COTE DE TEXAS

My Virtual Beach House

116 comments

All this talk about beach houses and Galveston and hurricanes and linen slipcovers has really got me thinking. How would I, an interior designer, (or interior decorator if ASID is listening!) design my own beach house? The problem is, as I've told you before, I love two different styles of designs - cluttered and sparse. While, the cluttered look has won out at home, would I be able to decorate a beach house with a clean, spare vibe? Even playing around with a virtual beach house design, I can't seem to commit to one or the other style. So, I've put together two looks for a beach house that if I was buying one, this is how it might look. Vote in the comment section for the look you like best.

Look #1 - The Cluttered Beach House:

image

For House #1 - I would use a blue and white striped dhurri as the starting off point. The floors would be dark hardwoods, the walls a light grayish white.

uploading

The sofa would be clean lined, slipcovered in white linen, of course!

The two side chairs will be these English inspired, ikat covered ones from Suzanne Rheinstein.

image

This red chinoiserie table is the coffee table.

uploading

Across from the sofa would be these two bobbin chairs.

In between the two chairs will be this antique wine cooler table - perfect to cool down a bottle after a summer day.

The curtains would be made of this Bennison Fabric as would the pillows on the sofa.

And more pillows by Bennison.

image

This bench would go under the windows, covered in the Rheinstein Ikat.


downloading...

The open bar: this Spanish table would be piled high with liquor bottles and glasses, silver trays and ice buckets.

mosaic6201092

This delightful set of 4 watercolors from the Chinoiserie series are the work of the wonderful artist Harrison Howard. These would go above the bar/Spanish console. To see more of Mr. Howard's work, please be sure to visit his web site!!

image

This lantern from 1st Dibs would hang over the living room.

image

A gateleg table for cards.

image

Surrounded by these wicker chairs.

This huge bookcase would be filled with books and globes and blue and white porcelains.

image

Tons of blue and white everywhere!

uploading

And a collection of old globes.

image

And books.

An antique clock for the wall.

Tortoise shells and boxes everywhere - on the walls and on tabletops.

image

This collection of boats would go on top of the bookcase.

image

The dining table would be this large antique French wine tasting table.

image

With chairs slipcovered like this all the way around it, in the ikat fabric.

uploading

A round bullseye mirror next to the table.

Another lantern for the over the dining room table.

Look #2 - The Uncluttered Beach house

image

The aqua and white dhurri will be the starting point here - walls light aqua, floors painted white.

image

This large Bobby McAlpine sofa - slipcovered in white linen.

Over the sofa - a starburst mirror.

image

Flanking the sofa, these two Swedish chests.

image

Two Chelsea Editions chairs and ottoman across from the sofa.

Between the two chairs -19th c. Painted Refraichissoir

image

Under the window- a Swedish day bed in check fabric.

mosaic5681708

These four prints from Harrison Howard, two on each side of the armoire below. See his web site for more of his fabulous work!

image

Holding the TV - Swedish armoire.

image

Shells, everywhere.

image

Big Checks for the pillows, upholstery.

image

Small Checks: curtains, pillows, slipcovers.

image

Chest to double as the bar.

image

Old cartoon - over the chest above.

image

Antique bird cage.

image

A painted chest over chest in the living area.

image

A Mora clock, of course!

image

The game table, white washed table with wicker chairs.

image

Sconces - gorgeous, from 1st Dibs.

downloading...

In the dining room, a Swedish cabinet filled with white ironstone.

image

For the dining room cabinet - white ironstone or creamware - depending on the budget!

image

Mix white books with ironstone.

image

Steel dining room table.

image

Swedish Chairs, in check, Chelsea Editions.

Which look do you prefer, the English influenced cluttered look recapped below:

mosaic8581911

Or the spare, Swedish inspired, clean, white and aqua look?

mosaic3202134