Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Tuesday, Aug 05, 2025

5 interior tips to borrow from this chateau-style Malibu home that has perfected open-plan living

5 interior tips to borrow from this chateau-style Malibu home that has perfected open-plan living

This stunning home in one of California's most exclusive locations combines Provençal elegance with a modern layout

As if anyone needed convincing that California is an amazing place to live, this Malibu home has some invaluable lessons on mastering the art of open-plan living. The chateau-style residence is located on the most exclusive street in Pointe Dume, but what we like the most about this luxurious home is its air of graceful ease, as though it really were on a remote hilltop in southern France.

It has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, but somehow feels like one airy, cohesive space. Here are the top tips we're borrowing from this Malibu home for achieving a nonchalant open-plan look.

1. Announce the design intention with the hallway




Hallways should be treated as very much continuous with the rest of the house if you're going for an open-plan vibe. This entrance instantly announces to a guest that this is a luxurious yet relaxed abode.

'Sit anywhere you like', it says, 'and stay however long you want in whichever room: there's no rush.' Instead of limiting the hallway furniture to just an occasional table, a vintage-style settee creates a space that is more connected to the living spaces that lie beyond.

2. Play with mellow neutrals for easy continuity




It's very easy to choose between an open-plan feel and a style where the rooms are more separate from one another. Bright, distinct color schemes and individualized decorative accents will create a more enclosed look for each room.

In this home, on the other hand, the use of warm neutrals throughout creates a sensation of infinite space stretching between the architectural arches. An exquisitely designed space like this one doesn't necessarily need much color to appreciate its beauty.

3. Between windows and doors, doors always win




If the height of your space permits it, French doors always work better in an open-plan layout than windows, visually opening up the rooms and creating attractive vistas to the outdoor areas.

Don't underestimate the powerful effect of all that natural light, either! In the Malibu home, the fact that the doors echo the rounded shapes of the indoor arches creates even more of a cohesive look.

4. Don't hold back on luxurious kitchen materials




There is nowhere for a kitchen to hide in an open-plan space – you'll likely see it from multiple points in the living room/lounge, so it has to pull its weight, design-wise, alongside all the other spaces encompassed within the same floor space. And this kitchen really delivers: its reclaimed limestone worktops create natural focal points and lend a more modern feel to the rustic style throughout.

5. Create spaces for conversation




Finally, we're back to the idea of the intent behind styling a home as open plan. Open-plan living is all about an easy-going way of life, a conversation that spontaneously starts in one place and continues in another. This home fully accommodates this sociable lifestyle, by creating inviting conversational nooks throughout the house. And the colorful wall art can easily provide a conversation starting point.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
×