Coastal Casual Defined: Inside Coastal Living's 2011 Ultimate Beach House

Not far from my Norfolk Nest, in a new waterfront community called East Beach, Coastal Living has created their 2011 Ultimate Beach House.  It had been weeks since my October issue, featuring the showcase house on the cover, had arrived in my mailbox, and moreover it had been years since I started following designer Phoebe Howard's work.  So last Thursday I finally carved out the time to visit the masterpiece.  My friend and fellow blogger and her adorable 11 month-old joined me on the scouting adventure. 

Photo: Tria Giovan for Coastal Living

The three-story, double-decker porch exterior of the Coastal Living "Ultimate Beach House" welcomes owners home and beckons guests in.  The house's cement shingle walls are painted light aqua, complimented by the navy shutters, referencing the colors of the ocean just 100 yards away.  Walking through the front door was like stepping into a coastal oasis.  The open floor plan downstairs creates the perfect entertaining environment with the living room, dining room, and kitchen sharing a nautical design theme with crisp whites, deep blues, and pops of yellow.  The natural wood furnishings, airy linen curtains, fresh, cheerful fabrics and shiny hardware finishings draws you into each living space, inviting you to relax into a chair, sip a glass of wine, and take in the picturesque ocean views through the over- sized windows.

a good design rule is to cluster in threes (two patterns that are 
similar colors and shapes and one bold solid in a complimentary color)

white oars form a whimsical mirror in the dining room; mixing
seating styles, both in shape and material, is unexpected and memorable

the high beamed ceilings and white planked wood floors
evokes the feeling of being aboard a luxury ship

 we loved the backsplash of recycled tile in sea blue gloss, a fresh take
on the common white subway tile

again Phoebe Howard mixes seating in a family breakfast nook by
offering an L-shaped banquet in natural canvas and three
upholstered chairs with driftwood finish and over-sized nail heads

what's more beachy than decorating with flip flops?

perhaps decorating with bright beach towels...

my favorite room in the house was the first floor master bedroom from the
CIRCA Lighting bead and tassel chandelier to the upholstered
headboard to the lambrequin window treatments from Lee Jofa/Blithfield & Co. Ltd.

bleached stag's horn centered among white plates creates
a focal point above the headboard

honeycomb graphic flooring by Ann Sachs in the first floor master bath

the porch off the first floor master offers quietude and views of the ocean

I couldn't resist including my friend's adorable daughter enjoying the children's chair
(and the joy of wearing just one shoe) on the house's second floor landing
 

punchy pink provides a pretty pallate in the kids' room

the second floor master bedroom defines coastal casual

outdoor entertaining is essential for a beach house; this seating
area features muted metallic silver wicker and bold Sunbrella
fabric in sapphire blue

teak wood and white sling fabric set the stage for a al fresco
outdoor dining experience 
(Photo:  Tria Giovan for Coastal Living)

above the garage sits the "Carriage House," the perfect studio
apartment for weekend guests with a kitchen, pull out, bathroom,
and separate entrance

Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House is open through November 27, 2011.  For more information on the house, the materials, and tours, visit the Coastal Living website.