Upstairs, Downstairs Inside a designer's eclectic, bohemian beachside abode words by Virginia Chamlee photos by Agnes Lopez
254 East Coast Drive n a word, the beach cottage located at 254 East Coast Drive in Atlantic Beach is “charming.” And the charm extends well beyond the home’s bones. “It’s a classic beach house and it’s been well-loved by its previous owners,” says Robyn McQuiston who, along with her husband Stan and their son Miller, has lived in the house for four years. When the McQuistons bought the fourbedroom, four-and-a-half bath, it was owned by a Georgia family, and used primarily as a vacation retreat. Prior to that, it had been a duplex. So, when the couple purchased the property, it was still divided in much the same way, with kitchens upstairs and downstairs, and living spaces on both floors.
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Initially, the couple planned on removing the second kitchen and making it more of a traditional home. “We tossed around the idea of getting rid of the upstairs kitchen and putting in a pool table or game area,” Robyn recalls. “But I’m so glad we didn’t. The upstairs
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HOME | FALL 2019
space is now the hangout spot for my son and his friends and we often have out-of-town guests, who use that extra kitchen a lot.” The extra kitchen also came in handy when the couple transformed their downstairs cooking and entertaining area. “We replaced all the flooring, removed a wall and expanded the kitchen into an area that was once a porch,” she says. And while they added modern appliances, Robyn—an interior designer herself—was anxious to preserve the home’s charm. “I didn’t want a bright and shiny kitchen. I wanted it to reflect the age of the house.” Today, it’s warm, lived-in and still retains the character the McQuistons fell in love with initially. And the location? It can’t be beat. “We walk to the corner a lot. North Beach Fish Camp, margaritas at Flying Iguana—we’re lucky enough to live at the beach, so we try to take advantage of that.” Who wouldn’t, right?
