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SOUTH COUNTY

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

FEATURED PROPERTY of the week

604 Calle Chayote, San Clemente Listed by Jeremy and Bill Conrad Conrad Realtors DRE #01279209 DRE #01461548

San Clemente Times December 4 - December 10, 2025

Page 15

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A World of Wellness DESIGN A SANCTUARY WITHIN YOUR HOME THAT MAKES EACH DAY FEEL RESTORATIVE AND REJUVENATING.

I

BY ASHLEY RYAN

n recent years, there’s been an increased focus on health and wellness.

Whether driven by the high levels of stress in our everyday lives, concerns about the toxins that infiltrate our food and beauty products or something else entirely, this movement reflects a collective shift toward prioritizing our well-being.

Because we spend so much time in our homes—sleeping, eating, relaxing or working out—it’s important to create spaces that optimize our health on every level.

“As the world becomes increasingly complex and divided, research is showing that this is causing more and more distress in our daily lives, leading to increases in addiction, violence and mental health decline,” says Robert F. Esterley III, an award-winning interior designer and founder of Sacred Living.

“Wellness-inspired design supports a person’s ability to thrive—from realignment of circadian rhythms to psychological and very intentional connections to nature to the use of healthy finishes and

FEATURED PROPERTY of the week

means of construction,” reveals Summer Jensen, CEO and principal designer at Laguna Beach-based Hawk + Co. “Humans now live our life 90% indoors, so [I have to consider] how can I, as a designer, make sure that all aspects of your being are considered.”

Discover how to transform your home into a haven of wellness with thoughtful design choices—both large and small— that leave a lasting impact.

Built for Well-Being When it comes to designing spaces for wellness, layout is incredibly important as it can completely alter the look and feel of the space. “People want uncluttered, organized looks in wellness spaces,” Jensen notes. “Words like harmony and balance come to mind, which speak to the space’s ability to visually flow and make sense to the eye.”

In addition to simplifying spaces, one of the best ways to create flow and harmony in the home is with a very specific type of floor plan. “The space has to function in a way that doesn’t stress you out,” says Julie Laughton, a general con-

604 Calle Chayote, San Clemente Asking $1,995,000 3 Bed | 3 Bath | 1,910 Sq. Ft. | 5,550 Sq. Ft. Lot

Experience breathtaking panoramic ocean, Catalina Island, Dana Point Harbor, and picture-perfect sunset views from this beautiful designer upgraded residence in the highly desirable guard-gated community of Highland Light Village of Marblehead! Perfectly positioned on a quiet cul-de-sac with only four other homes, this property offers privacy, tranquility, and unmatched coastal scenery.

Inside, this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home has been updated throughout with wood flooring, white oak cabinetry, custom quartzite countertops, and remodeled kitchen and bathrooms. The main-level living spaces feature high ceilings and an open, light-filled floor plan designed to highlight the ocean views from multiple vantage points. Upstairs, the primary suite offers vaulted ceilings and a private balcony, with captivating hills and ocean views. The spacious backyard is perfect for entertaining or unwinding, featuring a patio, landscaping, glass fencing, and expansive ocean views that stretch across the horizon and beyond.

Listed by:

Jeremy Conrad BROKER ASSOCIATE 949.697.0721 jconrad@conradrealestate.com DRE #01279209

San Clemente Times December 4 - December 10, 2025

Bill Conrad BROKER ASSOCIATE 949.285.5797 billc@conradrealestate.com DRE #01461548

Photo: Credit: Hawk + Co

tractor and CEO of the eponymous Julie Laughton Design Build.“Like all modern designs, it focuses on good space planning that opens everything up — you’ve got the open kitchen, open family room, which is open to the backyard.”

Air flow can also be a painless way to completely alter the feel of your space.

Stagnant air can contribute to everything from unbalanced humidity and bacterial growth to sick building syndrome, Jensen says.

Creating home environments that can be handled with ease helps residents shut off their minds for deeper relaxation. “I speak to clients a lot about how repetitive design elements allow your mind to relax with familiarity when you see the same detail repeated,” Jensen says. “Right now, I am designing a home where, in each room, you have a single wood-paneled control station next to the door with all of your electronic interfaces for the room located there. … Whether it is the [guest’s] first time to the home or 100th, the user knows exactly where and how to operate the room—plus you don’t see gadgets littered across the walls. You may not consciously know that it’s the contradictions in a space that your mind picks up.”

Especially here in Orange County, the view can be a pivotal part of design as well. Laughton suggests positioning windows somewhere that overlooks beautiful scenery as looking at nature Page 16

can be one of the greatest pathways to calm. This can be something as simple as a picturesque garden filled with colorful flowers and vibrant produce or as intricate as a rock-adorned swimming pool or scenes of Laguna’s ocean waves, intimate coves and rugged coastline.

Jensen agrees that nature should be a focal point for any design project where the goal is to emphasize well-being. And this isn’t restricted to the home either.

“Just as Renzo Piano is shaping hospitals in Greece around the concepts of the temples dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, I stress the biophilic, healing properties of nature,” she says.

“We can bring the same principle into our homes on an everyday occurrence for health and vitality.”

Materials That Matter Choosing the right materials is part of home design no matter what aesthetic you’re aiming for. But when trying to create tranquil spaces that lend themselves to rest and rejuvenation, natural finishes are crucial. “I’m a biggie on natural stone, natural marbles, natural travertines, warm wood floors [and] wood cabinets,” Laughton notes. “Everything’s easier on the eye with organic colors.”

In addition to finishes that are stylish and high-quality, look for items that are also sustainable. This can be a tricky topic to navigate, Jensen says, as biodegradability directly challenges durability. “But replacement of goods fills sanclementetimes.com

Amysue & Jennifer REAL

ESTATE

Thank you for trusting us with one of life’s biggest moments and allowing us to be part of your journey.

