Inside a Mid Century Vacation Home in California

The mid century vacation home entrance has yellow double-doors and painted white brick. — The home’s exterior provides a hint of what you’ll experience once inside—mid century perfection with a pop of color. “I feel with mid century design fun blasts of color are striking and memorable and really work,” says homeowner Blaine Siler.

For most of the year, Blaine Siler and husband, Lincoln Bogard, spend their days in a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath Craftsman bungalow built in 1912. Painted bubble-gum pink on the outside, the home, in Martinez, California, hasn’t had many upgrades since 1930, and retains a classic charm. The couple’s mid century vacation home, in Blaine’s words, is “in pretty stark contrast” to their bungalow. Built in 1960, the 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home was suffering from too many upgrades. This home needed restoration inside and out to reclaim its modern edge.

The living room has blue tongue chairs and is connected to the dining room beyond. — “The previous owners had attempted to give it a Mediterranean exterior facelift; it looked a bit like The Olive Garden,” Blaine shares. “However, the interior was bipolar with both modern and Tuscan finishes.”

Since purchasing the home in 2015, Blaine and Lincoln have worked to transform it from the setting for a boisterous family dinner to a space where you could easily picture classic film stars gathering for cocktails (in fact, the home is located in a neighborhood that once counted Clark Gable and Rock Hudson as residents). Achieving this transformation has been a long process, and one with no clear end in sight.

“We’ve been putting our hearts into the home since we got the keys,” Blaine says. “I feel like a home is a never-ending work in progress. Eventually, I would like to replace the Cortina Grande Azrock composition tile with real terrazzo. I would love for the living room wall of windows to be a stacked slider or accordion folding door so that the wall could open the room onto the patio.”

The in-ground pool area has white chairs and a covered patio with strung bulb lights. — The outdoor space is a favorite of the homeowners. “I always gravitate to the patio,” says Blaine. “The palm-tree-peppered golf course view is gorgeous; it’s literally on the sixth tee, yet it is hedged and secluded in complete privacy.”

Faux stonework was removed to reveal original stacked Roman slump brick. Beneath faux travertine tile, the homeowners discovered laminate flooring that had been glued down, a particularly challenging aspect of the renovation. “Tip: Never install or buy a home with glued-down laminate wood flooring,” Blaine advises. “It was an absolute nightmare to remove it.”

The mid century vacation home living room has a long, curved sofa against a white brick wall. Metal sunbursts decorate the wall while blue tongue chairs flank a modern coffee table. — The Artifort Pierre Paulin tongue chairs and Herman Miller Noguchi coffee table are framed by Peter Pepper Products artwork. The modern space is now the ideal backdrop for the couple’s vintage (and vintage-inspired) furnishings.

Throughout the home’s interior and exterior, finishes were stripped away, contemporary upgrades were cast aside, and original design gems were discovered. Brick was freed from its drywall covering. The original jalousie windows were restored to perfect working order and given new tempered glass louvers.

Soon, the garage will be transformed back into a carport, a desert must, according to Blaine. “The desert can get crazy hot,” he shares. “I’ve learned if it’s an August or September 120-degree day, it can seriously be 160 degrees in the garage. I think a carport is really the way to go.”

The master bathroom is gray with retro artwork, white cabinetry and an orange accent chair. — The mid century vacation home boasts two full baths, including a master with a step-in sunken shower with a glass wall. “[It] is spacious but also private so without window treatments drawn, it feels much like an outdoor shower,” says homeowner Blaine Siler.

The mid century vacation home bathroom has a stone shower with glass walls, a slatted wood bench and three-tiered plant pot vessel. — The mid century bathroom includes a beautiful stone corner shower with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Beside it, a wood bench provides ample seating and towel storage.

“I’ve been collecting mid century art and objects since I was 15,” he says. “I was obsessed with buying funky mid century ceramics and ashtrays when I wasn’t even of age to smoke, back during a period when midcentury wasn’t appreciated the way it is now and was practically free at antique and thrift shops.”

An orange scoop lounge chair sits atop a gray, shaggy area rug in a yellow room. — A Milo Baughman mid century scoop lounge chair is vibrant in orange Maharam hopsack upholstery.

A lime green sofa rests in front of a yellow wall and above a gray, shaggy area rug. — The den pops and sizzles with color. A 1959 Milo Baughman Thayer-Coggin sofa is radiant in spring green Maharam upholstery. It’s perfectly suited for a mid century vacation home.

Someday, Blaine and Lincoln will retire to the Bermuda Dunes home. Until that time comes, the home serves as a vacation spot for the couple and for those who take advantage of the couple’s listing on Airbnb (search for “Mid Century Modern Haven in Bermuda Dunes” if you want to book a stay). The modern home’s best role, though, was as the setting for Blaine and Lincoln’s November wedding.

The mid century vacation home kitchen has a bar area and floating wall shelves to hold glasses. — The kitchen bar area gives off major retro-rustic vibes. With clean-cut wood paneling and floating shelves, it combines function and personality.

“We had just planned to get hitched at the Palm Springs city hall, but a year before decided it would be more fun and special to do a tiny ceremony in the backyard since most of our closest friends and family are already there,” Blaine says. “That house is my favorite place to be, we plan to retire there, so it felt right to celebrate a union there.”

The master bedroom has a lime green bed frame with orange and red accents. — The mid century vacation home’s master bedroom highlights decades of gorgeous modern style. The upholstered bed and custom walnut bedside table play well with 1960s Alexander Calder lithographs, 1970s Richard Sapper Artemide Tizio lamps, and 1980s Eames lounge chair and ottoman.

A modern orange chair and white retro table sit in front of an abstract wall art piece. — Bold pops of color add character throughout the couple’s mid century vacation home. This retro orange chair adds life to the white wall.

Guest bedroom in with a teal accent wall behind the bed's tufted headboard. — Vintage and vintage-style pieces give this bedroom a thoroughly modern look. The Joybird upholstered bed complements vintage Witco artwork.

Inspired to upgrade your home with mid century finds? Check out essential mid mod decor pieces for entertaining or simply enjoying yourself at home!

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