In the heart of Lake Sherwood, where the Santa Monica Mountains frame a breathtaking backdrop, designer Lindsey Colhoun has transformed a sprawling, outdated estate into a luminous family sanctuary. Tasked with the challenge of infusing warmth and intimacy into a grand space, Colhoun reimagined formal areas into vibrant hubs for everyday life—a formal living room reborn as a lively game room complete with a pool table and shuffleboard, seamlessly extending to an inviting outdoor firepit area.

In our exclusive conversation, Colhoun reveals her room-by-room strategy to counteract the home’s once-dark ambiance, from softening heavy wood floors with lighter, rustic textures to completely reimagining outdated cabinetry. Learn how she crafted seven uniquely inviting bathrooms and a kitchen designed as the heart of family gatherings, all while integrating Napa farmhouse elements like sawn beams and organic finishes that exude both charm and practicality.

Discover how strategic lighting transforms the space after dark, how breathtaking outdoor views blur the boundaries between indoors and out, and how personal touches—like a sophisticated nod to the husband’s cherished Marvel collection—cement a sense of home. Join us as we delve into Lindsey Colhoun’s masterful balancing act of grand scale and intimate family living, a design journey that promises to inspire every homeowner.

Lindsey, this home’s grand scale initially presented a challenge in fostering a sense of closeness. What was your vision for creating intimate spaces that encourage family togetherness within such a large environment?

With a home of this scale, the challenge was to create warmth and intimacy while honoring its grandeur. My vision was to make every space intentional and deeply connected to how the family actually lives. The formal living room, for example, wasn’t going to serve them in a meaningful way, so we reimagined it as a game room—complete with a pool table, shuffleboard, and a cozy spot for board games. This naturally became a hub for gathering and connection, seamlessly extending to an outdoor firepit area. Throughout the home, we designed spaces that encourage effortless flow and interaction, ensuring that every main living area connects with the outdoors. The result is a home that fosters both togetherness and a true indoor-outdoor California lifestyle.

The homeowners desired a bright, welcoming sanctuary. How did you approach transforming dark, outdated rooms into inviting spaces that feel both expansive and personal?

We approached the transformation with a room-by-room strategy, carefully balancing brightness with warmth to create a sanctuary that feels both expansive and personal. The dark wood floors provided a strong foundation, but we softened their impact by layering in lighter tones and textures. The very heavy, dark, outdated cabinetry throughout the home was completely reimagined—we painted, refaced, and refined each space to feel fresh, inviting, and reflective of the homeowners’ style. Every room was given its own distinct vibe while maintaining a cohesive flow, ensuring the home felt harmonious yet full of character.

With key updates in areas like the kitchen and the remodeling of seven bathrooms, how did you tailor these spaces to support everyday family interactions while maintaining a cohesive design?

The kitchen and bathrooms are the heartbeat of a home, so it was essential to design them with both function and beauty in mind. In the kitchen, we focused on creating a warm and welcoming space where the family could gather effortlessly—thoughtful layout adjustments, updated finishes, and custom details made it both highly functional and inviting. The seven bathrooms were reimagined to feel like individual retreats while maintaining a cohesive design language. We achieved this by selecting materials and finishes that flowed naturally throughout the home, ensuring each space felt distinct yet harmonious. The result is a home where everyday moments—whether cooking together or unwinding in a spa-like bath—feel intuitive and elevated.

Your use of natural elements—like sawn beams and lighter, rustic flooring—infuses the home with Napa farmhouse charm. How do these design choices contribute to a warm, family-friendly atmosphere?

Incorporating natural elements was key to creating a home that feels both warm and timeless. The sawn beams add texture and character, bringing a sense of history and craftsmanship to the space, while the lighter, rustic flooring not only softens the overall aesthetic but also makes the home more family-friendly—especially for a household with dogs. Lighter floors are more forgiving when it comes to everyday wear, helping to disguise scratches and dirt while maintaining a bright, airy feel. These elements work together to infuse the home with Napa farmhouse charm—elegant yet approachable, refined yet livable. By layering in organic materials and a warm, neutral palette, we created a space that feels connected to nature and inherently designed for both beauty and real life.

The integration of breathtaking outdoor views and spacious patios blurs the line between inside and out. In what ways does this seamless connection enhance the sense of togetherness and intimacy in the home?

Blurring the line between indoors and out was essential in creating a home that feels both expansive and intimate. The design embraces breathtaking outdoor views and spacious patios as natural extensions of the living spaces, allowing the family to feel constantly connected to their surroundings. Large openings, seamless transitions, and thoughtfully placed seating areas encourage an effortless flow between inside and out, making it easy to gather, entertain, or simply unwind in nature. This connection enhances the sense of togetherness—whether it’s morning coffee on the patio, family dinners under the stars, or cozy fireside conversations. By integrating the beauty of the landscape into everyday living, we created a home that fosters both connection and a deep sense of retreat.

Brightening up a once-dark home is no small feat. Can you share how strategic lighting and thoughtful layout adjustments played a role in creating cozy, inviting spaces where family can gather?

Transforming a once-dark home into a warm, inviting sanctuary required a thoughtful approach to both lighting and layout. While the home benefits from incredible natural light during the day, it lacked adequate lighting at night, making it feel dim and uninviting. We spent intentional time in the home after dark, perfecting the lighting plan to ensure every space felt cozy and functional at all hours. Layered lighting—including recessed lights, sconces, and statement fixtures—was carefully placed to enhance ambiance and highlight architectural details. We also made subtle layout adjustments to improve the flow of light and create intimate, welcoming spaces where the family can gather and unwind. The result is a home that feels as inviting and radiant in the evening as it does in the daytime, striking the perfect balance between brightness, warmth, and comfort.

Were there any bespoke details or personal touches you incorporated into the design that specifically aim to evoke a sense of home and encourage meaningful family moments?

A home should be a reflection of the people who live in it, and incorporating personal touches in a way that feels elevated and intentional is always a priority. In this project, the husband’s love for Marvel and his comic collection was something we wanted to honor—without the space feeling like a themed man cave. We carefully integrated his collection in a way that felt sophisticated and cohesive with the overall design, selecting subtle yet meaningful placements, mainly in the office and movie theater, that blended seamlessly with the home’s aesthetic. We reassured the wife that the approach would be tasteful and complementary, and in the end, everyone loved the result. These kinds of bespoke details not only add personality but also create spaces that feel deeply personal, encouraging meaningful family moments and a true sense of home.

Designing for intimacy in a large-scale home comes with its own set of challenges. What obstacles did you face in ensuring each area felt connected and warm, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge in a large-scale home is ensuring it has heart and soul—making it feel warm, connected, and deeply personal rather than vast and impersonal. To achieve this, we focused on layering textures, incorporating natural elements, and designing with the family’s lifestyle at the forefront. Thoughtful material choices, like warm wood tones, tactile fabrics, and organic finishes, added depth and character. We also paid close attention to spatial flow, ensuring that each area felt inviting and purposeful while maintaining a seamless connection throughout the home. By blending these elements with the way the family truly lives, we created a space that feels not just beautifully designed, but lived-in and loved.

Credits:

Written by Kacey Perez | @studioblume_

Photography courtesy of Lindsey Colhoun | @lindseycolhoundesign