There's no client quite like a colleague.
When Nancy Nayab, a devloper and someone I've long admired in this industry, asked us to take on her home in Santa Luz, I felt two things at once: genuinely honored, and pleasantly nervous. Designing for someone who works in this world is the ultimate trust fall. She knows what good looks like. She knows what things cost, how timelines slip, and where corners get cut. There would be no hiding behind pretty renderings.
Which is exactly why this project became one of my favorites.
The Santa Luz setting
If you know Santa Luz, you know the assignment. The community sits in the rolling hills of north San Diego, all adobe tones, deep-set windows, and that golden late-afternoon light the area is famous for. The architecture leans rustic Santa Barbara, with thick walls, courtyards, and a quiet relationship with the landscape. Our job was never to fight that character. It was to warm it up from the inside and make it unmistakably Nancy's.
Designing for someone who speaks the language
Working with a fellow industry professional changes the process in the best way. Our meetings skipped the vocabulary lessons and went straight to the good conversations: how she actually lives, gathers, and unwinds. Nancy could look at a plan and immediately see the morning coffee spot, the drop zone that would save her sanity, the sightline from the kitchen that mattered more than any single finish.
It also meant honest pushback, in both directions. She challenged us; we challenged her. We went back and forth on the interior door color, ultimately choosing a soft, neutral tan over black. The warmer tone complements the home’s natural materials and brings together the organic, earthy glam look we envisioned.
That's the thing about designing for a peer. The collaboration sharpens everything, and the result isn't a compromise between two opinions. It's a better idea than either of us walked in with.
The rooms that tell the story
In the kitchen, we brought warmth and softness into the space through white oak, honed stone, and an earthy palette. Choosing soft tan for the interior doors helped connect the kitchen to the rest of the home, creating a cohesive backdrop for the organic, earthy glam aesthetic.
Outdoors, we transformed the living areas into inviting places to gather, with natural stone, comfortable seating, and linen-toned textiles. The clearest before-and-after moment is opening the doors: the interior and outdoor spaces now feel connected, carrying the same warmth and natural textures throughout the home.
What I hope comes through in the photos is the feeling we chased from day one: a home that honors Santa Luz's earthy architecture while feeling light, current, and deeply personal.
The best compliment in the business
When another professional trusts you with her own home, that's the review that matters most. Nancy has seen behind the curtain of this industry for years, and she handed us her keys anyway.
To Nancy: thank you for the trust, the laughter, and the sharpest design conversations we've had all year. And to anyone reading from Santa Luz, Rancho Santa Fe, or anywhere along the coast: if you're wondering what it's like to work with a design-build studio that handles every detail under one roof, this project is the answer.
Come take a look. And when you're ready, we'd love to talk about your home next.
Saylor Lane Studios is a design-build studio in San Diego, California creating timeless homes across coastal San Diego. See more of our work on the Projects page, or book a consultation to start yours.