Beach House Dreams

In our next issue, we’ll give you all the deets on this year’s coastal-cool REAL SIMPLE Home in Rosemary Beach, Florida. In the meantime, take a sneak peek at what the talented designers (ahem, some of them our own editors) plan to create.

BY LESLIE CORONA AND ERICA FINAMORE

Kelly’s Plan

MOVING PARTS

To create a more casual and spontaneous space, Kelly prefers a group of swivel chairs to a sofa.

THINK PINK

JOY STREET INTERIORS @joystreetdesign

Kelly had a previous life as a lawyer until she stepped away in 2011 to start her interior design irm in Oakland, California. She loves functional family spaces, bold colors, and giving back—she founded the nonproit Joy Street Initiative to do pro bono design work, like creating bedrooms in a shelter for teens.

THE GOAL A Fun Loft Filled with Color

This big expanse of space on the third loor will become a lively room for groups of people to enjoy together. Flexible furniture, like adjustable chairs and ottomans, will allow guests to chat, play games, and just hang.

Kelly likes to add unexpected pops of color, such as a blush side table

COLORFUL CANVASES

Kelly will bring shades of blue, orange, yellow, and green into the room through multiple pieces of vivid abstract art.

IN OR OUT

Aluminum dining chairs with a gold inish were designed for outdoor use, so they’ll stand up to wear and tear (pets! toddlers! teens!) indoors.

NEUTRAL TERRITORY

Since the loft will include lots of color, Kelly will use neutral items, like a wood console with a simple brass inlay, to keep the palette from getting overwhelming

TO BUY: Morpho Swivel Chair, $350; target.com. Silicus Side Table, $149; article.com. Outlook by Jen Florentine, from $24; minted.com. Oro Gold Outdoor Dining Chair, $329; cb2.com. Spiced Auburn Wood and Brass Inlay Storage Cabinet, $600; worldmarket.com. Cat’s Paw Micro Hooked Wool Rug, $848 (5 by 8 ft.); annieselke.com

Erica Finamore

HOME DIRECTOR AT REAL SIMPLE @ericafinamore

The New York City–based editor has loved home decor since childhood and has been styling professionally since 2011. Erica unabashedly goes for bright colors and bold patterns, and she tries to infuse a pop of pink into every space.

THE GOAL An Inviting Porch with Boho Charm

For curb appeal, the front of the house should pack a unique punch without clashing with the beach town’s organic style. Erica will start with big, neutral pieces, like a resin-andaluminum swing and teak sofa, then add color with pillows, plants, and rugs.

Erica’s Plan IN THE SWING

A porch swing is always charm ing, no? This one is made of ors resin, so it can be used outdo all year long

Floor It

m-

To squeeze in some extra seat ing, Erica plans to feature a e couple of plush, weather-safe loor cushions

Table Talk

t- gh The porch doesn’t have enoug ut room for a full dining setup, b ed a cofee table with hand-carv details adds elegance and a convenient place to snack

Sitting Pretty

me A sofa with a sturdy teak fram a and water-repellent Sunbrella cushions can withstand a stormy season.

TO BUY: Springwood Hanging Daybed, $3,498; serenaandlily com. All Weather Wicker Outdoor Planters, from $60; worldmarket.com. Bolé Road n, Variegated Stripe Floor Cushio $125; westelm.com. Ceylon Teak Cofee Table, $600; ballarddesigns.com. Bolé Road Stripe and Step Pillow, $47.50; westelm.com. Santa Cruz Teak Sofa, $2,956; williams-sonoma.com.

Katie Holdefehr

ASSOCIATE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AT REALSIMPLE.COM @katieholdefehr

Katie has spent more than a decade writing about all things home, covering everything from paint trends to laundry mistakes. She gravitates toward farmhouse charm and has yet to meet a beach house she doesn’t like.

Katie’s Plan

SHED SOME LIGHT

To illuminate both the open shelves and the counter (you want to be able to see when you’re spot-treating stains), Katie likes a sconce with an articulating arm.

BLUE ROOM

Katie will coat the entire room (trim included) in a soft blue with gray undertones to accentuate the subtle brass and wicker accessories

WALLED OFF

In this small room, loor space is limited, but the high ceiling means plenty of vertical space. Open shelving on the back wall will store clothespins and dryer balls; an adjustable wall hook will hold cleaning essentials

TO BUY: Task Sconce, $348; serenaandlily.com. Valspar

Paint in Rising Tide 4008-3A, from $26 per gallon; lowes.com. Water Hyacinth Laundry Cart, $120; containerstore.com. Stowe Eco Glass Canisters, from $45; jennikayne.com.

THE GOAL A Laundry Room with Seaside Style

Laundry can be a tedious task, so Katie wants this room to feel beachy and calm. A serene shade of blue paired with woven elements—like baskets and a water-hyacinth hamper—will make laundry day a time to unwind.

THE GOAL A Landing with Major Wow Factor

Landing areas tend to be afterthoughts, but Leslie will make the most of this one at the top of the dining room staircase. She’ll take cues from the ocean and paint the walls a seafoam green, then create three distinct zones, using a desk, a lounge chair, and a bar cabinet.

Leslie has been creating home content for nearly 10 years and likes to strike a balance between minimalism and maximalism (yes, you can be in the middle!)

The Brooklyn, New York, native loves bright colors and midcentury modern design with touches of glam.

Leslie’s Plan

BUBBLE UP

This area is not just a passthrough! Leslie chose dramatic lighting—a chandelier with 25 glass bubbles—so people will pause and look up.

PATTERN PLAY

Leslie will deine the small wall area under an adjoining staircase by covering it in peel-and-stick wallpaper. That unexpected element will brighten up the dark nook

VINTAGE ADVANTAGE

The landing is a strange shape, so standard rug sizes won’t work. Vintage rugs often come in unique dimensions, and this Moroccan one is a it.

HIDDEN AGENDA

A rattan ottoman will serve as both a place for people to rest their feet and a storage bin to hold books, magazines, and stray paperwork

TO BUY: The 25 Bubble Chandelier, from $950; thelightfactory.net. Lush Palms Wallpaper, $4.50 per sq. ft.; lovevsdesign.com. Tylor Rug, revivalrugs.com for similar.