removed, and instead, arched openings or passages flanked with antique iron doors on pivot hinges were created. This allowed more light into the spaces. 

Stéphanie Parisi: "I also wanted to give a fresh interpretation of the architectural style, revealing the beauty of the architecture by removing fussy detail. As examples, clusters of small decorative niches were taken down to create smooth plastered art walls; some cabinets were removed to create functional space; and multiple types of patterned tiles on countertops, backsplashes and floors were taken away and a more cohesive visual direction was created." 

The home’s details involved a collaborative effort of many artists, who hand painted decorative elements, and craftspeople including painters, iron and sheet metal workers and stained-glass specialists. Metal casting experts recreated hardware, architectural detail and elements on furniture. 

The furnishings are a blend of Spanish and South American antiques, Mexican chairs, comfortable upholstery, and hand-crafted accessories from Europe and closer to home.