"Nancy Meyers’ movie sets are beloved for their timeless design and cozy, comforting feel. They’re at once aspirational and totally attainable, well-decorated but not overly polished, collected without feeling cluttered, and Camille Meza-Ruiz, an interior designer located near San Diego, has somehow recreated that magic formula with the design of her own home. Camille’s style blends classic East Coast design and lived-in California chic, resulting in a layered look that radiates coziness. The living room, with its wicker chairs and built-in bookshelves brimming with books and artwork, could easily be mistaken for the set of Something’s Gotta Give. Her classic white kitchen is frequently used for cooking cozy dinners complete with lit candles and chilled white wine. And to top it all off, the house itself is located in a small town just off the California coast, a fitting setting for a rom-com.
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Though Camille didn’t set out to channel Nancy Meyers when decorating her home, over the seven years since she and her husband Marco purchased it, she’s prioritized timeless design and embraced intentional, slow decorating, resulting in that coveted cozy style synonymous with the Nancy Meyers aesthetic. Keep reading for a full tour of Camille’s home and her top tips for designing a space that will never go out of style.
Camille Meza-Ruiz’s California Home Tour
The details:
Name: Camille Meza-Ruiz
Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California
Square Footage: 1,200 square feet
Rent/Own: Own
You lived on the East Coast and in the Midwest before settling in southern California. How do the places you’ve lived influence your decorating style?
Living on the East Coast especially gave me an appreciation for history and old buildings and furniture that stand the test of time. There’s something so special about places and items that have history and have lived several lives! Historical places and homes being so prevalent is definitely something I miss about the East Coast.
This is your first home, which you purchased with your husband seven years ago. How has it evolved over time to become the charming space it is today?
When we first moved in, we had basically no furniture! We got lots of our pieces from places like Ikea or from our families. Over time, we’ve really honed in on our style and slowly upgraded many of our starter pieces. We’ve also collected things like art and accessories over time, often when we’re traveling somewhere new.
Your front door opens directly into your living room. How did you intentionally carve out an entryway within this small space?
I really wanted it to feel like there was a distinct entryway and a living room. I hate when you walk through the front door and feel like you’re in the middle of a room all of a sudden! So, I kept all of our living room furniture to the side to allow for the entry space.
You’ve mentioned that you love shopping for decor at thrift stores and consignment shops. Do you have a favorite purchase that you still can’t believe you were able to find secondhand?
The alabaster lamp on my entry console was a consignment store find for $60! I’ve seen similar lamps online for over $1,000, so that was definitely my best find.
Your entryway is so beautifully styled, from the stacks of books on the console to the straw totes hanging by the door. What tips do you have for creating a similarly layered look?
Books are by far my favorite layering pieces if you couldn’t tell! They are just so cozy and homey. So, I almost always start with books as a base and then layer on top of that. Entryways also need to be functional! If you need shoe storage, make sure to incorporate that, or for me, I needed somewhere to hang my market bags. Also, lamps are always a welcome layer, and art is also a must!
With its built-in bookshelves and wicker chairs, your living room immediately reminds me of the movie Something’s Gotta Give. Where did you draw inspiration for this room, and how did you approach decorating it?
It definitely leans Something’s Gotta Give, which was actually not intentional! I really just made choices that were right for the space and that my husband and I loved, and I knew we wouldn’t get sick of. The space doesn’t get much natural light, so I knew that I wanted a light and bright color palette. I also love a base of neutrals with some dusty blues and greens thrown in. And from there, the rest happened naturally!
You often reference Nancy Meyers’ films on social media and name her as a major source of inspiration. What about her movies do you love most, and how has that influenced your design style?
Her movies do a fantastic job of conveying the feeling of comfort and home, which is why so many people love her aesthetic and style! And in terms of my home, I’ve been a Nancy Meyers movie fan for as long as I can remember. So, while I didn’t directly reference her movie homes when decorating my own, I think that over the years, her movies have been in my head as the kind of home I wanted to have someday (and her strong women characters have been, and still are, the idea of the woman that I want to be). So I’m not surprised that so many on social media think of my home as her aesthetic, which I take as the highest compliment and have definitely leaned into in my social media accounts!
Your outdoor patio works as an extension of your home and looks just as cozy as the interior. How do you typically use this space?
We use the outdoor space frequently for outdoor dining! Especially when we invite people over for dinner because we have a larger table outside.
The patio is lined with potted plants, making it feel beautifully lush. Do you have any gardening tips for those looking to start their own plant collection?
Marry someone who has a green thumb! I am horrible at taking care of plants—I don’t know why! But fortunately, my husband is a natural at it, so all of our plants are thanks to him. It was his idea to have so many plants on our patio, and I love it!
