Andrea Schroder - Better Homes and Gardens

IS
RELAXED
surf ’s up
A celebrity couple turn their seaside home into a haven for
life’s simple joys, like hanging out with their four kids.
by laura fenton | photos david tsay | produced by eddie ross
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Unlike many teens, Andrea and Ricky
Schroder’s brood of tween to twentysomethings spend as much time as possible at
home with family. Getting active outdoors—
surfing and swimming—plus entertaining
friends and hanging out over casual meals,
the Schroders embody a family that plays
well together in the literal sandbox that
surrounds their Southern California cottage.
And thanks to mom Andrea’s clever, laid-back
design, their beachfront house is furnished
with pieces that can take a beating. With busy
careers (Ricky is an actor and film producer
best known for his childhood role on Silver
Spoons, and Andrea is an interior designer
who recently launched her own line of home
fragrances), the couple bought this 1950s
house nearly 10 years ago to be a hub for their
close-knit family’s social life. Outside, two
levels of decks provide a transition between
the beach and the house. The kids can stash
their surfboards on the lower deck and climb
the stairs to the upper deck to grab lunch
without tracking (too much) sand into the
house. Come evening, the family eats dinner
together outdoors to watch the sun set.
From surfboard storage to ice cream socials, the Schroders’ outdoor living and dining rooms are
versatile spaces for the family’s downtime. Indoor-outdoor cushions and rugs give the spaces a homey
feel. “I want everyone who spends the day, a night, or even a week here to feel like this home has given
them a gift of relaxation,” Andrea says.
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AT HOME WITH Lifestyle
expert Andrea Schroder in
Southern California.
PERSONAL STYLE “I like
mixing vintage with modern.
My closet is full of fabrics
that are soft and textural.”
WEEKEND UNIFORM Soft
denim tunics.
HOME DECORATING
MOTTO “I stay away from
visual clutter, busy patterns
or ornate details. I like
simplicity.”
Inside, the kitchen’s open plan allows
everyone to chat during meal prep, and when
it’s time to eat, the kitchen counter serves
up a casual buffet for help-yourself meals.
Furniture migrates around the house: If seats
are needed outside, dining chairs come right
out the door. Slumber parties take place in the
living room, where the built-in sofa doubles
as extra sleeping quarters. All the furnishings
are meant for frequent use—being able to
withstand plenty of wet bathing suits and
sandy feet. “I want people to feel welcome,”
Andrea says. “I love when friends feel like they
can put up their feet and relax.”
“The living room is where
we all hang out. Someone
almost always takes a
catnap on that sofa—
that’s my cue that they are
truly relaxed.” Andrea Schroder
SHORE THING
Though they’ve
been together
25 years,
Andrea and
Ricky seem like
newlyweds on
Instagram.
The raised counter
in the kitchen, opposite,
is a place for the kids to
hang out while Andrea
cooks. It also cleverly
masks kitchen clutter
from the adjoining
living space, top, where
an acrylic coffee table
(wisteria.com) adds
style without visual
weight. This room is
where Andrea and
the kids place video
calls to Ricky while he
travels abroad filming
a documentary.
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“I used a base of soft subtle grays and whites inside
so as to not distract from the view. I wanted the inside
and the outside of the house to read ocean.”
Andrea Schroder
Seafoam
Restoration Hardware
A netting-encased
chandelier adds
a modern touch
yet is in keeping
with the cottage’s
nautical vibe.
Rope Net Glass
Sphere Chandelier;
shadesoflight.com
Weathered wood
pieces ground
the white and
cream slipcovered
furniture.
Sandra chairs;
safaviehhome.com
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FIRESIDE CHAT
The cozy sitting
nook gets its
share of guests
during cool
summer nights.
Andrea’s simple luxuries
It’s the intangibles—like downtime with
family—that make her house a home.
I START MY DAY “By driving my
daughter Faith to the school bus,
in my pajamas.”
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?
“Nothing, except maybe children
because my kids have lots of
friends over all the time. I am
sentimental about experiences,
but not really about things.”
BIGGEST DECORATING
DISASTER “When sponge
painting was all the rage, I cut a
cactus shape out of a sponge and
stamped green cactus all over a
kid’s room!”
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WHAT INSPIRES YOUR NEW
CANDLES? “Fragrances from
nature. The candles are made
from organic coconut oil and
packaged with a poem by my
grandmother, English poet
Kathleen Partridge.” (Find them
at andreaschroder.com.)
I’M READING “I just finished Rob
Lowe’s new book, Love Life.”
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST
WITH YOUR FAMILY? “Playing
games like backgammon. It’s
when we laugh the most and
forget about everything.”
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Win!
Enter our daily sweeps
at BHG.com/Candle on
September 8 for your
chance to win a threemonth subscription to
Andrea’s candle
collection. See details
on page 210.
Ricky took this
photo on a family
vacation. Andrea
enlarged it to fit
a store-bought
frame.
“I find inspiration in natural
elements, whether it’s the
beach, a lovely garden,
even a single rose. I’m
inspired by the wonders
of nature.” Andrea Schroder
The master bedroom’s soft hues, above, keep the
focus on the view. Andrea matched the draperies
to the wall color for a clean, consistent look. She
gave the master bathroom, right, a facelift, which
included adding a picture window above the sink.
“It’s a huge treat to see blue water every morning
and hear the rhythm of the waves,” she says. n
For buying information see page 208.
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