Photo: Credit: Hawk + Co

our landfills,” she explains. “For me, the ability of the items to be returned to the earth is big. … I love the look of raw wood or seeing modeling and aggregate in plaster. I make texture and pattern out of raw materials … so I don’t rely on what a manufacturer is offering. It’s a little different when you think of these not as finishes, but as blocks to create with.”

Similarly, she says upcycling can be beneficial as well. “You have no idea how many projects need a 24-by-60 piece of marble,” Jensen adds. “But buy an entire slab? My friend Josiah [Lilly] at Epic Ceramic & Stone has started to make available his remnants. You can find great deals on pieces that would normally be going into a dumpster.”

Keep in mind that, while choosing finishes, you’ll also want to educate yourself on what to skip. Avoid plastics, human-made PFAs, irritating volatile organic compounds and man-made carpets. “With technology advancing and also with human intention to look back on ancient wisdom for better ways of living, we can choose to make health a priority over a builder’s convenience,” Jensen says.

She recommends planning things out in advance for a healthier home and smoother design experience. “Most … [wellness-focused] products have to be sourced in advance given their smaller demand. If the general contractor isn’t prepared ahead of time to source the eco-drywall, they will just buy what’s available. So, planning and communication with your general contractor on San Clemente Times December 4 - December 10, 2025

your goals is imperative.”

When selecting colors that cultivate calmness, consider neutrals or hues that can be found in nature, such as camel, olive, burnt orange, chocolate brown or a simple gray. However, the lighting in your home may shift the entire mood of the room depending on how each shade looks.

“The sun is also an absolutely free and amazing gift for our homes if we harness it in the right way,” Jensen says.

“The sun’s rays also provide us with natural light throughout the day. By incorporating skylights and light tubes in the space, you would be amazed at how little you turn on your lights.”

In addition to impacting the look of the space, lighting can also affect how we feel within it. According to Jensen, lighting can help put our bodies more in sync with the natural world. “Circadian rhythm lighting, specifically Rania by Lutron, is what I have my eye on,” she notes. “Using the same technology as their Ketra devices — radio frequency wireless architectural lighting — Rania matches the color of outside light to your indoor environments.

“In the morning, the best way to activate the senses is with cooler, brighter white light: the color of light in the morning,” she adds. “Then, as the sun sets, it becomes warmer, like candlelight.

This is an ingrained trigger for humans to know that the end of day is nearing.

By matching that color of light with the sun, we can reproduce the same physiological effect, letting our bodies relax into slumber.”

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2025 SALES 4 W. Ave Junipero, San Clemente 423 Granada #65, San Clemente 240 Ave. Cabrillo, San Clemente 208 Shorebreaker, Laguna Niguel 33801 Via Casada, San Juan Capistrano 31022 Via Cristal, San Juan Capistrano 53 Matisse, Aliso Viejo 2107 Camino Laurel, San Clemente 205 Calle de Anza, San Clemente 1270 Sequoia, Hemet 308 Avenida Adobe, San Clemente 46 Las Flores, Aliso Viejo 611 Del Dios, San Clemente 246 Woodcrest Ln, Aliso Viejo 56 Bryce Canyon, Aliso Viejo 16 Hillrose, Aliso Viejo

$1,399,999 $1,790,384 $1,699,900 $1,120,000 $3,775,000 $1,900,000 $1,125,000 $2,065,000 $2,200,000 $415,000 $1,394,000 $1,097,000 $1,837,500 $1,069,000 $810,000 Pending

BEACHTOWNREALTOR.COM TOR.C

Follow us on Instagram Jennifer Fisher 949.228.0309

Amysue Baker 949.291.6540

CalRE#02004352

CalRE#02163607

©2024 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker ® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE#00616212

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FEATURED LISTINGS B Y C O N R A D R E A LT O R S I N C

604 Calle Chayote, San Clemente

147 Avenida Rosa, San Clemente

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 and Bill Conrad 949.542.8349

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 and Bill Conrad 949.542.8349

Asking $1,799,000 3 Units | 2,424 Sq. Ft. | 3,920 Sq. Ft. Lot

Asking $1,995,000 3 Bd | 3 Bth | 1,910 Sq. Ft. | 5,500 Sq. Ft. Lot

In Escrow!

235 Avenida Lobeiro Unit #210, San Clemente

257 Avenida Lobeiro Unit E, San Clemente

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 and Bill Conrad 949.542.8349

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 and Bill Conrad 949.542.8349

Asking $1,599,000 3 Bd | 2 Bth | 1,571 Sq. Ft.

Asking $2,495,000 3 Bd | 2 Bth | 1,573 Sq. Ft.

In Escrow!

JUST SOLD!

228 W Mariposa, San Clemente

227 Avenida Serra, San Clemente

Asking $1,695,000 2 Bd | 2 Bth | 1,246 Sq. Ft. | 4,320 Sq. Ft. Lot

SOLD for $1,246,000 3 Units | 1,711 Sq. Ft. | 3,920 Sq. Ft. Lot

Bill Conrad 949.542.8349 and Kiara Jones 949.910.9226

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 and Bill Conrad 949.542.8349

I N F O @ C O N R A D R E A L E S TAT E . C O M

CONTACT:

(949) 492-9400 C O N R A D R E A L E S TAT E . C O M

@ C O N R A D R E A LT O R S / S O C A L C O N R A D R E A L E S TAT E

1000 S EL CAMINO REAL, SAN CLEMENTE, CA JEREMY CONRAD, BROKER DRE# 01279209 • BILL CONRAD, BROKER DRE# 01461548 KIARA JONES, REALTOR DRE# 02090718

San Clemente Times December 4 - December 10, 2025

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