A Stinson Beach Home That Gets Coastal Living Right
How a 1,500-square-foot renovation became the perfect Bay Area family retreat
When this Bay Area family bought their Stinson Beach getaway, they knew it had good bones, but those bones were buried under compartmentalized rooms and limited natural light. The 1,500-square-foot home needed a complete reimagining to match their vision of relaxed coastal living.
The design team made one dramatic change that transformed everything: they vaulted the ceiling and merged the kitchen, dining, and living areas into one flowing space. Suddenly, the compact home felt twice as large. But here's the real showstopper: they installed a massive motorized flip-up window (5 feet high, 12 feet wide) that connects the kitchen directly to the back garden. When it's open, you literally can't tell where the house ends and the outdoors begins.
A generous ridge skylight runs along the new vaulted ceiling, flooding the interior with natural light all day long. No more dark, cramped beach house vibes. The transformation didn't stop with the main living areas either. Instead of just parking cars, they converted the old garage into a vaulted hangout room and loft. Now the kids have their own space, and guests have somewhere to crash after a long beach day.
Smart Moves Inside and Out
The exterior keeps things simple with stucco and fire-treated rustic siding, materials that can handle the coastal elements while looking naturally at home by the beach. It's that "I've always been here" aesthetic that's so hard to get right.
The outdoor spaces are where this project really shines. There's a hot tub for soaking in those epic Stinson sunsets, a fire pit for s'mores and evening conversations, multiple lounge areas for lazy beach days, and an outdoor shower (because sandy feet and indoor floors don't mix). Each element was carefully positioned to create distinct zones while keeping everything connected to both the house and the natural coastal setting.
A motorized flip-up window connects the kitchen to the rear garden, blurring the line between indoors and out.
A newly vaulted ceiling unifying the kitchen, dining, and living areas into one open, airy space.
Why It All Works
This renovation succeeds because it understands what coastal living is really about: flexibility, light, and that seamless indoor-outdoor flow that makes you forget you're inside a house at all. The team behind this transformation includes Scott Kuehne and the crew at Suarez-Kuehne Architecture, interior designer Shay Kos, and landscape architects Terra Ferma, with stunning photography by Paul Dryer.
Sometimes the best design moves are the simplest ones: open up the space, bring in the light, and get out of the way so families can actually enjoy being at the beach. This Stinson Beach retreat does exactly that, creating a home that feels both intimate and expansive, a true reflection of that laid-back coastal lifestyle that draws so many of us to the water's edge.