Inside Lodge at Marconi, a New Seaside Escape in Northern California
Situated among the sprawling wooded hills that overlook Tamales Bay, the Lodge at Marconi is a new Northern California retreat that occupies a series of former State Park buildings. Photography by Brian W. Ferry. The modernist Sea Ranch-style structures, which blend into the wild terrain thanks to olive green cladding and sloped roofs, were recently transformed into a 45-room hotel by Brooklyn-based design firm Home Studios. “We took a lot of inspiration from the tones of the natural landscape,” says Home Studios founder Oliver Haslegrave. 1. Green is the new black. Since the angular buildings were in solid condition, Oliver didn’t make many updates to their exteriors. The one thing he did do was paint them all a deep olive green that acts as camouflage in the verdant environment. 2. Mix materials, but keep the same tone. For the reception desk, Oliver paired glazed brick tiles from Heath Ceramics with mahogany-colored wood for a rich tone-on-tone look. 3. Accentuate height with stripes. Oliver designed a wood-framed sofa with red-and-white striped upholstery to accentuate the height of the airy lobby. 4. Add playful window trim. In the concession area, Oliver framed a tall window with square dentil trim for a playful punch. The adjacent lounge combines dark-stained oak millwork and built-in sofas with light, natural oak floors and coffee tables for added depth. As a nod to the camp narrative, Oliver incorporated canvas into the on-site restaurant—twice. (We’re longtime fans of adding inexpensive canvas to interiors; see 8 Low-Cost, Low-Commitment DIY Projects with Painter’s Drop Cloths for a few ideas.) 6. Create a DIY art installation. Lukas Geronimas Giniotis also created the installation of painted wood cubes above the scarlet velvet banquette. The guest rooms feel like well-appointed cabins. Oliver built clever wrap-around corner headboards for the twin beds, which makes them feel like an intentional part of the design. 8. Build a corner headboard. Though inset, flush cabinetry has been more desirable of late, Oliver opted for overlay drawers instead. 9. Consider overlay cabinets. Floating vanities have their allure but can be challenging for their lack of storage. Oliver solved this problem by creating low shelves that he placed beneath the sinks for storing towels and other bathroom essentials. 10. Add an under-sink shelf.