Project: Manhattan Beach House
Architects: GEN Architects
Interior Design: Mandy Graham
Collaborators: Dinesen, bulthaup
Location: Manhattan Beach, California, United States
Photography: Jasper Carlberg
In sunny California, only a few metres from the tempting surfing waves of the Pacific Ocean, lies an untraditional American home. The owners met when they were both living in London – and the characteristic European interior design style with simplicity as its dominating quality has clearly influenced their dream house in small, exclusive Manhattan Beach near the bustling city of Los Angeles.
Mandy Graham is an interior designer. She was personally responsible for designing this home for her family, which includes her husband, Christopher, executive director of the banking corporation JP Morgan Chase, and the couple’s six-year-old twin boys Kai and Jude.
The couple tore down the original, worn-out house from the 1960s and started over from scratch. Inspired by European city living and assisted by GEN Architects, Mandy designed what is, by American standards, a relatively small, two-storey house that features functional rooms with a clean and bright expression.
To achieve a coherent expression and to highlight the beautiful architecture of the Manhattan Beach house, Mandy toned down the interior and instead used the simplicity that characterises the materials from Dinesen and bulthaup as a starting point.
The clean lines of the Dinesen Douglas plank floors are beautifully matched by the minimalist bulthaup kitchen design. The cabinet from bulthaup’s b1 series is also integrated into the bedrooms, living room and office.
A few pieces of Italian furniture have also found their way into the house – including the dining room chairs and table from Porro and the easy chairs from B&B. The rest of the furniture was designed by Mandy. She made the sofa, beds, shelves and tables of Dinesen Douglas, which is in beautiful harmony with the minimalist décor, and like the plank floors her furniture designs add a calm, warm and personal feel to the house.
