Aly Michalka Turns Santa Barbara Fixer-Upper Into Beach Haven
Styling song and sweat: how a star crafted vintage charm into her coastal home over a year
Image: Instagram
A Year Of Labor And Love
Aly Michalka, best known as one half of the pop-rock duo Aly & AJ and a familiar face on screen, just shared an intimate look at her newly transformed Santa Barbara home. In a recent feature for Domino magazine (shot by Jenna Peffley and styled by Meli B), the actress-musician revealed that turning the once run-down property into a comfortable family retreat took a solid year of nonstop work—and a healthy dose of creativity.
Vintage Finds And Diy Details
According to Michalka’s Instagram post, she and her husband, financier Stephen R. “Auhsa” Sprouse (@auhasardspr), handled most of the decorating themselves. “We sourced most of our pieces through vintage dealers,” she wrote, noting that hunting for one-of-a-kind furnishings was both challenging and deeply gratifying. In the Domino spread, you’ll spot a mix of mid-century lighting, repurposed wooden tables, and colorful rugs that Michalka paired with crisp white walls for a breezy, West Coast vibe.
A Living-room Delivery And A New Beginning
Michalka admits that the project wouldn’t have felt complete until they “came to peace with the place.” That tipping point arrived when she unexpectedly delivered their son, Jack, right in the living room. She quipped that while she was frantically nesting, Sprouse was upstairs patching walls and laying floors. A throwback Instagram feature from Domino echoes that moment: five months pregnant, Michalka stood amid half-installed cabinets and missing baseboards, penning a song called “I Don’t Know What It Is” (the sixth track on the latest Aly & AJ album) to process the emotional roller coaster.
From Fixer-upper To Front-page Feature
In an earlier @dominomag post, Michalka reflected on the house’s raw state when they first got the keys. “The cabinets were dinged up, a baseboard was missing—and I was facing all these projects five months pregnant,” she recalled. A year and a half later, the couple invited readers behind the scenes for an exclusive tour. In that story, she described the transformation as a “fight” she had with the structure itself, one that ended in soulful details tucked into every corner.
Beachside Bliss
Now complete, the home offers more than just stylish interiors—it’s just a stroll away from the sand. Michalka and Sprouse can walk their little boy to the beach whenever they like, a convenience that factored heavily into their decision to stay put after leaving a rental in nearby The Canyon. Balconies overlook lush palm trees, and light streams in through floor-to-ceiling windows, uniting indoor and outdoor living in classic California style.
The Domino feature includes close-ups of the couple’s favorite corners—a breakfast nook with vintage stools, a makeshift recording station where Michalka finishes her songwriting, and a cozy reading alcove where framed family photos hang amid potted plants. The end result is both timeless and deeply personal.
By turning a neglected property into a family haven, Aly Michalka demonstrates how patience, sweat equity, and a curated vintage eye can produce lasting style. Her home is now a testament to creativity meeting real-life needs, complete with a soundtrack of original music born from the very space it celebrates.
The transformation stands as a reminder that even the most daunting fixer-upper can become a meaningful sanctuary, especially when you’re willing to pen a song about every step of the journey.
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