glass dining room
A Southern Welcome
The fact that this house is steeped in Southern roots is evident from the moment you step through its grand double doors. Clayton and Boo Randle met in New York City, and settled in San Diego two and a half years ago. But both hail from the South. Stems of cotton, draped over a vintage mirror and console table, reflect Boo’s childhood in Alabama. The butterfly artwork is from Jacksonville, Florida, where Clay grew up. And their dog, NOLA, is named after the city of New Orleans, where they were married. The couple also shares their home with their three-month-old twins and Boo’s 14-year-old cat.
Clean Lines, Clear View
Clay and Boo agree that this dining room was the house’s selling point. “It helps us stomach suburbia a little more,” says Clay, 34. They’ve kept the décor to a minimum, letting the architecture speak for itself. “I really wanted to do something natural in here,” says Boo, 33. “I didn’t want to detract from the ambiance.” Acrylic ghost chairs from amazon.com surround a European white oak dining table from Crate & Barrel. The succulent centerpiece was an arts and crafts project inspired by Pinterest. Boo wrapped linen around a plastic bin from Armstrong Garden Centers and placed individual plants inside. The result is something low-maintenance and chic that adds just the right pop of color to the stunning glass room. (Custom-sized area rug from sisalrugs.com)
Baby Boom
“This is my favorite room in the house,” Boo says. “It’s the only one I started from scratch. The others all have remnants of our old houses.” For the color scheme, she drew inspiration from an unlikely source—a cream-colored gourd at Chino Farms, surrounded by orange and green. “I knew I didn’t want to do pink or blue. I wanted something gender-neutral and modern.” She chose gray Babyletto cribs, accented by a combination of Serena & Lily and Carousel Designs bedding. She had the owl pillow in the corner custom-made to match. Handcrafted Hopi Indian dolls hang on the wall, adding an earthy quality and personal touch to the space. The dolls symbolize the sun and good blessings. The machine-washable, faux flokati rug from Etsy gives her babies a soft place to play.
Casual and Cozy
The living area—and much of the three-bedroom, 2,400-square-foot house—is a mix of antiques and modern furniture. Boo inherited the wrought-iron coffee table and wingback linen chairs from her mother. The built-in shelves tell the story of their lives, lined with travel keepsakes (a box inlaid with marble from the Taj Mahal, purchased during a trip to India) and family heirlooms (the brown wooden box belonged to Clay’s grandmother). Cookbooks and coffee table books add color to the fairly muted space. “We like having a more casual living room,” Boo says. “We spend a lot of time with the kids and each other in here.” Three-month-old Waller and his sister, Quill, are pictured below on a Head Regal blanket, made in Malibu, California. Since the arrival of the twins, this has become the site of midday feedings, endless diaper changes, and strewn-about toys—the happiest kind of chaos.
Fireside Retreat
This flagstone and pebble-covered patio, just off the dining room and breakfast nook, makes for a great entertaining space. The pergola is wrapped in storybook trumpet vine, and accented by market lights and thick canvas drapes. The small coffee table is fashioned from an old Indonesian door. (Gwendolyn armchair from Orient Express Furnishings; putty-colored crochet pouf from Target)
