Inside Lodge at Marconi, a New Seaside Escape in Northern California

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Situated among the sprawling wooded hills that overlook Tomales Bay, the Lodge at Marconi is a new Northern California retreat that occupies a series of former State Park buildings. The modernist Sea Ranch-style structures, which blend into the wild terrain thanks to olive green cladding and sloped roofs, were recently transformed into a 45-room hotel by Brooklyn-based design firm Home Studios.

The property’s tranquil interiors, with their abundance of wood and earthy textiles, were informed by the rugged destination. “We took a lot of inspiration from the tones of the natural landscape,” says Home Studios founder Oliver Haslegrave. “I think, given that the hotel is on 62 acres, that was inevitable.”

Oliver also infused the lobby, restaurant, and guest rooms with a playful summer-camp aesthetic. Everything, from arts-and-crafts-y furniture to accessible materials like canvas and brick, is left intentionally informal and rustic. “Generally speaking, camp is back to basics,” he says. “It’s stripped down—at least my camp experience was.”

That’s not to say Lodge at Marconi is spare; it’s most certainly not. There’s nothing superfluous, but nothing is amiss either. It’s simultaneously attainable and elevated.

Here are 12 design ideas to steal to strike a similar balance.

Photography by Brian W. Ferry.

1. Green is the new black.

since the angular buildings were in solid condition, oliver didn&#8\2\17;t 17 — Above: Since the angular buildings were in solid condition, Oliver didn’t make many updates to their exteriors. The one thing he did do was paint them all a deep olive green that acts as camouflage in the verdant environment. “It made a dramatic difference,” he says.

2. Mix materials, but keep the same tone.

for the reception desk, oliver paired glazed brick tiles from heath ceramics wi 18 — Above: For the reception desk, Oliver paired glazed brick tiles from Heath Ceramics with mahogany-colored wood for a rich tone-on-tone look. “Because it’s inspired by the natural landscape, there isn’t a lot of high contrast,” Oliver explains. “But I didn’t want to only use one material, so we created interest by mixing materials without changing the palette.”

3. Accentuate height with stripes.

oliver designed a wood framed sofa with red and white striped upholstery to acc 19 — Above: Oliver designed a wood-framed sofa with red-and-white striped upholstery to accentuate the height of the airy lobby. “This room has a lot of verticality to it, so the stripes felt in sync,” he says. “The couch is definitely the focal point, so had it been a solid color, it might not have had as much energy as we wanted it to, whereas a striped textile in a smaller room may have felt a little busy.”

4. Add playful window trim.

in the concession area, oliver framed a tall window with square dentil trim for 20 — Above: In the concession area, Oliver framed a tall window with square dentil trim for a playful punch. That tooth-like geometry can be found in details throughout Lodge at Marconi, but it makes the biggest splash here.

the adjacent lounge combines dark stained oak millwork and built in sofas with 21 — Above: The adjacent lounge combines dark-stained oak millwork and built-in sofas with light, natural oak floors and coffee tables for added depth.

5. Incorporate canvas.

as a nod to the camp narrative, oliver incorporated canvas into the on site res 22 — Above: As a nod to the camp narrative, Oliver incorporated canvas into the on-site restaurant—twice. He commissioned a custom, four-panel painting by the artist Lukas Geronimas Giniotis and, most notably, designed an oversized tent-like pendant to hang over the long dining table. “The materials are fairly accessible, but the scale of it is ambitious,” he says of the light fixture. (We’re longtime fans of adding inexpensive canvas to interiors; see 8 Low-Cost, Low-Commitment DIY Projects with Painter’s Drop Cloths for a few ideas.)

6. Create a DIY art installation.

lukas geronimas giniotis also created the installation of painted wood cubes ab 23 — Above: Lukas Geronimas Giniotis also created the installation of painted wood cubes above the scarlet velvet banquette. A similar artwork could be replicated at home using blocks from the hardware or art supply store.

7. Try cropped curtains.

the guest rooms feel like well appointed cabins. in lieu of long curtains, oliv 24 — Above: The guest rooms feel like well-appointed cabins. In lieu of long curtains, Oliver went for cropped versions on custom wooden rods.

8. Build a corner headboard.

oliver built clever wrap around corner headboards for the twin beds, which make 25 — Above: Oliver built clever wrap-around corner headboards for the twin beds, which makes them feel like an intentional part of the design.

9. Consider overlay cabinets.

though inset, flush cabinetry has been more desirable of late, oliver opted for 26 — Above: Though inset, flush cabinetry has been more desirable of late, Oliver opted for overlay drawers instead. “Overlay doesn’t have to be perfect,” he explains. “It’s an easier way of building. Your measurements can be a little off. It can be more handmade. And those pulls are not integrated. You don’t need to route anything out. You can make this with simpler tools, like a hand saw.”

10. Add an under-sink shelf.

floating vanities have their allure but can be challenging for their lack of st 27 — Above: Floating vanities have their allure but can be challenging for their lack of storage. Oliver solved this problem by creating low shelves that he placed beneath the sinks for storing towels and other bathroom essentials.

For more, head to Lodge at Marconi.

And for more design ideas to borrow, camp edition:

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Lodge at Marconi: 10 Ideas to Steal from a Coastal California Retreat in Former State Park Buildings

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Lodge at Marconi: 10 Ideas to Steal from a Coastal California Retreat in Former State Park Buildings

1. Green is the new black.

2. Mix materials, but keep the same tone.

3. Accentuate height with stripes.

4. Add playful window trim.

5. Incorporate canvas.

6. Create a DIY art installation.

7. Try cropped curtains.

8. Build a corner headboard.

9. Consider overlay cabinets.

10. Add an under-sink shelf.

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Gather Table

Start typing to search...

1. Green is the new black.

2. Mix materials, but keep the same tone.

3. Accentuate height with stripes.

4. Add playful window trim.

5. Incorporate canvas.

6. Create a DIY art installation.

7. Try cropped curtains.

8. Build a corner headboard.

9. Consider overlay cabinets.

10. Add an under-sink shelf.

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Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Related Stories

8 Ideas to Borrow from the Shaker-Inspired Commerce Inn in NYC

Fresh Directions: 9 Ideas to Steal from The James Bradley, a Moody Hotel in an Unlikely Locale

10 Design Ideas to Steal from Cowley Manor Experimental in the Cotswolds

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