Just Fabulous

justFabulous! by Susie Clifford Photography by Ed Gohlich The latest reincarnation of the home at 511 Marina Boulevard is stunning. What was once a Spanish style stucco home with a red-tiled roof, has become a coastal contemporary home, crisp in both color and style. But it took some ingenuity and hard work. The current owners from Northern California bought the house as a vacation home after performing a detailed analysis of vacation home locations. It became clear to them that the site selection should be focused on Coronado. The Marina Boulevard property was originally built in the 1970s as a single story house which, over the years, had acquired a second floor and multiple staircases in a series of remodels. The end result was an overall congested flow. But despite the disjointed floor plan, the house had many other appealing attributes, not the least of which was its location on the beach. The new buyers had toured a Flagg Coastal Home and were inspired to reach out to Flagg’s owner John O’Brien and his team to redesign and oversee their project. Flagg’s lead designer, Dorian Lytle, was tasked with meshing Flagg’s Coastal aesthetic with the Transitional style the couple were seeking. Working together with builder Brady Hayek to achieve the new owner’s vision, the house was brought down to the studs. While the first floor ceilings remained a generous 11 feet high, the 8 foot second floor ceilings were re-engineered to

accommodate vaulting in every room. The added space and light “changed the whole feeling of the second floor,” said O’Brien.

But perhaps the biggest change was the removal of the two staircases, replacing them with one showpiece staircase on the West side of the home. Eight-by-eight windows were added to allow light into the stairwell and to capture the ocean view at the top.

As the staircase is a prominent focal point from the entryway, the stair railing required special consideration. “We had to make it a feature since it could be seen right when you enter” said O’Brien. “It took a long to time get it right. The stairs combine traditional white wood newel posts with light oak treads and rails with contemporary black iron balusters that harmoniously blend into the Transitional style we were after.”

Another unique feature was the built in wine display case across from the staircase. “It’s almost like wall art,” said O’Brien.

The home has five bedrooms and four and a half baths, with four of the bedrooms, including the master, upstairs. One bedroom is on the first floor, a few steps up, over the slightly sunken garage. With its lower ceilings, and covered porch, it has the feeling of a captain’s quarters, a perfect spot for extra guests.

Like the house itself, the outdoor space was reimagined and rebuilt. What was once cramped and confused, is now an inviting grassy space where kids can play, and there is both a spa deck and an outdoor entertaining space just off the back of the house. On the front porch is a lovely seating area, with views of the ocean, Point Loma and Mexico.

Not only are the outdoor areas inviting, but the living areas and kitchen are open and luxurious, all offering a spot to sit and unwind. 511 Marina is now a great vacation home for its new owners.

“The builder, Brady Hayek, did a very good job with a very difficult house,” said O’Brien. “Also, the interiors were done by Rebecca Lincoln, of Coastal Dwelling Design and Build and they look terrific.”