A Santa Cruz Victorian Fit for a Queen
by Annie Werbler
As the owner of Stripe Design Group and two auxiliary decor stores in Santa Cruz, CA, British expat Suna Lock enjoys the city’s Victorian architecture, which she feels is reminiscent of her beloved London. The voluminous rooms and high ceilings of this 1877 Italianate home are situated within walking distance to downtown, as Lock often misses the hustle and bustle of her former urban life. Many of the older houses in this region are carved up into apartments, but the original layout of this one is still intact. After moving in a decade ago, Lock further opened up the space by knocking out the wall between her kitchen and dining room to further integrate the two areas, while staining the floors black, choosing a saturated paint color palette, and selecting unique Mexican tiles for each individual stair. Lock resides here with her children, Thomas and Erica, as well as her love Josh, who joined them two years back.
The designer set out to have guests and residents alike feel immediately comfortable upon entering her home, in contrast with the building’s austere exterior. One interesting fact about the place among many — little alcoves line the walls leading up the stairs. Lock learned from her chimney sweep that these recesses are called “coffin corners,” and are designed so that if somebody were to pass away upstairs, that person could be carried down without scratching the walls. Thankfully, nobody has ever departed in the house, but the family does find this unusual feature useful for moving larger pieces of furniture up and down the stairs! —Annie
Photography by Tommy Parker
(1/21) Suna Lock's dining room "wall of weird." The wooden carved skull is a papier-mâché mold from the 1930s.
(2/21) The dining room facing the front of the house with its original, likely 1940s, chandelier is juxtaposed with an 1800s railroad sleeper-constructed table and modernist Verner Panton chairs. Walls are covered in Kelly-Moore Rolling Stone.
(3/21) Looking from the dining room back into the kitchen.
(4/21) The upper kitchen cabinets are accessed by a library ladder which hooks onto a rail that runs around the room.
(5/21) The stained black floors reveal hints of natural oak.
(6/21) Charlie rests on a window seat in the kitchen.
(7/21) Lock redesigned the kitchen with shelves for her vintage teapot collection in mind. She epoxyed a toy airplane to the refrigerator because the look seemed very stern without it.
(8/21) The library's original pocket doors are one of Lock's favorite details in the house, as is the frequently-used fireplace. The bright blue living room walls in the foreground are painted in Benjamin Moore How Blue Am I.
(9/21) The library has deep bay windows not seen in new constructions. Its yellow walls are covered in Benjamin Moore Artichoke Hearts.
(10/21) The mantelpiece features an old broken clock from Lock's father, even though he didn't really understand why she loved it.
(11/21) The family bathroom with a mirror collection that will eventually cover all of the walls.
(12/21) The cabinet on which the sink sits was made by Lock as part of a larger school project.
(13/21) The Kelly-Moore Rock Wall paint color was on the walls of Lock's London bathroom, and is the only color she has replicated between the two homes.
(14/21) Lock tiled the stair risers herself, and it was a labor of love. The bright blue wallcolor is Benjamin Moore754 Wilmington Spruce, and the dark grey stair underside is done in a color called French Beret.
(15/21) The chair at the top of the stairs was purchased by Lock at the age of 12. Original distressed painted-wood treads were a surprise upon removing old carpet. The white paint on the sides was left alone and tied into the decor.
(16/21) A Peruvian throw over the master bedroom headborad is from Lock's store, as is the woven one. The painting was her first of many by local artist Brian Rounds. Walls are Benjamin Moore Blue Dusk.
(17/21) Detail of a mirror in the upstairs bathroom.
(18/21) Erica (9 years old) is an avid animal lover and plays guitar with Charlie, the dog. Her brother, Thomas (11, not shown), is a keen soccer player and pianist.
(19/21) Suna Lock on her front stoop with pups Charlie and Trigg. Duke the rabbit (not shown) was born on the ranch where Erica did equestrian camp last year, and she insisted upon bringing him home.
(20/21) "What I love most about my home is the mixture of old and new." - Suna Lock
(21/21) Floorplans for Suna Lock's Santa Cruz, CA Victorian home.