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How an Interior Designer Decorated Her Malibu Mobile Home

April 22, 2019

Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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Interior designer Nina Freudenberger’s mobile home is just a seven-minute walk to Malibu’s Zuma beach.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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It’s located inside a gated trailer park that was originally established as a senior-living community in the 70s, but has since been converted and is now home to a diverse demographic.

Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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In 2018, she completed a gut renovation of the trailer, which was originally built in 1970, as a seaside escape for her family.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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The exterior is painted with Farrow & Ball Studio Green. The addition of Bahama shutters lends privacy to the interior living space while still allowing light in.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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During the renovation, Freudenberg chose to buck mobile-home norms and relocate the patio to the back of the property, lending privacy to their outdoor space, which she outfitted with a Serena & Lily table and chairs and a Sunday Supply umbrella.

Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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The addition of an outdoor shower was Larocca’s idea. “It was his obsession, and everyone uses it all of the time. And, that’s part of the idea of an escape—it feels so like a different place. I’m not taking an outdoor shower in Hancock Park, I can tell you that,” says Freudenberger.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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Freudenberger was hyper sensitive about each piece she brought into the space, wanting it to be pared down and unfussy while feeling comfortable and well-designed at the same time. The vintage Bernt Petersen Rag chairs were imported form New Zealand (a deal she found online), the solid-wood coffee table is her custom design, and the rug is a piece Larocca found and brought back from Morocco.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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The kitchen is a great example of Freudenberger’s dedication to high-low design for this project. The framework of the cabinets and storage system (where everything from the refrigerator to washer/dryer is concealed) are from Ikea, and she had them outfitted with cabinet fronts from Reform. On the high end, she found a piece of marble that she couldn’t take her eyes off, and used that as a backsplash, then finished the space off with Allied Maker pendant lights.

Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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An oversized island connects the kitchen to the rest of the open-floor-plan common space. It’s flanked by molded resin bar stools that were a conscious design choice rooted in carefree beach living. “I just needed something you could sit on with your wet bathing suit,” explains Freudenberger.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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An Ikea table sits in front of a custom-built slatted wall made from Baltic birch that’s been treated with special sealants to help it keep its natural color.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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This Allied Maker light fixture is generally used on the ceiling, but Freudenberger chose to hang it on the wall as a sconce.

Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Alexander
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In the guest bathroom, the wall tiles are an affordable find from Home Depot and the vanity is made from simple plywood. Designer touches include an O&G mirror, a Cedar & Moss Sconce, and Clé encaustic cement floor tiles (not pictured).