Profiled | Solana Beach Residence

Where the Water Begins

Set less than two kilometres from the Pacific coast, this private residence in Solana Beach, California, was designed by Nicole Carroll of En Shell Space, who transformed an underutilised backyard into a layered outdoor living environment shaped around the rhythms of family life. At its waterline, Tierra Baton Nieve Punto, a handmade ceramic tile, frames the pool in a soft, speckled white.

An Outdoor Life, Fully Realised

The brief was deeply personal. Not simply to add a pool, but to create a true extension of the home, one built around how the family cooks, entertains and spends time outdoors. Covered dining and living zones, a pool, a garden, an outdoor shower, generous built-in seating: a series of connected spaces that flow into one another.

The pool’s soft turquoise-green water was inspired by the crystalline stillness of Lake Tahoe: natural, calming and unhurried. To make room for it all, the team excavated into an existing sandstone cliff to reclaim usable outdoor space, working closely with The Landscape Company and San Diego Pools throughout.

The Waterline

Nicole was searching for a tile with the character of traditional Zellige and the practicality a pool build demands, and found it in our Tierra Baton Nieve Punto. A handmade organic tile, its subtle tonal variation, gentle speckle and warm white glaze gave the waterline the artisanal character the project called for, while its even surface and clean edges met the needs of the pool builder. The speckles reminded her of a robin’s egg, and the warmth was just right: not too yellow, not too stark. In a slim 150 x 50mm baton format, it traces the edge of the pool with quiet precision.

The Palette of Southern California

Nieve Punto sits within a palette drawn from the landscape itself. Soft greens and turquoise reference natural water, while limestone, marble, microcement, brick, copper and unlacquered brass add depth and warmth across every surface. Nothing competes. Everything converses. The result is an outdoor environment that feels at once relaxed and intentional, a space that seems to have always belonged to its site.

A Backyard Becomes a World

Completed in April 2025, the Solana Beach residence is a reminder that outdoor living, done well, is never an design afterthought. It transforms how a home actually functions and feels. With Tierra Baton Nieve Punto, the waterline becomes a detail worth lingering on: warm, handmade and quietly considered. 

All tiles are exclusively available through Tiles of Ezra. Visit our showroom or order a sample to explore the collection.

Credits:
Design: Nicole Carroll, En Shell Space
Landscape Construction: The Landscape Company
Pool: San Diego Pools
Tile: Tiles of Ezra
Photography: Charlotte Lea Photography
Styling: Nicole Carroll, En Shell Space
Project: Solana Beach Residence, California, USA
Completed: April 2025