This newly renovated home boasts the only private stairwell down to one of Santa Cruz’s hidden gems, Seabright Beach. The wide stretch of sand is a go-to spot for surfing, breezy campfires, and even whale watching, depending on the time of year. It was also the ideal backdrop for a whole home renovation that completely transformed a once cramped, outdated home into a spacious, contemporary abode for indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. Envisioned by Viewpoint Interior Design and beautifully captured by SEN Creative, the house now features bright and airy interiors with easily accessible outdoor living areas and minimal bifold glass doors that invite the breezy coastal atmosphere indoors.
A Beachside Retreat with Coastal Flair and Sleek Bifold Glass Doors
Photo courtesy of Zillow.com
A Whole Home Renovation for Seaside Living and Entertaining
Originally built in 1908, the existing property featured low ceilings and a confined layout that took little advantage of its prime seaside location. The new homeowners, fond of hosting and outdoor recreation, envisioned a new home with a spacious layout to accommodate their large family and easily accessible outdoor spaces for entertaining.
“The family wanted the house to open up to the ocean to achieve a feeling like you’re on the beach even when being inside,” says Suna Lock, Creative Director at Viewpoint Interior Design. “They wanted a home for entertaining, indoor-outdoor living, and to optimize the view.”
Reverse Floorplan Prioritizes Views and Outdoor Spaces
To adapt the family’s lifestyle and space needs, the whole home renovation called for a significant expansion and a reverse floor plan approach that takes full advantage of the views and entertaining spaces. The main level hosts two guest rooms and the common living areas, anchored by grand double-height ceilings and a five-panel NanaWall bifold glass door that opens to an airy deck lounge.
A central staircase leads to the lower floor, where the master suite is tucked away into the hill for optimal quiet. The ground level also houses a game room with a second three-panel bifold glass door that provides direct access to an outdoor dining room and lounge area for entertaining.
Bright and Breezy Interiors Pay Homage to the Local Environment
Despite its ocean-y feel, the home’s interior design does not reflect traditional nautical motifs. “The design focused on the intrinsic indoor-outdoor way of living that its location takes full advantage of,” says Lock. “In Santa Cruz, for 9 months of the year, it’s not blue oceans—it’s moody and foggy and that was what we took from it in the design rather than a Bahamas feel.”
Muted blue hues and jewel tones, driftwood-inspired materials, and local artwork evoke the spirit of the misty coastline. Meanwhile, standout features like the elevated stone treatment on both the kitchen hood and the living room fireplace, situated directly across each other, create a strong visual connection across the open concept spaces.
Living Spaces that Seamlessly Merge with the Outdoors
A key goal of the whole home renovation was to maximize views of the Pacific and maximize natural light. Large openings and windows were prioritized in the new layout, with weather-performing bifold glass doors enhancing the sense of space and creating seamless transitions between interior spaces and the outdoors.
“The clients were dead set on having opening doors,” says Lock. “The NanaWall product was used twice with one system in the living room and again downstairs in the pool table family game room.” The result is a bright, open environment that effortlessly connects both levels of the home to adjacent outdoor living spaces while taking advantage of its coveted coastal location.
Bifold Glass Doors, the Design Solution for Indoor-Outdoor Living
With Santa Cruz’s foggy mornings, salty air, and seasonal chill, durability and performance were just as important when selecting the right materials and glass systems.
“We were hesitant about using opening glass doors because historically, debris gets in the tracks and they fail over time,” says Lock. “But NanaWall has nailed it, and it isn’t an issue anymore.”
The NanaWall SL70, a performance-driven system, was selected for its ability to tackle the oceanfront conditions, including wind-driven rain and strong stormy winds. Paired with the Low Profile Saddle Sill, which has been tested to perform even with debris in the tracks, these bifold glass doors ensure smooth operation every single time.
For optimal energy efficiency, the systems were also specified with double-glazed panels and a low-maintenance, thermally broken Low Profile Saddle sill. For homeowners who frequently entertain, the systems offer year-round reliability, opening with ease to facilitate entertaining or maintaining cozy interiors during cold winter months.
Customizable Movable Glass Systems Embrace the Seabright Spirit
The eight-foot-tall bifold glass doors were custom-tailored to seamlessly integrate into their designated spaces. Sleek aluminum frames perfectly integrate with the rest of the windows, creating a cohesive look throughout. To accommodate the small outdoor spaces, often found in West Coast seaside homes, the systems were customized with inward opening panels that allow full use of the patio areas.
The flexibility to fully open, partially fold, or remain closed gives the homeowners complete control over how they engage with the outdoors, whether it’s a breezy beach morning or a cozy fog-filled evening. For optimal functionality, the specified swing panels on each system allow for quick in-and-out transitions when the doors are kept closed.
Final Thoughts: Year-Round Coastal Living Elevated
From spring to early fall, the homeowners enjoy watching the annual sailboat races right from the comfort of their deck. When the weather gets cold and the NanaWall bifold glass doors close, the family can still enjoy the dynamic spirit of Seabright Beach from the comfort of their living room and through the minimally framed glass.
With framed ocean views, sunlit interiors, and a palette drawn from the coastline, this whole home renovation delivers a fresh yet timeless take on seaside living.
Explore how other oceanside retreats leverage the performance and durability of NanaWall bifold glass doors in our project inspiration gallery!
Photography by SEN Creative
