- Location
- Corona del Mar, CA
- project type
- Residential
- square footage
- 7,892 sq. ft.
- timeline
- 3 years
- moodboard
- A high-contrast palette inspired by industrial elements
- the challenge
- Create a space that feels elevated yet grounded for an active family
“It’s not a museum!” said Denise Morrison inside one of her favorite projects, a sharply styled residence brimming with modern art in Corona del Mar, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. She collaborated with her daughter-in-law, Rachel Morrison, on the home’s high-contrast design for a family with three adult sons who love to gather. Think: game room that’s also a pool room, poker room, even a tequila tasting room. But Denise, who has four sons of her own, was lit up with ideas. In fact, the project was so aligned with her personal style that she made herself at home, dreaming up what could be.
inside Morrison Interiors' project
Loloi – Let’s start at the beginning. How did this project kick off?
Rachel – First, we pulled a ton of inspirational imagery of tile, stone, and other materials, and we really tried to center the palette on neutrals, but with moments of high-contrast pop throughout. The home’s exterior has this lovely white brick and natural cedar. A lot of earthiness. So we repeated that in the materials you see in the home. Ultimately, what the client wanted was something really warm, really inviting, and curated.
Loloi – You mentioned the family loves to entertain, so how did that influence the design choices?
DENISE – Really beautiful things don't have to look so precious that you can’t use them. In all of our projects, you could put your feet up on a cocktail table, and see fabrics that have amazing texture, but they have some kind of protection on them so that regardless of your lifestyle, you can enjoy your home. It’s one of the most important things we work toward in a design.
Loloi – What are some of the moments of high contrast you created in the home?
Denise – You’ll see that in the kitchen, where we have these beautiful steel and glass cabinets, but they’re contrasted with white oak cabinetry. We also leaned into the contrast by doing a steel effect on the fireplace, a lighter sofa, darker rugs. And that balance is what makes design interesting.
Loloi – Let’s talk about your approach to rugs. Where do you begin when you’re searching for one?
Rachel – Rugs are an essential part of our process. They define spaces, anchor furnishings, and set the tone for the home that we’re working on. We like a high content of wool in the rugs that we use in our projects. It’s super durable. So we often start on the Loloi site by filtering through rugs with that high wool content, and then we further refine by looking through the variety of styles.
Loloi – How did you approach all of the outdoor areas (of which there are many) of the home?
Denise – In California, we’re mindful of our interior and exterior space connection, because they’re used almost equally. For the space off of the primary bedroom, it was important to create a cozy, intimate, airy vibe. We chose the Rainier Collection because it really had this great earthy quality to it. It looks like an interior rug, but it will function fabulously as an exterior rug.
Explore the Full Gallery
Loloi – What’s a special detail in the home that you might notice more than anyone else who enters?
Rachel – A design detail that's particularly meaningful to me is the entry lighting. So often you would look to do a typical chandelier, but the way that you enter this home, it didn’t work very well. So we had to think creatively, and Denise came up with this awesome idea where we have these cascading lights that follow the stairs as they go down to the lower level. It doesn't detract from the view of the ocean that you see upon entry. It just adds this unexpected design that I think is perfect for the space.
Loloi – How do you two work together as mother and daughter-in-law?
Denise – Rachel and I work so well together, partially because we have different work styles. I was so grateful and happy when she decided to join the firm because she brought this very linear quality to her process, and was such a creative influence. I tend to be more fluid, and I think that the balance is what has really worked well for us. We have a lot of mutual respect for each other, which has allowed our designs to only get better with time.
For more inspiration – @morrison_interiors – Follow Morrison Interiors on Instagram
morrisoninteriors.com – See the complete portfolio
About the Designer
Morrison Interiors is a luxury residential design firm in Orange County, CA, led by Denise Morrison and her daughter-in-law, Rachel Morrison. Their collaborative and artful approach shapes timeless homes that transcend trend, creating spaces with lasting beauty. Morrison Interiors has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Luxe, and many more.
