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Once upon a time, Christy Baskauskas, the founder of womenswear brand Christy Dawn, and her husband, Aras, would go on dates that consisted of wandering through the small, cloistered community of Rustic Canyon. Full of lush foliage and mature trees, the Santa Monica enclave is a coveted address. “We would dream about living there, but it’s really hard to get into because there aren’t very many homes,” Christy says.
Years later, in 2019, one came on the market at just the right moment. “When we walked in, we saw the redwood trees in the backyard and just had this magical feeling of: We’re home,” recalls Christy. The couple, now the parents of two young boys, wrote a letter to the owner, who had lived there for decades; they promised to keep the structure intact and honor the original 1970s architecture, sharing their proposed changes. To their surprise and great happiness, theirs was the offer she accepted.
By the time they got the keys that fall, she had a clear vision for the renovation. With Aras acting as the general contractor, a budget of $175,000, and a self-imposed deadline of three months to complete the project, they set to work. The resulting revamp reflects the ethos of the breezy, sustainable dresses—beloved by celebrities including Taylor Swift and Emily Ratajkowski—that Christy has built her brand on, recast in the form of a timeless family home.
Thankfully, the bones were in broadly good shape, with original windows and finishes throughout. “But the floors were really dark, and that made the whole house feel darker than it actually was,” says Christy. Swapping the floorboards for white oak planks immediately opened up the whole house, as did vaulting the ceiling over the kitchen and dining room. New rafters lent structural support and architectural interest, and sunlight streams in courtesy of carefully placed skylights.
The couple also reconfigured a number of interior walls to eliminate poky rooms. After many years in cute but cramped beach bungalows, Christy embraced an open concept: The kitchen, living room, and dining area all flow together now. Streamlined materials—tonal white backsplash tile, oak-faced cabinets, paneled appliances—create a calm vibe. The couple elected to keep a corner window above the kitchen sink, where Christy likes to place plants and crystals, and added an eat-in island and reading bench.
Comfort, togetherness, and durability were the priorities. “We play a lot of indoor baseball and indoor soccer in this house while I’m making dinner or cooking breakfast. We’re not precious with our things,” Christy explains. The boys also play baseball in the open, grassy yard space, which someday she hopes to rework with a patio area. For now, landscape designer Adrian Acevedo of Ace Private Gardens has cultivated structure and contoured plantings in the exterior spaces.
Christy is happy to put her money toward nice dishware and rugs, but will save on tables, chairs, and sofas, knowing they’re likely going to get stained and wrestled on. “Those are the memories I want for my kids—not being worried that Mom and Dad are going to be upset because they spill something,” she says.
That unfussy attitude carries throughout the home. They updated the primary and guest bathrooms with new millwork, antique brass finishes, and walk-in showers with tile by Clé, while major color moments—like the blue tile in the guest bath and a dusky orange window seat cover off the kitchen—counterbalance the naturalistic minimalism. Everywhere, the outdoor views are invited inside. Only one new window was added during construction: Spanning floor to ceiling, it frames the base of a massive redwood, like the ones Christy and Aras used to admire during their walks through the canyon.
“When we bought the house, we knew immediately that we would put that window there so we could invite the tree’s energy in every day,” says Christy. A sofa was positioned so the family could bask in its presence. “It’s such a good nest for a family,” she adds. They plan to continue growing roots there for years to come.
