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Malibu Adventure Guide: California Dreamin’

August 24, 2023

Hurricane Hilary didn’t stop us … we made the most of our SoCal vacation. We hope you will too for your next visit!

STAY

Surfrider Hotel

Come for the views, stay for the views. The rooftop bar at this award-winning hotel boasts a phenomenal lookout over Surfrider Beach. Bask in the California sunshine on their rooftop bar and resturaunt! At the end of the day, we highly recommend you order the chocolate molten cookies with milk, baked to perfection and delivered right to your doorstep (I dreamt in chocolate).

    • Pros
      • Located right across from the Malibu Pier
      • Phenomenal rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking Surfrider Beach for guests ONLY (complimentary Malibu Hour 4-5 PM-Get your refreshing cocktail made to order each day for guests)
      • Luxurious Boutique Hotel. Live in style why don’t ya!
    • Cons
      • None

Seashells are having a major moment, and I hope they’re here to stay. Remember, you don’t have to lean entirely into one design aesthetic … instead, lean into your own style. Ask yourself: what makes you happy? Over the years, I’ve explored several styles, and elements of each combine to define the unconventional layers behind the Clouz Houz brand.

Here are two ways I’m bringing “California Cool” aesthetic back home to the Central Oregon High Desert with me.

  1. Add architectural figures — for example, place faux coral on a stack of books. When styling a space, try to create dimensions. I picked up this faux coral from Pottery Barn a couple of years ago, and have used it time and time again.

 

2. Entertain often? Grab one of these seashell serving platters. Serving dishes can tell a story and spark conversation around a dinner table. Derrick & I love to cook and entertain, and we take any chance to make a tablescape a little more meaningful!

*Try not to get this stuck in your head: “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.” Haha!

 

Shell Bowl

Marks & Graham Silver Shell Serving Platter

EAT

Now, let’s talk food. Turns out our daughter Emma is quite the foodie! She chose these six restaurants, and I would highly recommend ALL of them (don’t forget to make reservations ahead of time).

Nobu

Be sure to sip on the Mango Passion Fruit Martini (my mouth is watering thinking of this gem). Also: Yellowtail Jalepeño Sashimi. And that’s all! Perfect amount of spice, crunch & savory details. If you don’t get a reservation ahead of time, that should be okay. We arrived when the doors opened and just waited in a short line. Totally worth it!

Malibu Farms

We ate lunch at the restaurant (not the cafe), sitting on sofas right on the pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean while watching the tide roll in — a true “pinch me” moment. I’m proud beyond measure of my first born Emma, and this was a special spot to celebrate her college graduation. Cheers to all the moms with growing babies! There was unbelievably fresh seafood (we devoured the lobster rolls), as well as a street corn chicken salad. By the way, we send out weekly recipes in our exclusive Sunday Subscriber Newsletter. Be sure to subscribe here for a mouthwatering, Malibu-influenced recipe coming to your inbox this week! Of course, we are dessert lovers well … and the famous olive oil cake with maple vanilla ice cream did not disappoint.

The Ivy

We made a pitstop at the West Hollywood location on our way to Malibu. Off the charts brunch stop! Our personal favorite was the chilaquiles. Be SURE to save room for the red velvet cake, it’s a must. We heard this is the spot for a SoCal celebrity sighting, but our luck ran dry … or should I say wet. Really, really wet (thank you Hurricane Hilary)!

Taverna Tony’s (Malibu Country Mart)

Conveniently located near the Surfrider Hotel, you’ll find divine and authentic Greek food. Before dinner was served, they treated us to a whipped feta and garlic/herb dip & sourdough. What a delight! We loved the calamari, accompanied by a refreshingly crisp Mexican Coke. Girl dinner. ?

 

DRINK

What’s your drink of choice: Aperol Spritz or Martini? We’re 50/50 around here.

RELAX, SHOP, HIKE & CATCH A TROT THROUGH LATIGO CANYON

High Horse Malibu

Of course, we had to check out the horse scene here. Emma grew up riding, and we had a horse named Lily for five years. This was the highlight of our trip to be back in the saddle. We strongly recommend High Horse Malibu for a joy ride through the crest of Latigo Canyon. If you’re a horse lover like we are, you must include this activity on your Malibu itinerary. We recommend going early in the morning to avoid the scorching sun.

