It takes an expert eye to take an authentic Spanish-style home and sympathetically update it to reflect modern-day living. The interiors need to celebrate those living in it, function for the way they live, yet retain the exquisite architecture that makes the property unique – and that’s no easy feat.

In this Southern Californian home – which belongs to interior designer Stephanie Parisi and her fiancé – dark, overfilled rooms needed to be reimagined into an open, bright space while retaining the original details.

The beauty of this project was that, unlike designing the interiors for a client, Stephanie could fill the space with anything she wanted, and create a space that truly feels like home. Here, she welcomes us inside to showcase the beautiful transformation of her Spanish-style home.

‘The home has an authentic Spanish Colonial architectural layout and was built around a central enclosed courtyard. There were many charming details in place before the recent transformation – many of which were made by artisans and imported from Mexico – but was used excessively, thus giving the home a sort of heavy and busy appearance,’ says Stephanie Parisi.

The layout of the home was the first thing to tackle. A long hallway was the only route to the various rooms, all of which had small doorways that simply weren’t practical for day-to-day use. So, it was key to create a better flow between each room.

‘Interior doors were replaced with wide openings headed with exposed beams. Some walls were removed, and instead arched openings or passages flanked with antique iron doors on pivot hinges were created. This allowed more light into the spaces and created a greater aesthetic and functional flow,’ she explains.

Once a more fluid flow between rooms was created, it was time to look to the more decorative details. The home was originally filled with an excessive amount of architectural details, which were replaced with a more refined finish that still honored the original design style.

‘This was an exercise in a refined process of deleting. The goal was to give a fresh interpretation of the architectural style, revealing the beauty of the architecture by removing fussy details,’ she says.

‘Clusters of small decorative niches were removed to create smooth plastered art walls, certain cabinets were removed to create functional space, and excessive pattern variety on the countertops, backsplash, and floor tiles were removed so a more cohesive visual direction could be created.’

The finished home now showcases a masterful balance of old and new, original features, and a refined finish. Dark wood flooring features throughout the home, while a mix of original clay tiles and artisan-made new ones blend seamlessly.

‘I have a collection of furnishings from years of collecting jaunts and selected these for many of the pieces in the home. These included an old rustic Mexican carved chair which I purchased years ago. I must have known a hacienda-style home was in my future! I was fortunate to be able to source quite a few pieces from local shops,’ she says.

‘The furnishings are a blend of Spanish and South American antiques, primitive Mexican chairs, comfortable eclectic upholstery, and mixes of hand-crafted accessories from both European and indigenous sources.’

Her favorite space in the home, though, is not an interior room, but the entry patio leading to her studio. ‘I love that it bridges the landscape and the interior of the home. This area introduces the international theme of the interiors with a mix of Mexican Equipale chairs, a bench from Spain, and a large carved cabinet from South America,’ she explains.

Her home is a lesson in blending styles, cultures, and eras to create a design that honors the property’s heritage while reflecting the tastes, styles, and personalities of those living within it.

‘My greatest joy as a designer is to infuse heart and soul into a home. This home, although needing some TLC, had those qualities in abundance. The changes were done in a way mindful of retaining the integrity of the historical romance of the home,’ she adds.

‘The furnishings further enhance the serenity and quiet beauty of the spaces. They bridge cultures and timelines with combinations of Mexican and Spanish pieces, comfortable upholstery, and mixes of hand-crafted accessories from both European and indigenous sources. As Lilian Rice was quoted, “I have found real joy in Rancho Santa Fe”.’