“In a beach house, everyone gathers together. That’s what’s so great about our family room and kitchen. It’s one big space.” — homeowner Native St. Louisans, the homeowners enjoyed years of vacationing on the Florida and Michigan coasts and loved the seaside vibe, soft colors and relaxed days spent sailing. Inspired by her clients’ vision, Marcia set about transforming their new home into one that could easily be mistaken for a charming beach town retreat. “When the homeowners hired me,” explains Marcia; “they had already begun to make changes to their new home. The kitchen was finished, and the master and hall bath projects were underway. The idea for the coastal theme really didn’t come completely together until we matched up, so we had to be very creative to make everything work together seamlessly, mindful of the seaside feel that the homeowners really wanted. It’s a good example of why hiring a designer in the beginning can really save you time and money.”
The first day I met my clients,” says Marcia, “the walls were already in the process of being painted several shades of grey. And although the greys were beautiful, foggy hues that were sophisticated, simple and elegant, I wanted to inject some more beachy colors throughout the home to give it that classic coastal feel. So we chose a gorgeous blue green, reminiscent of sea glass and clear ocean bays for the dining room.” The sitting room is bathed in peach perfection softened with a glaze of creamy yellow and warm silver. The master bedroom is the coastal bungalow of the home. “The husband loves pastels, says Marcia,” so we did a soft peachy yellow for the walls with accents in turquoise and hot pink, a more vibrant Caribbean tone and furnishings reflective of the West Indies.”
DID YOU KNOW? A half wall can be the perfect spot to hang a painting. Just look how great this small piece of art looks above the console table. It’s all about arranging objects to work together, so don’t forget about those unexpected spaces.
L The spacious family room is one of the homeowners’ (and Sammy, the golden retriever’s) favorite spots to relax. Opening to the kitchen, the room invites guests to interact while meals are being prepared. Easy-care leather sofas in maritime navy blue and an ivory recliner invite relaxation and no fuss comfort. Marcia brings in more coastal colors with pops of coral in the pillows. Wicker and teak chairs and tables add an organic and natural feel to the space. The existing grey wall color (“Amazing Gray” Sherwin-Williams) was a refreshing backdrop for this space but the focal point wall with the sailboat sculptures needed a different tone to really make the art stand out. She chose Sherwin-William’s “Nantucket Dune,” a softer, paler gray, and it made all the difference.
L The ideal accent for a coastal-inspired space, this small side table is a replica of a ship’s compass set on an adjustable tripod. 7