The stunning trails traverse rolling hills, wooded canyons and striking rock formations, with sweeping ocean vistas around every corner. We enjoyed the hour and a half private trail ride and the spectacular ocean views. Truly, it felt like we were on top of the world. Core memory! And, our guides were friendly & funny, making this a five-star experience.

From the wildflowers to the greenery to the ocean’s horizon, I also brought home a few color palettes as inspiration. Let’s design something with a little Malibu escape in mind! Any takers?

Pacific Palisades

GORG shopping area just 15 minutes from Malibu. We stopped at a few of our favorites, including Amber Interiors, Serena & Lily, Isabel Marant, Anine Bing, and Diptyque. Not to mention, we paid a visit to Erewhon (buzz is buzzing and the smoothies were delish).

I’m currently swooning over this Shoppe Amber Interiors Malibu Grass Print. Hang this serene landscape over a four poster bed and call it a day, then crawl into your sheets and be whisked away …

Here are a few more pieces I was eyeing and may have brought home with me ?

Serena & Lily Montrose Napkin

Diptyque FLuer D’Oranger (Orange Blossom) Reed Diffuser 

Anine Bing Tania Boots Modern take on traditional cowboy boots

Point Dume Hike

To wrap up our trip, we took a beautiful hike along the picturesque shoreline on the 1.5 mile out-and-back trail in Point Dume. Tread carefully down the staircase to the beach. The hike back up will be a total calf burner, but it’s worth every ache!

It’s always a pleasure to clear your mind with an ocean breeze. I highly recommend How To Infuse Mindfulness Practices Into Your Everyday Routine — it’ll leave you feeling peaceful and grounded.

 

Last But Not Least, Let’s Talk Outfits

I found these three affordable outfits on Amazon and accessorized them with a few of my go-to’s. You can shop the Malibu Vacation Edit looks here.

 

That’s all for now. Check back on my Insta here for the inside scoop on our family vacay, girl’s trip & creative work retreat! Travel always is a time to reflect, replenish and feel inspired by your adventures that await you!

If you find yourself on a dreamy Malibu vacation be sure to share with us all the fun you had ☀️

 

XOXO,

Allison & Emma

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I think one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a designer is that people assume our clients don’t know what they want. In reality, most of them know exactly what they want.

They know they want a kitchen that feels warm and collected.
They know they want a patio they’ll actually use.
They know they want a home that feels finished.

What they don’t know is whether the white oak cabinets work with the soapstone counters they pinned six months ago. Or if the layout they’re considering is going to annoy them every single day once it’s built.

That’s where we come in. Not because you can’t make decisions. Because some decisions are expensive.
And it’s nice to have someone thinking through all the details before you start ordering materials and moving walls.

So, If you’ve ever looked through our portfolio and thought, “I want my house to feel like that, “this service was designed for you! Or you can explore our other offerings on our website and schedule a discovery call to determine which one is the perfect fit for you!

23 1
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I think one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a designer is that people assume our clients don’t know what they want. In reality, most of them know exactly what they want. They know they want a kitchen that feels warm and collected. They know they want a patio they’ll actually use. They know they want a home that feels finished. What they don’t know is whether the white oak cabinets work with the soapstone counters they pinned six months ago. Or if the layout they’re considering is going to annoy them every single day once it’s built. That’s where we come in. Not because you can’t make decisions. Because some decisions are expensive. And it’s nice to have someone thinking through all the details before you start ordering materials and moving walls. So, If you’ve ever looked through our portfolio and thought, “I want my house to feel like that, “this service was designed for you! Or you can explore our other offerings on our website and schedule a discovery call to determine which one is the perfect fit for you!

I know my routines, what I reach for daily, how I want a space to function for me. That part makes designing for myself feel easy. (But making decisions for myself is where things get tricky LOL).

The difference is, I know what’s a non-negotiable for me. I know what actually matters day to day, not just what looks good.

