Energetic Penthouse by Traditional Home Magazine

JAN 2018 – Clara Haneberg

Modern silhouettes blend with bold accents in this beachside retreat by up-and-coming designer Xander Noori

Overlooking a golf course with ocean views, this Newport Beach, California, penthouse gleamed with potential. The new construction, near SoCal’s stylish Fashion Island, was the perfect canvas for Xander Noori to practice his fresh design perspective. The homeowners, a husband and wife with grown children and grandkids, craved a staycation home with personality. “They’re young at heart and love bright color,” Noori says.

A light-filled living room opens to the dining room and kitchen. Noori custom designed the marble coffee table and armchairs in Romo fabric. The homeowners hand-chose the solid Calcutta marble slab that became the coffee table. “It was drawn from scratch and carved on-site,” notes the designer. The windows pocket open to reveal a balcony with glass railing, creating the ultimate indoor-outdoor experience.

“I love creating furniture and product that people can take home and ultimately enjoy,” Noori says. An adjustable sectional in sumptuous Italian leather is durable enough for wet swimsuits. The 120-inch dining table was formed from a single slice of solid wood and seats eight comfortably. A crystal chandelier dazzles overhead.

It’s all in the details! “The wife loves greens and purples, so we worked them into the colorways,” Noori says. Fresh flowers lend softness to the sleek marble surface. Geometric upholstry adds unexpected flair.

Barstools in apple green leather amplify the kitchen equipped with a Sub-Zero wine fridge and Wolf oven and range hood. Cabinetry in a medium oak tone imparts warmth to the crisp cooking area.

An island with full waterfall slab augments the open kitchen’s linear details. Palm trees wave beyond the windows.

In the master bedroom, framed calligraphy from the homeowner’s wedding crowns the one-armed chaise in floral fabric. “It’s modern with a lot of Asian twists and culture,” Noori says.

The master bath features Kallista plumbing fixtures and a shower with glass mosaic tile. An antique Asian stool provides a perch for soap and towels. Medium oak tones continue in the texture-filled respite.

Meet the Designer

“As a designer I love the opportunity to shape the way my clients experience their everyday world.” -Xander Noori

For nearly a decade, Xander Noori worked as creative design director for Los Angeles-based design firm Michael Berman Limited. Noori and his partner, Keon, recently opened their own product, furniture, and interior design firm based in Southern California. “My interiors lean more modern, but have that cultural, old-world element,” he says. Travel and futuristic architecture inform Noori’s young and fresh sensibility. “I strive to be authentic and really original—to create something that’s not out there already,” he says.

Photography: PCV Photography