The Argue Residence
A Palette for Living

Enter the Argue Residence, and you are greeted with a perfect blending of contemporary attitude with classic design suited for family living. This is no happy coincidence, but the direct result of a collaborative effort between John and Julie Argue and the Starr Design Group.

“We knew there was something unique about Jonathan Starr the first time we met him,” said John Argue. “He’s very accessible. He had no preconceptions of what we wanted, so he was able to bridge our ideas for a home that is both contemporary and classic.”

“We wanted a modern design, but one which was belied by warmth,” added John’s wife, Julie. “We shared our living needs with Jon and he put it to paper.”

The warmth of the home is achieved largely through a symphony of wood, including mahogany, walnut, cedar, and Douglas fir, that flows throughout the interior and spills onto top-floor decks that provide breathtaking views of the Southern California coast. Sandstone and other natural materials complement the home’s beach surroundings. A gently arching roof, reminiscent of the hull of a ship or of the undulating waves beneath it, forms the spine of the house.

John points to the home’s one-of-a-kind roof as a perfect example of the Starr Design Group’s ability to balance and blend their tastes. “Julie wanted arches somewhere in the residence. So Jon made her an arch – not in the traditional location of a doorway or window – but stretched across the home as our roof. This element alone makes the house absolutely unique in our community.”

The 5,400 square-foot five bedroom, five bathroom residence leverages high ceilings, open hallways, and large common areas to ensure the Argue family always feels connected. The main room on the first floor is connected vertically to the second floor via a charming wrap-around catwalk. “No matter how big the house seems, you always feel like everyone’s nearby,” said Julie.

Expansive walls of glass invite the outdoors in, with the first floor windows sliding open to an intimate courtyard. The glass sliders fulfill John’s desire to blur the line between outdoor beauty and indoor living. “I wanted more than just a door that opens up to a deck,” said John. “When we open up the sliders, you could effectively throw an 80 foot pass from one side of the house to the other,” added the father of three young sons.

In collaborating with Jonathan Starr, the Argues were impressed with his sense of dedication and personal attention. While they had heard complaints from friends regarding other architects and general contractors, they were grateful for Jon’s ability to work with a team of contractors and designers to ensure the vision of their home was realized. “Jon wanted to make sure we were 100 percent happy, and he didn’t stop until we were,” said Julie. “He showed tremendous patience as well as energy. He really does put the customer first.”

“He’s an absolute talent,” added John. “To this day, we have people knocking on our door asking for the name of our architect. Those are the times when I realize we did something special.”