- Interior
- Architecture & development
Sometimes a renovation is not an intervention, but a form of retelling. In Malibu's secluded Point Dume neighbourhood, on the only street with a gateway, lies a home that is quietly rewriting its story. Once drawn by American architect Ronald Goldman in 1979, this wooden house was given new life thanks to a three-year renovation. Led by Vanessa Alexander and her team at Alexander Design, in collaboration with Alexander Built Properties, the house was stripped down to its skeleton and rebuilt without denying its origins.
Alexander Design, a studio with roots in both Los Angeles and New York, is known for its contextual approach to interior design. In this project, their signature is evident: the dialogue between heritage and contemporary living culture, between California's relaxed indoor-outdoor mentality and a worldly sensitivity to detail. The original architecture - with its wooden beam structure, open volumes and natural ventilation - was deliberately reactivated. 
Inside, the house exudes understated luxury. Alexander Design designed custom-made cabinets, brass accents and fine carpentry that contribute to an evident whole. The natural materials are tactile, durable and bright in character. Among the solid interventions nestle carefully selected vintage pieces and custom-designed furniture. Nothing seems accidental, but everything feels effortless. No time period is imitated here, but an organic blend of decades and styles is created. 
This is not a makeover, but a tribute to what was and a vision of what is yet to come.
The outdoor space was designed with equal attention. A new saltwater pool, a pizza oven and a discreetly integrated Sonos sound system form rhythmic elements within the story. On the terrace, a custom-made lounge sofa, covered in linen, adorns the terrace for an optimal sunbathing experience. The property also offers access to Little Dume Beach - a beach accessible only to those with a key - and a shared tennis court, allowing life to unfold on multiple levels. 
In this home, the designers manage to exceptionally capture a sense of time and place. Every part of the house, from the heated bathroom floors to the vistas in the light-filled hallways, tells a story of care, context and dedication. As Vanessa Alexander herself says: it was not about a makeover, but a tribute to what was and a vision of what is yet to come. Here, architecture acts as a conversation between generations, between inside and outside, and between people and their environment.
Photography by Rich Stapleton, styling by Lisa Rowe
Text by Carolien Depamelaere