SAN Francisco-based designer Nicole Hollis has been trying to combine the interior and exterior of her homes. "Everything is connected," she says. Stinson Beach is one of her new projects, a 1970s villa, in collaboration with architect Cass Calder Smith.

Nicole Hollis drew inspiration from the natural surroundings of the house, which is located in an area often shrouded in fog. It sits on a lake, and floor-to-ceiling Windows look out onto the Marin Headlands, where natural materials abound. The highlight of the home is the large walnut headboard in the master bedroom, which was inspired by the redwood trees along the road.

Nicole Hollis' design approach reflects not only the house's context but also its owner's personality. She liked the connection between the house and nature and the fact that it was on the water because it was also relevant to the family. Nicole Hollis turned the 2,200-square-foot space into a getaway, accommodating four lively boys who slept on bunk beds in two bedrooms, one of which was converted from a former garage. She reserved some places for her clients' families to relax, including a private courtyard with a fire pit for gathering when the sun goes down and the temperature drops.

To balance the dramatic setting, Hollis maintained neutral tones, with a white background providing a canvas for the client's colourful art collection. Her style is also inspired by artists, especially those who focus on light, form and materials, and she cites Donald Judd, whose work the sofa bed in the courtyard is a tribute to. Hollis noted that he and she had never worked as a 'decorator,' so many of her interior designs lacked decoration, but they were carefully curated or assembled to appear precise and refined.