A Mod Renovation in Newport Beach

Learn how this Newport Beach home renovation gave it a vibrant new facelift for modern-day living.

When Deidre Campbell and her husband, Frank, did a walkthrough of this Newport Beach home, she didn’t know it was about to become her new project. “We bought it thinking that we would use it as a rental, and I just got inspired and it became a design project,” Deidre says. The home, just around the corner from their own, was for sale by the original owner and in desperate need of some new life.

exterior entrance to renovated Newport Beach modern home — Before the remodel the entry ceiling was low. The architect suggested updating it to create a more open and welcoming space.

teal entryway with yellow door — This visual was a favorite of both Clarissa and Deidre. The combination of the yellow door, natural light and finishing touches from House of Morrison creates a stunning moment in the entry.

There was no original architect listed on file and no pedigree to speak of, so Deidre doesn’t consider the house a mid century masterpiece, but she was still so drawn to the space. “I love the bones of the house. It’s just a really simple, great house,” she says. “There were some elements that made me really nostalgic for my childhood.”

First Up, Remodel

The first order of business was a remodel, and the couple brought on architect Michael Porter to help them make that a reality. While they kept the original floor plan, they expanded the kitchen and made some major updates to the entry. “When you walked into the house the ceiling was really low,” Deidre says. In addition to opening up that space, they also added windows to the back wall of the living room to create the feeling of an entire glass room. Other updates included new flooring and brand new windows throughout the house for energy efficiency, with the exception of the mitered windows in the front of the home.

mod living room with teal rocker by House of Morrison — This striking teal rocker by House of Morrison is a piece of artwork in itself.

modern living room with exposed beam black accent wall and teal accents — The windows beside the fireplace were an addition that came with the remodel. “We created a glass room in that respect,” Deidre says. A custom marble slab makes a dramatic statement on the fireplace, while beautiful furniture pieces add to the classy living space.

Newport Beach Renovation: Creating the Base

While Deidre brought in Clarissa Butler of CB Creative Agency to finesse the space prior to selling, she chose all the home’s finishes and details herself. “She just really went all out on every finish,” Clarissa says of Deidre’s initial design choices. “She created this perfect, beautiful canvas.”

In the master bathroom, Deidre wanted to implement something timeless and unique for the mirror wall. With some effort, she was able to track down a ceramic “KitKat” tile, which she had originally seen in international design. “It’s ceramic, but it’s laid out just like a KitKat bar,” Deidre says, “so you grout it whatever color you want it.”

studio office space in renovated mod Newport Beach home — While this space could double as a third bedroom, Clarissa staged it as a studio office space. She wanted the room, which is filled with light, to be a little more youthful than other spaces in the home.

Instead of opting for more classic mid century design in the kitchen with wood cabinets, Deidre wanted to add some vibrancy to the space. The result was a mild seafoam-green cabinet that is eye-catching yet subtle and sleek. “I just thought it was a little playful, and I didn’t want to see another white kitchen,” Deidre says, “so we decided to add a pop of color in the kitchen and that was the pop of color I thought was fun.” Other unique finishes include cement tile throughout the main living spaces and the stunning, yellow front door.

Newport Beach Renovation, Styled to Perfection

With a brilliant base to work from, the home was more than ready for interior designer Clarissa Butler to come in and implement her vintage-meets-modern style. “I love the eclectic mix of pulling a very traditional Mid Century Modern desk and then grabbing a street art piece or something that juxtaposes with that, but they actually work and feel really good together,” Clarissa says. With a focus on artwork and pieces that capture the essence of Mid Century Modern design, she created a space that’s a blend between the modern design world and classic mid mod aesthetics.

renovated dining room with multi color art gallery wall — In a stunning nod to mid century design, the West Elm dining table, mid century chairs and art piece by Danielle Bewer collaborate to capture the essence of the home.

modern kitchen with mint green cabinets — Deidre wanted to add a pop of color in the kitchen and chose these elegant custom cabinets in seafoam green to complete the space.

One of her favorite spaces is the entry. A massive circular mirror, wooden bench and other finishing details, all from House of Morrison, create a stunning visual. “Everyone just was blown away by the entry,” she says. In the dining area, an art piece by Danielle Bewer consists of framed ceramic tiles. “I love every room for a different reason,” Clarissa says. “Some areas I really felt like I wanted to bring more pop.” The front studio has a youthful and bright aura complete with a faux surfboard by Hati Home, while the living room feels a little more refined. “I think the living space was a good eclectic mix of items and textures and vibes, but it all came together and feels like a place where you really want to hang out,” she says.

master bedroom with clean design — With French oak floors and a cool color palette, this master bedroom is an intentionally calm and collected space.

guest bedroom with rattan chair in renovated home — Artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat and a rattan lounge chair effortlessly elevate the guest bedroom.

With a focus on artwork and unique found pieces, Clarissa’s style has always blended genres, and this project is no different. “It’s got all the mid century finishes and nods, but we also added in some high-end pieces, some eclectic art pieces, and it was just kind of a hybrid,” Clarissa says. A teal rocker in the living room by local designer House of Morrison really stands out, while a handwoven rug by Soho Design ties the whole room together.

concrete patio outdoor dining table Newport Beach — Since Southern California weather is perfect for outdoor living, these teak and rattan dining chairs were a must for the exterior.

Newport Beach mod newly renovated home concrete pavers — All the concrete slabs were repoured with the remodel, and landscape designer Bridget Skinner created a vibrant outdoor space.

outdoor seating area in mod Newport Beach home — These mitered windows, original to the home, fill the interior spaces with light.

From beginning to end, this remodel and design project was a labor of love to revitalize an old home and make it something both updated and beautiful. “I just think that there are so many amazing houses that have potential” Deidre says. “We felt like rather than scrap a perfectly good house, we could rebuild it.” With color, vibrancy and impeccable design, the house is a place for modern living with a happy nod to its mid century origins.

terrazzo floor and freestanding tub in master bath — While there was previously a glass slider in the master bath, Deidre opted instead for this large window to the exterior. Terrazzo flooring and a large tub work together to make a dreamy and calm space.

For more modern renovation inspiration, don’t miss A Stylish Palmer & Krisel Home becomes a Palm Springs Getaway. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!