Home and Design: Coastal design that doesn't scream 'beach'
When it comes to decorating beach houses, designer Erin Paige Pitts borrows a thought from New York designer Victoria Hagan: “I like to hear the ocean,” Pitts says, “not the decorating.”
Pitts, 39, is an expert in seaside style. She designs many coastal retreats, and she and her husband, Gregory, built a house near the water themselves, on Gibson Island, a private enclave in Anne Arundel County. The New England shingle-style home, which the couple shares with their three small children, has views of the Magothy River.
Pitts’s work has garnered accolades from the design world. Traditional Home magazine featured her house in a 2009 issue and selected her as one of the “Top 20 Young Designers to Watch” in 2010. This year, she was chosen to decorate a room in the D.C. Design House and was nominated as one of the Washington Design Center’s “Ones to Watch.”
Though her style would be complete without a reference or two to sand, shells and sea life, Pitts prefers to incorporate these elements using a delicate hand.
“I like to create very elegant, comfortable interiors that are livable for families,” she says. “And I don’t like rooms that scream ‘beach.’ ”
In her master bedroom, for example, a pair of Murano glass table lamps have bases that resemble sea urchins; simple, cream linen curtain panels are trimmed with tiny seashells. In the kitchen, Roman shades are fashioned from fabric with a small-scale sea-coral motif, and the blue-painted beadboard backsplash is reminiscent of the ocean.
The look is beach, not kitsch. And the interior design never eclipses the main attraction.
In beach houses, Pitts says, “the focus is always the view.”
Q&A about coastal design
What are elements of a coastal look?
Pitts: Neutral colors, especially ones with a gray base. All of Benjamin Moore’s OC colors are neutrals with gray undertones. Neutral doesn’t always mean white.
Texture. This doesn’t just mean sisal rugs. Ideally, it’s a mix of materials such as seagrass, bamboo, wicker, rattan and natural woven shades.
Color and pattern. Add both through upholstery, fabrics, artwork, window treatments and accessories.
Cues from nature. Subtly bring the outdoors in. This could mean picking your color palette from a seashell, accessorizing with shells, sea creatures or flowers, or choosing coastal-inspired textiles and artwork.
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Guest bedroom: Wall; trim; ceiling paint, Creamy White—Benjamin Moore (M); benjaminmoore.com. Headboard, custom by designer. Headboard fabric, Pirouette in Harlequin—Marvic Textiles (T); marvictextiles.co.uk. Bed linens—Marguerite's Conceits (R);
All of Benjamin Moore's OC colors are neutrals with gray undertones. Neutral doesn't always mean white. Texture. This doesn't just mean sisal rugs. Ideally, it's a mix of materials such as seagrass, bamboo, wicker, rattan and natural woven shades.
nobody's home | Needlepoint in the 21st Century
Needlepoint? Who has time for needlepoint? Or books.
I am up to my eyes in this renovation. I finally found a contractor, John. He is local man, about my age. He was raised Amish but his whole extended family left the Amish community when he was a boy. He seems to be a good man and a fine contractor. Everybody seems to know him and his work.
He sent me to a local *big* hardware store, (not Home Depot) where they were waiting for us and lavished us with individual attention. It was a far cry from the service and attention at the usual big box store.
We had to pick the whole job, pretty much, so when they come to measure everything on Tuesday, they can price what we have selected and begin ordering it.
Finally, this is underway.
I picked cabinets (natural maple shaker full overlay) & countertop (quartz in black with light speckles & movement). I picked a tile backsplash (multi color small tiles and glass tiles in both square & rectangular, they will be all mixed up).
I picked tile for the floor in the front hall, kitchen & back hallway (they now have off-white carpet by the door to the garage and in the powder room *ick) The new tile is porcelain tile but it looks like natural slate. I love it.
We are replacing the molded plastic showers with tile ones, we picked the tile for that.
After putting more then 25 “samples” of paint on the wall, using those great Benjamin Moore sample size jars, along with accent & trim colors. I picked paint colors (Benj. Moore Linen White for walls, Super White for Trim and Palace White for the occasional accent wall done in a coordinating color).
In this picture the Linen White is on the right, The Palace White is on the left, trim color below and tile below that.
Once I had the paint chosen, I could pick carpet (lightish beige with a cream undertone, perfect with Linen White).
I kept it all neutral to focus on the deep red leather sectional sofa I have ordered.
Ok, tomorrow morning I buy the appliances. They need all those measurements when they do the final measure on Tuesday. This will allow them to design a kitchen where it will all fit in well, specially the refrigerator surround, since it is at the end of the room and you see it from the front door.
I am thinking of spending a bit extra (here too?????) to get a counter depth fridge, so it will not stick out.
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