Mid-Century Modern Meets Sun-Drenched Ease With California Ranch Style
Interiors
Rustic tones of terracotta and khaki combine with marble features in the expansive Sun Ranch kitchen. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Joseph Gardner.
Vintage finds are paired with modern materials. Sun Ranch. Photo – Anson Smart. Styling – Joseph Gardner.
In fashion designer Emma Cutri’s stylish and warm kitchen; custom powder coated rangehood designed by Peter Frederick Cole Architect (PFCA) in collaboration with Anne-Therese Ryan, and fabricated by J&RC Builders; marble on benchtops and splashback from Corsi & Nicolai; various ceramics made by Emma Cutri; terracotta tiles by Artedomus; stools purchased from Facebook Marketplace, track light from About Space, tapware by ABI Interiors. Photo – Eve Wilson. Styling – Annie Portelli.
Artwork under stairs by Charlie Ingemar Harding. Artwork at top of the stairs by Ajay Jennings. Table made using recycled railway tracks and beams by Salmon Furniture. Tall bowl sculpture by Jordan Fleming. Millie’s studio door made by Simeon Dux. The structural column on the roof has been wrapped in brass. Home of Millie Savage. Photo – Nikole Ramsay. Styling – Annie Portelli.
California Ranch style is the epitome of relaxed sophistication — where a mid-century modern sensibility meets sun-drenched ease.
Inspired by post-war 1950s modernism, ornate details and wide-open Western landscapes, this style champions indoor-outdoor living, natural materials, and an unfussy, grounded aesthetic.
At its core, the Californian Ranch style is all about flow. Open-plan layouts, low-slung profiles, and large sliding doors that invite nature in — blurring the boundaries between home and horizon.
Interiors are calm and textural — think washed walls, exposed beams, and a palette drawn straight from the desert: warm timber, cork, sandstone, olive, and rust.
Furniture is functional but beautiful, often a mix of vintage finds and modern accents. Linen or velvet sofas and armchairs in generously curved forms, terracotta tiles underfoot, and artisan ceramics add an inviting warmth.
Finishings are tactile and varied, from paper lampshades to cool chrome details, woven baskets and stone benchtops.
It’s a style that reflects the spirit of the Californian lifestyle: laid-back, design-forward, and deeply connected to the landscape.
Additional moodboard credits (from left): Chinoiserie Bamboo & Cane Mirror from CCSS. Wave Bowl in Terracotta Gloss by Jessica Sellinger from Fenton & Fenton. Pan After’s Striped Paper Collection Large Bowl in Mustard. Vintage Ceramic Glazed Pot from Florian Home.