From Balboa Island to Dover Shores, Kelly Couzens-Brooks shares a love for Newport and passion for design
By LANA JOHNSON
I recently caught up with Kelly Couzens-Brooks, ASID, IIDA, principal of KC Design and Interiors in Newport Beach, who specializes in residential and yacht interior design. While interested in finding out more about her projects and mastery of unique island and resort living spaces, I discovered her rich family history and ties to Balboa Island.

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Photo by Frank Salas Photography
Kelly Couzens-Brooks, ASID, IIDA, on the lanai at her Dover Shores home
A Balboa Island family
For those who might recall the Balboa Island Variety Store, which opened in 1938 at 213 Marine Ave. (now Balboa Surf & Style), it was built and run by Couzens-Brooks’ grandfather, Bob Allen, and great grandmother, Martha Jane Allen. Serving as a mini-department store, it sold cookware, glassware, stationery, greeting cards, yarn, sewing goods, lots of kids’ toys and basic hardware from can openers to pliers, while competing with the hardware store across the street. The Variety Store (as it was referred to) won holiday storefront window display competitions numerous times. Couzens-Brooks’ mother, Janice Allen Aarvold, worked in the store beginning at the age of 13. It was eventually sold in the 1960s.

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Courtesy of Kelly Couzens-Brooks
The Balboa Island Variety Store
In addition, Martha and Bob also built and ran the Malt Shop next door at 211 Marine Ave., selling hamburgers, shakes and malts. It was sold to the Dodds in the 1940s and is where Crocker’s is now located. In between the Variety Store and the Malt Shop, they built a two-story duplex (1/1 upstairs and a 1/1 downstairs) with a big yard, where the family lived, and guests could stay, enjoying lots of get togethers when they came down from Los Angeles for parties in the summertime, as Martha and Bob loved to entertain. The family eventually moved down to the Island in 1937.

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Courtesy of Kelly Couzens-Brooks
The Balboa Island Malt Shop
Another retail venture was building an upscale gift shop, with high-end housewares along with dishware, glassware and furniture across the street at 214 Marine Ave. It is now Alex’s Fashion Center.
In 1937, Bob and Martha built a quaint beach cottage at 313 Amethyst Ave. Bob wed Bernice (Billie) in 1930 and they made the cottage their home, where it still stands today, with a historical plaque hanging above the address number. According to Couzens-Brooks, her mom, Janice, grew up there since the age of 4.

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Photo by Kelly Couzens-Brooks
The beach cottage at 313 Amethyst Ave.
Noteworthy, is that Bob served as a Newport Beach councilman from 1940-48, founded the first Rotary Club and became its first president. He also served as the city fire chief. According to Couzens-Brooks, “My grandfather worked closely with the police department with regards to the gambling and drinking outside of the harbor on ships. He would disguise himself as a woman and spy at the Hurley Bell (now the Five Crowns Restaurant), and assisted in arresting gamblers and drinkers.”
A flourishing design business
With roots here in Newport Beach, it’s no wonder why Couzens-Brooks launched her interior design firm here in 2002. Although she has undertaken a variety of projects including designing commercial executive suites, her signature style of relaxed elegance lies with creating bespoke residential and yacht spaces, tailored to her clients’ specific tastes and inspiration. “My vision is to achieve a standard of excellence in transforming clients’ dreams of designing their homes and/or yacht’s interiors into reality through communication, vision and listening.” Many of her projects are eclectic and juxtaposed...ranging from Spanish style to residential island living.
“Design is always changing based on the place, architecture, client and historical context. I love using my creativity and working with color, textiles, the old and the new.”

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Photo by Frank Salas Photography
Dover Shores, the foyer and great room lead out to the lanai overlooking the Back Bay
Her firm recently completed a three-year project that involved a complete redo taking it down to the frame...and it also happens to be her home on Galaxy Drive in Dover Shores, that she shares with her husband, Michael, a structural engineer. “Together and working with the architect, we took a 1960s home and incorporated both of our visions into it.” The result is a cliffside beach house overlooking the Back Bay that spans 7,300 square feet in a tropical Pacific Rim/Hawaiian style. Amenities of this single level ranch home include four ensuite bedrooms, six baths, two private offices, flooring of limestone, teak wood and carpet, grained woods and cabinetry throughout and a temperature-controlled tequila bar (for their tequilas and white wines) off the kitchen. Opening to the outdoors, you’ll encounter the spacious lanai, a waterfall/infinity edge heated spa and a bocce ball court.

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Photo by Frank Salas Photography
The kitchen’s wood finishes exude warmth
“Beneath the five-car garage, we built a 450-square-foot wine cellar,” Couzens-Brooks said, who describes her home as relaxed, warm and welcoming.

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Photo by Frank Salas Photography
Couzens-Brooks in the wine cellar
When asked about her color palette, she said she adores being bold with color. “The master is navy, there are taupes, oranges and reds in the living room and kitchen, the laundry room is turquoise and aqua, while one of the guest suites is red with Fijian patterns.”

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Photo by Frank Salas Photography
The lanai serves as the outdoor gathering space
Along with her love of color is her love of the sea, which extends to her designing yacht interiors. “I grew up on and around boats here in Newport Beach all my life. They have always been a passion for me,” Couzens-Brooks shared. “Boats are very custom in many ways, depending on the make and model regarding the flooring, window coverings and upholstery.” She uses materials that are marine grade and water and fade resistant to stand up to the elements. And she should know, she recently did the interior design on her own 62-ft. Mikelson Nomad yacht, a year-long project she finished this past April.

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Photo by Turville Photography
One of the staterooms in Couzen-Brooks’ yacht, “Bula,” whose name translates to life, love, hospitality
“Our boat is named ‘Bula’, which is a Fijian expression that translates to ‘life, love, hospitality’, and is especially significant because Michael and I were married in Fiji.” The yacht has three staterooms, and she did all the reupholstering, redid the furnishings, bedding, carpeting, the flybridge, dinette, and all the soft goods inside and out.
“We’ve taken it to Dana Point, San Diego, Catalina and hope to motor up to the Pacific Northwest next year,” she said.

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Photo by Turville Photography
The dining area on the yacht “Bula”
So how did Couzens-Brooks get into the interior design field? “In 2002, I went back to college when my two daughters were a little older and studied interior design at Orange Coast College, where I fell in love with the industry. My first instructor was Renee Kubiak who provided me with positive reinforcement, guidance and enlightenment. She encouraged me to break out of the box and out of my comfort zone...she pushed me to use color with complimentary textiles and materials.”
When asked about women she admired, Couzens-Brooks said: “Dorothy Draper, whose hallmarks are boldly colorful, elegant and cheerful; Kelly Wearstler, whose global luxury lifestyle brand is marked by its distinctive designs and sophisticated soulful character; and Kathryn Switzer, who in 1967, was the first woman to run the marathon and changed history for women...empowering us to do anything.”

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Photo by Kristen Couzens
The Dover Shores backyard provides endless Back Bay vistas
How does this energetic, on-the-go professional spend her leisure time? “I enjoy sharing time with my husband, family and friends. I love reading (she’s been in a book club for 10 years), traveling where she picks up great design ideas and being outdoors hiking, biking, boating. I just love being near the water.”
Sounds like for Couzens-Brooks, Newport Beach is truly the perfect place to be.
Editor’s Note: For more information on KC Design and Interiors and to view Kelly Couzens-Brooks’ photo gallery, visit www.kcdesigninteriors.com. She will be featured on the cover of “The Shores Living Magazine” in August.