Mi Casa | Emma Goodwin – Pampa Journal

Set behind gardens in the heart of Los Angeles, Casa Princeton is a soulful, century-old Spanish home, lovingly restored by Emma Goodwin and her family. Drawn to the character and craftsmanship of historic architecture, Emma and her husband approached the renovation with care and patience. Every detail, from hand-troweled walls to antique Spanish tiles, speaks to a slower, more intentional way of creating. We spent time with Emma to learn more about her renovation journey, her love of storied spaces, and how she’s made Casa Princeton a true reflection of home.

Beyond Casa Princeton, Emma brings a refined eye and worldly sensibility to everything she touches. As co-founder of the celebrated boutique hotel The Surfrider in Malibu and with a career rooted in the editorial world at Condé Nast, she has played a quiet yet powerful role in shaping the contemporary Malibu aesthetic. Influenced by her Australian upbringing and a life of travel, Emma’s work reflects a thoughtful balance of design, culture, and a deep appreciation for place and good times.

SHOP THE LOOK

1/ Esther Rug 2/ Selva Rug 3/ Mini Southwest #2 Rug 4/ Monte Throw 5/ Classica XL Lumbar Cushion #12 6/Classica Cushion #12

Casa Princeton is a stunning, almost 100-year-old Spanish home. What was it about the house that made you fall in love with it?

I am especially drawn to historic homes and buildings; the craftsmanship, the thick plaster walls, soft round edges, the patina, the tiniest details that would be omitted in modern design and construction, the character and personality that make a space feel so storied, and, in Casa Princeton’s case, so grounded. I’m also partial to a bit of eccentricity in the history of a home. Lady Virginia, who we bought the home from, certainly had a colorful life; Grace Kelly was a dear friend. At one point, she lived in Calcutta with Mother Teresa. Hemingway is said to have walked the halls with her. You can feel that energy in the walls.

You’ve beautifully preserved the Spanish influence while adding your own incredible touch. What was the renovation and design process like?

Thank you so much. For us, it was essential that we kept the integrity of the home. Our motivation to renovate wasn’t so much a cosmetic one, but rather creating a floor plan that worked for our family and modern living. How could we enhance the way we live and the flow of the house, while respecting why we fell in love with the house to begin with. We spent years studying Spanish houses. We worked with the Historic Society of California to learn all about the first Spanish homes, right down to the pigment for the perfect Spanish white… which, ironically, isn’t white when you look at it in a swatch. For any new materials that we selected, we ensured they were all raw materials that would patina over time and blend seamlessly with the historic elements we retained and preserved. We brought in artisans to hand-trowel plaster walls. We imported antique tiles from Spain, the same era of the original house. For our pool house we studied historic Andalusian Farm Houses, a specific type of Spanish architecture that felt so cohesive with the rest of the property, yet more conducive to a pool house. In reworking any spaces, we tried to mirror the transition of space in historic form; arched doors with thick hand-plastered walls to create a ritual of the compartmentalized nature of a Spanish building, brass transitions between stone and wood. We retained the original dark wood floors, in a time when light is so “in trend” and makes a space feel so much larger. We lent in to the intimacy of the property and its design. Instead of replacing the windows, which would have been much more efficient, we retained the original wood windows, the undulating glass and restored all of the stunning old hardware. We sourced any missing pieces directly from Spain or worked with the infamous “Liz” in LA to go through rooms and rooms of old hardware she had collected from Los Angeles’ oldest estates (her quirky store is a must-visit if you love design and are ever in LA).

Like old-world design, it was our goal to ensure every detail was seen through the lens of beauty (not just practicality or efficiency), and the design outcome was the result of doing things slowly and by hand. What a beautiful lesson in what things feel like when you slow down and change your perspective and priorities… and a timely lesson ahead of the birth of our first child.

How did you approach layering textures and materials to create such a warm and inviting space?

I personally love color, eccentricity, pattern and things that don’t often make sense to the eye. Design-wise, I find that much easier than restraint. I love the creativity of maximalism and a space with personality. The fundamentals of our actual house are the opposite to this; aside from small pops of color in the original Spanish tiles, it’s a cohesive, grounded and quite a minimalist neutral space. This was intentional, to align with the integrity of the old house, and to create a calm canvas to work and ultimately, live from. Instead of bold color, the tactile nature of the materials and the craftsmanship of the build took it from what could have been a flat, beige, bland space, to one that is rich, dynamic and grounding. There’s a feeling of “safe space”. A cocoon that allows us to retreat, reprieve and breathe. A warmth. And in turn, this grounding canvas encourages us, our friends, family, and guests to be the color and the personality within. We feel calm and balanced, allowing us to be our best, most creative and expansive selves.

Over time, the home has become layered with unique objects and furnishings collected from around the world, ones that are points of conversation and little bits of quirky fun. Other pieces are intentionally from the era of the original house. The lights, as an example, are a mix of original Spanish pieces, some custom-made by artisans in Spain (Dora Good, as an example) and modern architectural designs (‘In Common With’ & ‘Studio Henry Wilson’). We have a piece of art from Picasso, then a modern crazy tie-dyed, evil eye sculpture from Calder’s granddaughter, a Brooklyn-based artist our age, Isabel Rower… a mix of old and new, but of the same vein. It feels like an evolving personality in a timeless space. Mostly, though, despite the historic and very considered nature of the house, we don’t take it or ourselves too seriously. It’s not a gallery, it’s a home. We layer and mismatch. We have an open door policy, regardless of the state it’s in (Mum life). Ultimately, I think, beyond everything else, that’s what’s inviting. The intent.

