Heidi Caillier’s Seaside Cottage: Heart-Shaped Cutouts and Prints

The following piece takes a look at a remarkable Carmel-by-the-Sea renovation: Heidi Caillier reinterprets the 1928 pink-and-green cottage known as “Our House.” She preserves its fairy-tale exterior while reconfiguring the interior for modern living.

This project pays homage to the town’s storybook lineage rooted in Hugh Comstock’s iconic cottages. It delivers a layered, collected, and highly livable interior.

A Modern Reimagining of Carmel’s Storybook Cottage

The renovation centers on balancing historic charm with contemporary function. The interior now accommodates three bedrooms and three bathrooms within a modest 1,800-square-foot footprint constrained by local codes.

Caillier’s approach preserves the exterior’s personality. She injects a rich mix of materials and textiles that feel both timeless and newly curated.

Design Approach

Caillier intentionally avoids a matchy aesthetic, weaving florals with stripes and plaids. She pairs dense furnishings with lighter, airier pieces.

The goal is to create a space that feels like a well-traveled collection. The interior blends Soane window treatments, John Derian chairs in Décors Barbares fabric, a George Smith sofa with Peter Dunham upholstery, and custom Jennifer Shorto pieces with vintage finds such as an Italian rattan chair and a Majolica plate collection.

This mix, layered with varied textiles, builds a sense of depth and history. It honors the cottage’s provenance.

Exterior-Focused and Interior Solutions

The footprint remains constrained, but Caillier reimagined the interior to maximize flow and function. The restoration effort salvaged and repurposed key furnishings and artwork.

Some elements were replaced via an estate sale to maintain authenticity. A new cozy dining nook anchors the space, featuring an 1880s French vintner’s table and a pendant by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce.

A replicated island by HCD with DeVol stools reinforces a sense of period craftsmanship. The design team also preserved and reinstalled the home’s original light fixture and fireplace.

Exterior details—such as carved trim and the irregular stone chimney—continue to tell the cottage’s historical story.

Color, Textures, and Furnishings

The color strategy emphasizes mood and atmosphere. Farrow & Ball’s Minster Green saturates the office walls, while Tarrow Tack provides a softer counterpoint in a guest room.

Bold wallpapers by Nicholas Herbert, Schuyler Samperton, and Adelphi wrap private spaces in lush pattern and texture. These are layered with a spectrum of textiles to create a sense of curated longevity.

Accents like vintage sconces, a custom Le Gracieux shower curtain, and replicated doors contribute to the home’s historic charm. Modern fixtures and layouts ensure everyday comfort and practicality.

The People, Protagonists, and the Outcome

Homeowners Carole and Breck Lutz were drawn to the cottage’s provenance and Caillier’s ability to “bring out the best” in the property. The city planner’s emotional response during a walkthrough underscored how a well-calibrated restoration can resonate beyond aesthetics.

The project modernizes the cottage while honoring the town’s storied past.

Lessons for Practice: What This Project Teaches Architects and Designers

This renovation offers practical insights for practitioners focusing on historic preservation. It also provides guidance on interior reconfiguration and material storytelling.

• Preserve exterior identity while reimagining the interior program to meet contemporary needs.
• Cultivate a layered material palette that blends vintage finds with high-quality contemporary pieces.
• Use color and texture to create depth and a sense of history without resorting to pastiche.
• Source lighting, textiles, and finishes from boutique vendors to achieve a refined, cohesive look.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Designer Heidi Caillier Embraces Heart-Shaped Cutouts, Prints, and Patterns to Create a Charming Seaside Cottage