Classic Bird Rock profile in brick and white shutters, with sunlit balconies just up the street from the ocean, define this La Jolla gem.
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Stepping into this beach house is like being given a warm embrace by Nancy Meyers herself. Not that it’s owned by the iconic filmmaker behind classics like Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday and It’s Complicated. But it certainly has the same hallmarks of the equally iconic houses in her movies—wonderfully layered, British-cottage-by-way-of-American-coastal and irresistibly cozy.
Indeed, you can imagine convivial gatherings with the likes of Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda and the late Diane Keaton—all linen shirts, popped collars and statement jewelry—around the marble-topped kitchen island. There’d be golden-hued Chardonnay swirling in oversized goblets from Pottery Barn, generous platters of farm-to-table produce on covetable serveware and a summery twist on a roast chicken cooking away in the Viking oven, naturally. You can almost smell the scented candles burning, too.
The entryway sets the stage for what’s to come with its delicate detailing giving way to inviting rooms.
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This is a completely fictitious scene of cinematic dreams, of course. The La Jolla home is owned by Leslie Martin—co-founder of award-winning M + M Interior Design, based in California and the Midwest—who completely reimagined it with a pared-back version of her studio’s aesthetic: traditional, current, approachable.
“I would call it ‘American cottage’,” says Martin, “even though 80% of what I furnished it with is from the U.K. It’s a bit less formal than my client portfolio for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s a beach house, so I didn’t want it to feel too dark and heavy. And secondly, it’s such a different aesthetic here in southern California—clean, modern, neutral. So I’ve married two styles that represent my aesthetic, but more casual and liveable.”
Sunlight pours across the living room through generous windows, catching tiled roofs and palms outside while the interiors stay comfortably tailored within.
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Martin moved from Chicago to California with her husband, their five children and Goldendoodle just before the pandemic. She explains: “Covid hit and we made a very quick decision to sell everything and relocate to Hawaii for a year. We didn’t know what we’d do afterwards but were drawn to warm weather and the ocean so finally landed in La Jolla. I first saw the house for a total of five minutes—we were catching a flight back to Hawaii—but could tell right away that it had fantastic potential.”
Leslie was already familiar with the coastal community famed for its dramatic oceanfront, artistic village and relaxed way of life—she had gone to college nearby and lived just two houses down from where they eventually bought. “When we were in Hawaii, our children very quickly got into the beach lifestyle, surfing and spending as much time in the water as they possibly could. Once you live by the ocean, it’s incredibly hard not to—you realise what impact it has on your soul. There’s something about seeing and hearing water that’s so unbelievably calming.”
The heart-of-the-house kitchen centers on a seated island, equally suited to ambitious cooking sprees and cozy takeout nights.
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As with any move, there was a compromise: the family went from a huge 8,000 square feet in Chicago to just over 3,000 square feet in California. But they made it work. “Being in southern California, we live outside most of the time anyway, so it’s all about give and take.”
The interior designer also got clever with her new living space. “How one space flows seamlessly into the next and that rooms can be double-purposed are both very helpful. For example, someone can be sitting in the living room and still feel part of the eating area. The banquette is massive, too, and easily seats 10 or 12 kids.”
Details like shiplap paneling and built-in bookshelves give the home a cozy coastal character.
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Outside there are two entertaining decks—one for grilling and a pre-dinner glass of wine, the other for dining and lounging around a fire pit. So even though this house is smaller than the family’s previous home, it still functions incredibly well for them.
Then there’s how Martin has so expertly decorated. The natural inclination might be to furnish it with less to make it feel like it’s bigger. But there are no empty spaces or forgotten nooks here—and absolutely nothing apologetic. “I like oversized furniture and cramming things in where they wouldn’t necessarily look good on plan,” she explains, “so I’ll put in an extra chair in a hallway or in a corner. Even if you’re not using them all the time, like the two small benches on either window in the living room, you can pull them up if you have extra people around. Suddenly, a space can fit 20 people even when it doesn’t look like it can. You have to get creative.”
Upstairs, the primary suite keeps its gaze on the ocean and its mood in soft, beach-house textures.
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The four-bedroom, four-bathroom property isn’t just about clever, stylish interiors, either. Adding architectural detail has given it a worn character and found charm. “It was just a white box from the late ’90s with no architectural interest,” says Leslie. “Outside, we added simple things like shutters, gas lanterns and a pergola over the garage door for growing bougainvillea. There was a terrace wall on the upper deck that I replaced with glass so you can see through to the ocean when you’re sitting down with a margarita. And we also added a whole new white Santa Barbara stucco that echoes the natural finish of historic California adobe buildings.”
Inside, creating more substantial casings around the windows with sills and adding a couple of new windows made “the biggest difference—all that trim and mill work make the house look like it’s been here for a long time.” Tongue-and-groove paneling throughout, exposed stonework in the kitchen and lacquered brass hardware with natural patina here and there have also helped to ‘age’ everything in all the best possible ways.
A rooftop deck gathers wide-open views from downtown San Diego to the Pacific.
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From the star-spangled banner billowing in the coastal breeze to the high-gloss door welcoming you into the picture-perfect foyer, every part of 5735 Dolphin makes you feel like you’re the main character. Then there’s that view from the top: the thundering waves of the Pacific Ocean against the backdrop of another mesmerizing Southern Californian sunset. The perfect scene before the credits roll on another day. It’s cinema gold.
5735 Dolphin is on the market for $5,670,000 with listing agents Tim and Drew Nelson of Willis Allen Real Estate. Willis Allen Real Estate is a member of Forbes Global Properties, an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.