The moment that tastemaker Sam Moore laid eyes on her 1920s bungalow in Venice Beach, she knew she’d found the home of her dreams. “After searching for months, the house itself was exactly what I was looking for,” says the VP of Brand at Jenni Kayne. “It has great bones, charming architectural details, and even though it’s small, the high ceilings and natural light in the home make it feel spacious and comfortable.” 

To honor the existing beach bungalow style of the house, Sam stuck with simple cosmetic upgrades that helped simplify and streamline the 900-square-foot space. “I started with new flooring, fixtures, and hardware, and applied a fresh coat of Whipped, which really made all the difference,” she explains. 

Curious how Sam transformed the century-old SoCal house into the light and airy beach bungalow that it is today? From ethereal paint palette ideas to tips for layering textiles and more, she shares her insight ahead.

1. Pick a warm white color palette to make the space feel bright and breezy. 

To play up the tall ceilings and natural light in the home, Sam painted the walls, baseboards, and cabinets in Whipped, a warm shade of soft white that ensured the space felt bright and breezy. “I’ll be honest, I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to choose a paint color for the house, but Clare made it way less intimidating,” she says. “I ended up going with Whipped because it’s a bit warmer and softer than un-tinted white, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

2. Stick to neutral fabrics to create a clean backdrop.

3. Integrate organic elements for a beachy vibe. 

To usher some laid back, organic vibes into the space, Sam incorporated natural wood furniture items, including a solid oak wood dresser and coffee table, as well as a mix of vintage pieces with Scandinavian accents. “Mixing in vintage is an easy and oftentimes affordable way to keep a space feeling organic and not too ‘done’,” she explains.

4. Stay true to the architecture of an old beach bungalow.  

Thanks to the natural spatial flow of the space, Sam says she didn’t have to make any major structural changes to the space. “That being said, it’s over 100 years old and there are definitely some funky add-ons and design choices made by previous owners,” she says. “But, I think all these quirks add to the charm and sort of comes with the territory of owning an older home.” 

5. Add a dash of deco-inspired drama.  

To complement the 1920s style of the beach bungalow, Sam was strategic about integrating antique brass finishes and fixtures throughout the space. “I find that gold finishes can sometimes look a bit juvenile, so I tried to source pieces with an antique or more brassy finish that will patina with time to help keep the look elevated,” she explains.