You also share your home with an adorable dog named Zuri. How do you balance keeping your home well-styled and clean while accommodating a furry roomie?
I’ve made some small additions to the home so that I don’t worry as much about things getting dirty. I keep a folded beige quilt on the seat of our white sofa. That way I can easily throw it in the washer. I’ve also added a patterned quilt on top of the white duvet in our bedroom. She loves to sleep on our bed, and this way, she can do that without me being stressed about it.
You actually painted a few of the abstract paintings hung around your home, including the one in your dining area. Do you have a background in art? How do you approach creating a piece like this?
I don’t have a background in art, but my mom is an artist, and she’s very talented! It started with the piece over my entry console. I knew I wanted something neutral, abstract, and large but didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars. So, my mom encouraged me to paint something! I did, and I actually really enjoyed it and loved the way it turned out. From there, I decided to try my hand at several other abstracts around my home!
Your home is filled with elements unique to your family, including artwork by your mom and mementos from your travels. What’s your best advice for incorporating personal touches into a home?
Collect things you love over time! Don’t rush it or try to force something to work that you know isn’t quite right. Be patient and wait to fill spaces with items you really really love!
How did you and your husband approach designing your home together? Did you always share the same vision, or were there significant compromises along the way?
In the beginning, it was definitely a bit of a challenge! I think things really changed when I put together an overall plan for our home. I created a presentation just like I do for clients but for our home. Once he saw everything together and realized how much thought I had put into it, he was fully on board.
Judging by your social media, you clearly enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen. How did you ensure your kitchen feels just as cozy and inviting as the rest of your home?
A kitchen lamp is a must! I also like incorporating a rug or a runner, as well as lots of cookbooks!
As an interior designer yourself, how does your design process differ when decorating your own home versus that of a client?
I try to approach it the same! I created a plan for our entire home, but the main difference is that after that, my husband and I broke down the plan based on what we could budget for each year. So, we’ve completed a few projects each year to get closer to my master plan!
Your style is classic and timeless. Are there any recent trends you’re loving currently? If so, how do you incorporate trendier elements while maintaining your signature style?
Not that I can think of! To be honest, if I start seeing something popping up everywhere, I often try to stay away from it. But if I do want to participate in a trend, I do it in an inexpensive way so that I don’t feel bad moving on when the trend is over.
Your home features a palette of mostly neutrals with soft pops of green and blue. How did you choose this color scheme?
That’s just the color palette I’ve always loved and that feels the most like me! All through middle and high school, my bedroom was painted light blue with a dusty blue and green paisley bedspread, and I loved it! It’s important to stay true to yourself and things you’ve always loved because then you can’t go wrong!
Your bedroom exudes such a calm, peaceful energy. How did you decide on this gorgeous green as your paint color?
I wanted our bedroom to feel really cozy, so I knew I wanted to paint the walls something a little darker. From there, I looked at Farrow & Ball colors and decided on French Gray. I always turn to Farrow & Ball for paint colors—they have the most beautiful, timeless choices.
We love the skirted table you use as a nightstand. What led to this choice instead of opting for traditional matching nightstands?
I wanted nightstands that felt a little more collected than a matching set. I also thought it was cute to have a his and hers nightstand moment—mine is the skirted table and my husband’s is the wood chest.
Both of your bathrooms feature patterned walls that look like wallpaper, but the designs are actually hand-painted. How did you decide to paint these yourself instead of using wallpaper?
Both of those bathrooms are full baths and are used frequently, so I didn’t think wallpaper would hold up with that amount of steam!
Your home has changed a lot over the past seven years. Do you have any future plans or upcoming projects?
Our powder bath is next on my list! I never show it because it’s boring right now. When we did our countertops, we had them make a really beautiful marble top and backsplash. So, I just need to spruce it up a little bit more so that I can be proud of that space, too.
What does an ideal day at home look like for you?
I’m really very boring, but I love what I get to do for work, so every day is pretty ideal! All days start with coffee enjoyed on the sofa with my dog Zuri. Then I get ready for the day and like to start working around 8. I usually stop for lunch around 11, and I like to make myself a salad, oftentimes a recipe from the Salad Freak cookbook. After that, I’ll work until at least 5 and then take Zuri for a walk. Once my husband gets home, I’ll start dinner. On the best nights, I’ll be pouring a glass of white wine and trying a new Ina Garten recipe! And of course, I’ll film the whole thing to post to social media later. After we clean up dinner, we’ll watch a show together in bed and go to sleep around 10!
Lauren Blue, Lifestyle Staff Writer
As a Lifestyle Staff Writer for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of home decor, delicious recipes, hobbies, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Instagram for beautiful homes to feature on the site.