Do you have a favourite room in the house? What makes it special to you?

Tough question!!

I’m not sure if it can be considered a room, but I love our garden and its daily lessons in patience, beauty and being present. Margaux’s room is like a page from a fairytale set in the English countryside 100 years ago. Ironic since she prefers to sleep in our room (maybe we will swap!) and it was the room with the least amount of thought and planning. The primary bedroom… One of the reasons for the renovation was to create an adult space; old Spanish houses are known for tiny bathrooms, closet kitchens, compartmentalized rooms, and they didn’t believe in walk in robes. I love our reworked bedroom and bathroom. I wake up overlooking the pool and a beautiful, lush garden. I take my morning coffee into the shower with me and watch the hummingbirds weave in and out of the vibrant bougainvillaea we inherited when we bought the home.

I love sitting by the fireplace in the living room (on our Pampa rug!), watching the light spill through the paned glass; it’s the largest room in the house, yet it feels the coziest. And the pool house, which doubles as our home office and studio, makes working feel like a holiday. It’s not just “love what you do” but also, “love where you do it”!

Our Esther rug feels right at home in your living space. What drew you to that specific piece?

It’s so beautiful!! We are so grateful to share so many special moments on it. As a family who enjoys sitting on the floor, being at the same level as Margaux, sharing tea, coffee, wine!, conversation in a relaxed way…practically speaking, it’s just so comfortable!! More than that, though, there is such an aligned integrity in our home and the Pampa values. The textures, tactility, and tones feel earthy and grounding.

The fabric and colors are predominantly from nature, which is similar to old world plasters, stones and paint pigments. And, beyond the actual aesthetics and functionality, I am passionate about Pampa’s story of craft, patience, and tradition. The way your rugs are made takes time and care, which, similarly to renovating a house, is an intentional choice these days, around a set of priorities beyond efficiency, time and cost. I love products with a story, and I love brands whose “why” feels genuine. Pampa certainly has both the story and the reason. I hope you feel very proud of what you are putting into the world.

What does home mean to you, and why is it important to create a space that enhances that experience?

Home, to me, isn’t so much about what it looks like. It’s the sum of its parts. It’s about a sense of genuine belonging, peace, safety, and love. And in turn, a place where creativity and inspiration can thrive. A place with a sense of self. And, ultimately, a place where you can be and become your best self. Having a sacred space, underpinned by love and belonging, allows the noise of the world to fall away.

Why is it important to have handcrafted objects around you?

There’s such a beautiful depth with anything handcrafted. The perfect imperfection. The layers of a story of creation. The artist behind it. The care and intent. How every single piece is unique and of itself. To be surrounded by that energetic intention is so special (and addictive!!).

Your home feels effortlessly connected to nature. How does the surrounding landscaping influence your interiors?

Is it my obsession with foraging and flowers?! I definitely don’t know restraint when it comes to this, as you can see. We are so lucky here in California, though, it’s so abundant with options. Wild fennel grows on the sides of the roads. Mustard flowers. Peach blossoms. Oversized olive branches. Gum flowers galore. Within our own little space, we’ve been so conscious of being in the centre of a big city and have worked really hard to create “la piccolo estate”.

When we renovated the house, we also redid our garden in the style of a Mediterranean meets English meadow, using Californian natives for sustainability. For Margaux’s first birthday, we built her a market garden which we tend to daily and use in every meal. It’s not a farm in Australia or Patagonia, but we’ve worked really hard on it, and for our little family, it’s perfect.

Equally, like we’ve spoken about above, there’s just so much organic nature even inside of the house in the natural fibers and pigments and materials, and also the smaller choices like art. We have a series from an artist named Ulrike Arnold who posts up in the most dramatic landscapes (caves, mountains, river beds) and paints straight from the earth; a canvas of stone, earth, and meteorite. It’s literally nature on our walls and I feel the power in that every time I walk by it.

How would you describe life in LA? They say everyone finds their own LA, what does yours look like?

When I first visited LA I couldn’t comprehend how people lived here! Now I realize that says more about me than it does about the city ha. LA has so many layers; it’s so incredibly cultured, multicultural, incredible architecture, gardens, food, hospitality and has easy access to some of the most beautiful nature in the country. It’s got such an international energy. A sense of opportunity and entrepreneurialism that’s inspiring and motivating. Equally, though, pockets of calm and simplicity. There’s traffic, it’s a big population, there’s a lot of concrete… You have to work to find your place and your people, which makes you appreciate them so much more. LA is not forever for us, but for now, it’s an inspiring Spanish house on the Westside, by the beach and the mountains.

After designing, owning, operating and then ultimately selling The Surfrider Hotel in Malibu (congratulations!), what’s next for you both?

I’ve been in the beautiful thick of motherhood for the last two years. In the background, working on a few small passion projects (slowly slowly) and bringing to life our next hotels; another two in California, something led by friends outside of Zion National Park in Utah and some hospitality residences scattered around the world. Motherhood has really opened my eyes to a new way of travelling, and I’m inspired to apply this to the way we create hotels and homes.