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Meet and greet: Jessica (content producer) and Mike Kraus (construction foreman) and their four sons Arlo, Leon, Rex and Hayes.
The property: 148sqm 1960s California ranch house renovated and rebuilt by Mike during weekends and after work.
Jessica Kraus and her husband, Mike, found their dreamy 1960s San Clemente ranch home just a mile from the Pacific Ocean in California, and renovated it to encompass a vibe of coastal ease.
The family’s design journey began when they acquired the property, recognising its hidden potential despite its unassuming facade. “We bought it last year knowing it needed lots of work. But, it was one of the only houses we could afford in the area. We were just desperate to settle our family here,” Jessica explains.
The renovation process proved to be both an exhilarating experience and a test of resilience.
“We were sort of naive in the beginning,” Jessica admits. “As we went on, the plans grew more and more involved. Before we knew it, we were gutting the entire house to switch up the main layout.”
Living through the renovation with four active children challenged Jessica in unforeseen ways. “It felt a lot like camping,” she says, recalling the makeshift living arrangements, occasional water and electricity disruptions, and the feeling of living in constant disarray. “But it’s also been fun and exciting to see the work pay off and our vision come to life in creating a little sanctuary by the beach.”
Amid the chaos, Jessica found design inspiration in the quiet tranquillity of the houses of Hydra, Greece. “I love how they lean on all-white interiors with rustic wood accents, imperfect plaster and white-beamed ceilings,” she says. “I love the simplicity and old-world charm they embrace so beautifully in their beach homes over there. I’ve long been obsessed with Leonard Cohen’s house in Hydra. I kept coming back to those images when making certain design choices, hoping to secure a small part of that charm.”
Jessica’s home is filled with objects of meaning that breathe life into the space, such as the small plaster handprints her boys made in kindergarten.
When thinking about the complexities of raising her kids, Jessica says, “The biggest challenge is how much they seek, crave and feed off risk, in any shape or form. Except for my second son, Leon. He avoids it at all costs. Caution is his middle name. The other three, though, they’re constantly throwing themselves off rocks or scaling hillsides and launching off makeshift skate ramps and all kinds of other wild and worrisome things.”
Living close to nature in San Clemente holds a special meaning for the Kraus family.
The small-town feel and rugged shore resonate deeply with their love for coastal living. “Living by the sea feels invigorating in so many ways. Almost like it becomes part of your DNA, which I love. The local longboard community has become a big part of my boys’ lives. We love that they feel part of something special, and are in the water as much as possible,” Jessica says.
“Lying outstretched in the sun when the stress of renovation gets to be too much has been my one saving grace through this whole process.”
The disruption has been worth the reward, and Jessica is looking forward to embracing a series of simple joys – cooking in her charming new kitchen, savouring moments with her boys, writing and running along the beach.
Shop Jessica and Mike’s California ranch-style house design
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