Among the many recent developments in the Rancho Santa Fe Village, locals may have noticed the construction buzzing around the iconic Francisco Building on Paseo Delicias. Solana Beach-based Intimate Living Interiors is giving the interiors a complete makeover before moving to town, planning to open their second location in September.
Intimate Living Interiors (ILI) has been in the Cedros Design District for 21 years, founded by Kari Arendsen in 2005 and now co-led with her longtime partner Tory Peterson. As an interior design and architecture firm, they have designed homes throughout San Diego County as well as run the retail side of the business Le Marché.
Intimate Living Interiors is making over the inside of their new home in the Francisco Building in the Rancho Santa Fe Village. (Karen Billing)
Arendsen said the new Rancho Santa Fe space will be about 80% design studio and 20% retail, featuring furniture, lighting, artwork, antiques, textiles and their own line of candles, home scents and lotions.
The building at 6015 Paseo Delicias carries a lot of history—a plaque on the front denotes its local landmark status. Designed by Lilian Rice and built in 1923 as part of the first block of Rancho Santa Fe’s civic center, the building with the distinctive arched doorway and ornamental quatrefoil originally was originally used as offices for the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company. After being purchased by Robert Francisco in 1938, it became known as the Francisco Building and housed Ashley’s Market.
Intimate Living Interiors is making over the inside of their new home in the Francisco Building in the Rancho Santa Fe Village. (Karen Billing)
The building has been vacant for over four years, last occupied by a real estate office and briefly tapped for development as a cafe and gourmet market in 2022.
ILI was handed a raw, empty shell and has added arched doorways and dark wooden beams on the finished ceiling. The entrance off the street will open up to the retail shop, with an arched doorway leading to workstations and offices. As staff toured the progress last week, Arendsen said their vision is to maintain the building’s Spanish architectural heritage while showcasing their design sensibilities.
Until the new frontage opens, ILI can be found in Solana Beach at 143 S. Cedros Avenue, Suite H. Learn more at intimatelivinginteriors.com