And that’s really how I approach client work too.
It’s not just about picking beautiful pieces. It’s about asking the right questions, understanding how you live, and reading between the lines a bit. What you say you want... and what you actually need can be two different things.

That’s where we come in. We help make sense of it all so your home doesn’t just look good, it works for you in a way that feels natural.

Click the link in bio to start working with us today!

53 7
Open
I know my routines, what I reach for daily, how I want a space to function for me. That part makes designing for myself feel easy. (But making decisions for myself is where things get tricky LOL). The difference is, I know what’s a non-negotiable for me. I know what actually matters day to day, not just what looks good. And that’s really how I approach client work too. It’s not just about picking beautiful pieces. It’s about asking the right questions, understanding how you live, and reading between the lines a bit. What you say you want... and what you actually need can be two different things. That’s where we come in. We help make sense of it all so your home doesn’t just look good, it works for you in a way that feels natural. Click the link in bio to start working with us today!

Comment ‘ME’ to get all of these items delivered straight to your inbox! I hope you can join me over there each week:)

Are you all ready for summer like I am?!? Our team loves pulling all the inspo and things that are shaping our design work each month. June is my favorite... for a lot of reasons, because, one: I’m a total warm weather girl and two: it’s Derrick’s and my anniversary month! I can’t believe we are celebrating 29 years next week!

Anyway, I digress... I’m breaking down all the things in today’s Between The Layers post (live at 5:00 PST). I can’t wait to share with you allllll the things we have our eyes on for projects.

I’m even sharing some items I have been debating for our house because I need your help assuring me I’m not crazy with all these ideas I have brewing.😂

Inspo imagery via Pinterest

46 4
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Comment ‘ME’ to get all of these items delivered straight to your inbox! I hope you can join me over there each week:) Are you all ready for summer like I am?!? Our team loves pulling all the inspo and things that are shaping our design work each month. June is my favorite... for a lot of reasons, because, one: I’m a total warm weather girl and two: it’s Derrick’s and my anniversary month! I can’t believe we are celebrating 29 years next week! Anyway, I digress... I’m breaking down all the things in today’s Between The Layers post (live at 5:00 PST). I can’t wait to share with you allllll the things we have our eyes on for projects. I’m even sharing some items I have been debating for our house because I need your help assuring me I’m not crazy with all these ideas I have brewing.😂 Inspo imagery via Pinterest

If you’re going to be creative, you have to be willing to stay in a bit of a playful mindset... not everything can be overthought or perfectly safe, because that’s usually when things start to fall flat. I see this all the time, even in my own home, where the moments I almost didn’t do something end up being the ones I love the most. The same goes for our client work. The best spaces don’t come from playing it safe, they come from trusting the process and being open to ideas you might not have considered at first. That’s really the point of hiring a designer, especially at a higher level. You’re not bringing us in to repeat what you already know you like or to be directed every step of the way. You’re bringing us in for our perspective, our resources, and the ability to see things a little differently. We’re never going to lead you in a direction that doesn’t work, but we are going to push you a bit, because that’s where a space starts to feel more thoughtful, more layered, and ultimately a more thoughtful, refined version of your vision. Brought to life with a level of detail that’s hard to achieve without a clear plan behind it.

24 2
Open
If you’re going to be creative, you have to be willing to stay in a bit of a playful mindset... not everything can be overthought or perfectly safe, because that’s usually when things start to fall flat. I see this all the time, even in my own home, where the moments I almost didn’t do something end up being the ones I love the most. The same goes for our client work. The best spaces don’t come from playing it safe, they come from trusting the process and being open to ideas you might not have considered at first. That’s really the point of hiring a designer, especially at a higher level. You’re not bringing us in to repeat what you already know you like or to be directed every step of the way. You’re bringing us in for our perspective, our resources, and the ability to see things a little differently. We’re never going to lead you in a direction that doesn’t work, but we are going to push you a bit, because that’s where a space starts to feel more thoughtful, more layered, and ultimately a more thoughtful, refined version of your vision. Brought to life with a level of detail that’s hard to achieve without a clear plan behind it.
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