On a beachfront full of houses, narrow is normal. This Manhattan Beach home—whose living room measures 22 feet wide and opens onto a small deck—offers typical space-planning challenges. Interior designer Tim Clarke responded by stripping away layers of architecture. “The ceiling is pushed up against the roof—there’s barely room for can lighting,” he says. “We did everything we could to make sure every inch was maximized.” Then, Clarke worked out a floor plan that took into account the view and the bronze fireplace. “I try to make the house feel just as good on foggy days as on sunny ones.”
DESIGN: Tim Clarke, Santa Monica; timclarkedesign.com.