THE MUELLER HOUSE

PROJECT LOCATION: 399 Pearl Street, Laguna Beach, California
SIZE: 2,500 sq ft main residence + 1,000 sq ft attached two‑story ADU
STYLE: Contemporary Cottage

Project Overview

Set along the walkable, tree‑lined slope of Pearl Street, this contemporary cottage reinterprets Laguna Beach’s historic coastal vernacular through a modern lens. The home preserves the neighborhood’s intimate scale at the street—maintaining a single‑story profile—while allowing the massing to step naturally toward the rear of the site. The result is a residence that feels both rooted in its context and quietly forward‑looking.

Architectural Expression

The design is composed as a play of simple, low‑slope shed roofs that slip past one another, creating a layered silhouette against the coastal sky. Exposed wood beams introduce warmth and craft, while a refined mix of cedar shingles and board‑and‑batten siding grounds the home in the material traditions of Laguna’s early cottages.

Divided‑lite windows and doors punctuate the elevations with a rhythm that feels familiar yet crisp, balancing transparency with privacy. These openings frame curated views toward the ocean and garden while maintaining a neighbor‑friendly presence along the property edges.

ADU Integration

The attached 1,000‑square‑foot ADU is conceived as an architectural extension rather than an appendage. Its two‑story form is carefully modulated—pulled back, stepped, and screened—to maintain privacy for adjacent homes while offering its occupants generous light and indoor–outdoor flow. Shared materiality and roof geometry tie the ADU seamlessly into the overall composition.

Landscape & Indoor–Outdoor Living

Soft coastal planting, low garden walls, and wood trellises weave the architecture into the site. Outdoor rooms are carved into the massing, creating sheltered terraces and sunlit pockets that extend daily living into the landscape. The interplay of natural textures—cedar, plaster, stone, and planting—creates a home that feels handcrafted, calm, and deeply connected to its setting.