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Alexis Garrett was anything but chill in her pursuit of her current home. As soon as a friend told the interior designer about a listing for a ramshackle 1920s Tudor in surfing outpost Leucadia, California, Alexis had a feeling. So she started making calls—to her real estate agent and cousin, Lanz Correia, for guidance; to her mother for a bridge loan; to her babysitter for help with sons Henry and Conrad; and to her husband, Ross, for a ride to the open house that was scheduled for that very afternoon. Thankfully, the calls were not in vain. “We get to the house and for whatever reason, Ross and Lanz are exploring the house by themselves, and I’m exploring the house by myself,” says Alexis. “Suddenly, I’m weeping. Four hours ago, this house was not even on my radar.”
Thomas J. Story
Ross, Alexis, Conrad, and Henry greet guests at the front of their Southern California home.
Luckily, Ross, president of Surfline, was riding the same wave of emotion. “He took me by the arm and said, ‘We have to do everything in our power to make this our home.’ ” By 3 p.m. that very day, Alexis, Ross, and Lanz were huddled in their Prius, strategizing an offer. They came up with a number, and Alexis got to work on a heartfelt letter to the owners. After two sleepless nights, they finally heard the offer was accepted. Through all the highs and lows, the state of their 2,000-square-foot cottage never made them flinch. “It wasn’t hard for me to see the potential, but we were given a two-inch binder from the inspector,” says Alexis. “I will never forget, as he handed over the binder, dust in his hair from the crawl spaces, he said, ‘Nice house.’ I must be risk-averse because it didn’t scare me one bit.”
Even after extensive renovations, some quirks remain. Because there’s no insulation and the redwood walls are only two inches thick, the family is bundled up in layers of puffy jackets and Ugg boots most mornings. But they’ve leaned into surf-camp living—christening the house Camp Burgundy thanks to the hue of the paneled walls that Alexis eventually painted a bright white. She also layered in summer-inspired finds—think surfboards, Pendleton blankets, old pennants, and vintage collections. “Ross and I grew up at the beach, and we’re so fortunate that we’re able to give our boys that experience,” says Alexis. “Now they surf, too.”
See How They Made the House Their Own Below:
Room to Gather
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The living room is home to a custom Chesterfield sofa covered in black Sunbrella fabric. “It has a really nice texture. Some people even think it’s wool,” says Alexis. “It has weathered a lot of abuse, and it’s indestructible.” The generous seating also comes in handy for family movie nights. In lieu of a television, the Garretts have a retractable projector that beams films onto the wall.
RELATED: Living Room Ideas You’ll Love for Classic, Rustic, Traditional, and Modern Family Spaces
A Nod to Play
Thomas J. Story
Thomas J. Story
Alexis devoted one corner of the living room to fun. Two collectible longboards—a Pignar and a circa-1930s wood board—rest next to the piano bench she covered with a Pendleton blanket. Nearby, a nook is decked out with a window seat, record player, plenty of vinyl, and an amp all set for Henry’s guitar sessions.
A Breezy White Kitchen
Thomas J. Story
Although the Garretts didn’t expand the kitchen, its poor state did compel a total renovation. It’s now a sunlit space that still captures the home’s old spirit, thanks to crisp board-and-batten walls, open shelving, and a retro-inspired refrigerator. The checkered floor offers a charming contrast. “We were on a shoestring budget, so we ordered the tile online, laid it ourselves, and added black grout,” says Alexis.
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Beautiful White Kitchen Ideas for a Room You’ll Love ForeverCollected Dining Spaces
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While the eat-in kitchen boasts a modern table and Riviera woven side chairs, it’s the floral tole chandelier (that once hung in Alexis’s parents’ home) and floor-to-ceiling collection of milk glass that serve up the breezy patina. “Pretty much every shelf in the house has at least a piece or two of milk glass. I probably have 100 pieces.”
RELATED: The Antiques Lover’s Guide to Milk Glass
Thomas J. Story
Nearby, the casual window-lined dining room is home to a pair of globe pendant lights, a table that Alexis found at a garage sale, and two benches she had made to match. “I sanded all the edges and painted the legs a navy black,” she says.
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Art-Bedecked Bedrooms
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In the primary bedroom, the oil painting above Alexis’s bed is one of her most prized possessions. “It hung for 30 years at a really special bookstore in Del Mar. I traded a friend a piece of furniture for it,” she says.
Thomas J. Story
Henry and his mom painted the one-of-a-kind artwork featuring the Garrett family’s motto: “Be brave, work hard.” Says Alexis, “Ross and I say it to the boys all the time.” Here, Henry relaxes on a Jenny Lind bed dressed in a blue-striped duvet.
A Coastal Chic Bathroom
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The only things original in the bathroom are the paneled walls and the built-in wardrobe. Alexis added the bank of drawers, vintage sink, lighting, and hexagon floor tile.
Straw Hats on Display
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Artfully arranged just outside the master bathroom, sun hats are always at the ready. Alexis plucked an old chest from an estate sale, then lined it with cedar. It now provides easy access to sleeping bags for outdoor slumber parties.
An All-Natural Playground
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Kids and adults alike enjoy climbing the 200-year-old banyan tree, which spans almost the entire length of the half-acre property. It also serves as a pretty backdrop for outdoor dinner parties at a long table Alexis had made out of barn wood and paired with metal Tolix chairs.
Thomas J. Story
Thomas J. Story
There are always fun “chores” to help with in the backyard. Henry and Conrad “help” with laundry in front of their mother’s garden, which includes kale, Swiss chard, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and Conrad loves to get up close and personal with the family’s five chickens.
Outdoor Living Area 
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California weather merits as much outdoor mealtime and gathering as possible. In addition to a garden and chicken coop, the backyard boasts a “living room” featuring weatherproof woven vinyl furniture.
RELATED: Backyard Ideas Big and Small to Make Your Space Beautiful
This story first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Country Living. Photographs by Thomas J. Story.
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