El Nido is a comprehensive restoration and renovation of a 10,000-square-foot estate in Rancho Santa Fe, conceived as an act of stewardship rather than reinvention. The project preserves the home’s Spanish-influenced architectural character and its deep connection to a mature, bucolic landscape while adapting the residence to the rhythms of a young family seeking refuge from Los Angeles. Architecture, interiors, and landscape work together to create a varied sequence of intimate retreats and expansive, light-filled gathering spaces. Natural materials were selected for their tactility, durability, and ability to age gracefully, then expressed in contemporary forms that establish a quiet dialogue between heritage and modern life. Outside, mature specimen trees anchor a restrained landscape strategy focused on uncovering, refining, and giving space to what was already present. The result is a transportive, layered estate in which terraces, gardens, and outdoor rooms extend the perceived scale of the home and allow daily life to unfold seamlessly between interior and exterior.