When you think of a sofa, you might think of something traditional, like a three-seater or a sectional. But this living room makeover might inspire you to think outside of the box and try a built-in plaster sofa. Yes, a plaster sofa.
Charlotte Lea
The living spaces in this Carlsbad, California, home were originally broken up into three separate zones—a small formal living room, a dining room, and an exterior courtyard sandwiched between the two. The separated spaces didn’t have any openness or flow, and wasn’t ideal for entertaining and gathering—something that the clients (a couple with a young daughter) wanted in their home. Plus, there wasn’t that indoor-outdoor connection between the interior living areas and the pool.
Charlotte Lea
“My clients envisioned a spacious living and lounge area that flowed seamlessly into the outdoors—making it easier to host, relax, and connect,” says interior designer Katelyn De Spain of Makehouse Design Studio. “They wanted a space that felt open and inviting, where entertaining came naturally and the whole family could be together in one place.”
Charlotte Lea
Katelyn’s clients were ready to rid themselves of the builder-grade interiors and drew design inspiration from their favorite places in Mexico and Morocco. They had stayed in a beautiful villa in Tulum that had many furnishings crafted from plaster and finished with custom upholstery—which is how the plaster-built sofa came to be.
Charlotte Lea
“Beyond aesthetics, a plaster-built sofa offers the opportunity to sculpt it precisely to the room’s dimensions, with thoughtful details like an integrated side table. It strikes that perfect balance between minimalism, warmth, and craftsmanship,” Katelyn explains.
Katelyn and team made the sofa extra deep as the clients envisioned the piece as a place for an afternoon nap or a sleepover spot for their daughter.
Charlotte Lea
But the plaster sofa is just part of the living room makeover—the biggest transformation was the removal of a wall that once separated the space from the exterior patio. “By combining that space with the adjacent dining room, we created one expansive living area anchored by a glass accordion door that opens directly to the pool,” she adds.
Katelyn kept the room richly textured with a cashmere-soft rug, lime washed walls, and tongue-and-groove ceiling. She pulled tones directly from plaster’s building materials—clay, sand, and straw—to anchor the space in a calming, grounding way.
Charlotte Lea
The newly expanded and open space has character and a good layout that’s perfect for both entertaining and everyday living.
“The beauty of it was how naturally those aesthetics and climates translated to San Diego’s environment,” Katelyn says of the international-inspired design. “It felt like an organic evolution, both in terms of place and the home’s architecture. Too often, builder homes impose a style that feels out of sync with their surroundings. In this case, we were able to thoughtfully weave their travel-inspired vision into the design—made possible in part by reworking a few key exterior walls.”
