AEF Interiors took this Orange County home from quirky to captivating, transforming a once wood paneled fixer-upper into a true entertainer’s paradise. With welcoming spaces and a wine storage feature that perfectly reflects the homeowners’ love for hosting, this home exudes the elegance of European design with the quintessential laid back ways of coastal California. Take the full tour below, thoughtfully captured by Stephanie Russo.

From the designer… When our clients came to us after buying a 4500 square foot home in their dream neighborhood, ready for a full top to bottom remodel, we knew it was going to be a good one. But nothing could have prepared us for the before photos and our first official walkthrough. From the bridge over the out-of-commission koi pond in the front yard, to the bedroom with a built-in lifted bed frame and rainbow wood paneling, or even to the customized cat balcony, we knew the transformation was going to be next level.

Every time we design a new space, we like to start with mapping out the wishlist items that are absolutely non-negotiable for our clients. At the top of the list for Mesa Verde was creating an entertainer’s paradise, somewhere where our clients, their kids, and all of their family and friends could come to hang out, eat, and enjoy each other’s company. To bring this dream to life, we started with designing the heart of the home, the kitchen and living room areas. Our clients had big dreams for a true farmhouse kitchen with plenty of room for cooking, baking and spending time with their family. A few of our favorite elements in this space are the brick veneer backsplash, which we also carried into the living room design, the custom-designed hood, the folding cantina windows, and the warming drawers that make entertaining a breeze.

Right off the kitchen is the living room. Complete with an expansive sectional, a full wall of built-in cabinets with a ginormous flat screen, and best of all, floor to ceiling Cantina doors (to prioritize that quintessential indoor-outdoor California living), this living room is an absolute dream.

While the kitchen and living room are beyond charming, right around the corner is possibly our favorite design element in the entire home. Both of our clients’ grew up with bars in their childhood homes and couldn’t wait to bring that nostalgia to their own home renovation. Right off the dining room and main entrance of the home, you’ll find the family’s entertainment bar, complete with moody cabinets, plaid bar stools, and the biggest showstopper of all: the wine closet.

When we say our clients were all for “go big or go home”, we mean it (they actually ended up replacing that koi pond in the front yard with a putting green in case you were wondering). So when we found out they were avid wine collectors, we knew it was our time to shine. With iron and glass doors, a built-in temperature regulation system and room for 300+ wine bottles, this space provides the perfect home for all of their favorites.

Walking past the moody powder bath complete with marble checkered floors, millwork and wallpaper, and up the custom staircase, you’re met with the second floor of this project, which houses some of our favorite designs of the home. There’s just something so special about getting the opportunity to design kids’ rooms. It’s truly like all my dreams as a little kid can finally come to life, and the girls’ room at Mesa Verde is no exception.

Between the striped wallpaper and the built-in reading nook in the bedroom, or the pink millwork, vanity and gorgeous tile floors of the bathroom, this room is an absolute dream come true. Whenever we’re designing kids’ rooms, we try to make sure they’ll be timeless and be able to grow up with them. That’s why we choose timeless hard surface materials like wallpaper, countertops, and tile, and have a bit more fun with things that are slightly easier to change out, such as hardware, lighting and paint colors. This better ensures that they’ll love the design now and later.

Right across the hallway lies the boys’ bedroom, and we truly couldn’t love it more. Besides making this a little sports paradise, we also wanted to make sure we maximized space. When you have a full wall of windows, it can be a bit more difficult to provide storage, so we really utilized the furniture pieces in this room to make up for it, with a custom storage bench and a desk that doubles as a dresser.

Moving past the playroom, complete with arcade games and bean bag chairs, and through the main bedroom, we make it to the main bath. Remember that cat balcony we mentioned earlier? Well, half of this bathroom used to house that. While we love a good balcony moment, this one was outdated and the bathroom that was here didn’t have much of a wow-factor. So instead of trying to make the footprint work, we decided to close in the balcony and expand the bathroom to create a true en suite. From the arched walk-in shower, to the checkered marble floors, the elegant freestanding soaking tub, and the double vanity, this bathroom is next level.

It’s so beyond fulfilling when a project is even better than you could have imagined, and our clients love their home even more than we do.

Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: AEF Interiors · Photography: Stephanie Russo · Architect: Jeff Benson · Builder: Zalar Homes