S W E E T D I G S | 5 1 5 M A R I N E AV E N U E
PRIME, PRIVATE AND PEACEFUL
The location, too, is part of the home's
story. Situated in the Gas Lamp District,
the address nicely toggles between the flip-
flop and beach cruiser lifestyle of the Sand
Section, and the strong neighborhood vibe
of the Tree Section. Walkability is prime,
whether to shopping and dining or to fami-
ly-friendly points nearby. The beach is a
5-minute stroll; even closer are schools and
the expanse of Live Oak Park. "We're only
a block away from the kids' grade school,"
says Heininger, "so I walk them to and from
school every day."
The location is prime, yet peace and
privacy loom large at 515 Marine Avenue.
The courtyard serves as an ultra-safe outdoor
space, and sleeping spaces are bundled on
the second floor, which houses five bedrooms,
each inviting in a creamy palette made even
more dreamy by tall windows and gauzy
drapes. Through strategic landscaping by
Jones Landscapes and thoughtful position-
ing on the lot, the home achieves remarkable
privacy. "You can see out of the windows,
but not into any neighbor's windows," the
designer notes. "It feels very private inside
of the house and very serene."
A BIT OF SOUL
The atmosphere is driven by the design-
er's philosophy of pared-down elegance.
"Generally I like to design with a very muted
color palette," she points out. "I don't
use color pops. I don't use patterns. It's
mostly natural materials; earth tones and
quiet." The first floor, for instance, show-
cases a micro-topping concrete floor that
has a softly gleaming, plaster-like effect
with marbling depth when hit by light. In
the kitchen, a polished white marble island
serves as a project touchstone. "I like to
pick small moments." Heininger explains,
"and I wanted one very elevated move that
felt really elegant." Natural stone, a favorite
of the designer, was an easy choice.
"It's very important to create a little bit
of soul in my projects, and natural materi-
als are one way to really infuse a space with
it," she muses. Like a ballet dancer whose
years of sweat-drenched practice enables
them to parlay technical complexity into
seemingly effortless moves—the designer's
skill has enabled her to produce the well-re-
strained elegance throughout the home. It
stands not just as a beautiful residence,
but an inspiration for what's possible when
vision and pluck meet capability. "When
an incredibly talented designer like Nicole
gets to do something for herself—and plan
it out with an amazing team—it brings
together a home that is a singular modern
build unto itself," says Haynes. "It's a truly
special result."
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