Flexibility and function were top concerns for the couple, who have two young kids. “We wanted open flow but also cozy spots to unwind,” Ferguson explains. Priorities like durable indoor-outdoor fabrics and art hung safely out of reach guided design choices. Spaces especially cater to connection, from the grand room complete with a bar and piano to alfresco nooks primed for play and entertaining. Outdoor gardens even provide herbs and vegetables for cooking. The kitchen’s lengthy marble-topped island is a natural gathering spot. “It’s just where everyone ends up congregating,” says Mikita.
For whole-family hangs, the main floor’s seamless flow between kitchen, living room, and a sun-filled playroom works perfectly. “I think our three-year-old spends more time there than in his actual bedroom,” laughs Mikita. On movie nights they might find themselves nestled in the downstairs game room, dubbed an “upscale basement hangout” by Cheng. Here, bold aqua velvet sofas circle an exuberant geometric rug, while playful wallpaper again spans the ceiling.
A guest cottage caters to frequent visitors. The charming bunk room features lush floral wallpaper and built-in beds swathed in playful stripes. Outdoor decks offer tamed wilderness vibes with rattan seating and a serene palette. “It’s an elevated campground feel,” says Ferguson.
Ultimately, Cheng explains, she was able to respond intuitively to the family’s life, to help shape a personal, usable, and accessible space. As she says, “My goal was to take the beautiful contemporary architecture and soften it. To make this feel a bit more intimate, a little bit more sophisticated, and a little less ‘bright and airy’ in the wrong ways.”
Shop out the look of Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita’s house here ⤵