Stunning contemporary beach house retreat

This stunning property is a four story waterfront retreat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that boasts panoramic aquatic views of the Atlantic Ocean, designed by Bruce Palmer Interior Design. Taking four and a half years to complete, this property’s end result is used for relaxing on weekends and holidays. The exterior incorporates harlequin pattern shingles with a subdued flared out shingle. Custom transoms frame the ocean views and create picturesque moments at sunrise and sunset.

Upon entrance to the home one is greeted with a custom splayed door, wooden textured columns, stone flooring and amendoim wood. A horizontal board was placed from floor to ceiling to give added texture and dimension. Off to the right is a wet bar that artistically displays a hand carved wooden underwater seascape scene. The doors complement this idea with rippled glass suggesting wave like motions. Exotic veneers were incorporated into cabinets, walls and furniture and curb less showers showcase natural stone with all the latest plumbing fixtures.

Commissioned artwork was ordered from Italy, along with antiques from all over the world. Plus, artisans were gathered to create Venetian plaster, generate wave-like agate stone walls and trim, and construct antiques to house vanity sinks and design lighting fixtures to fit the scale of each room.

The kitchen and dining room have a mixture of stone and wood set on a diagonal pattern. The Blue Bahia countertops in the kitchen impersonate the deep blue color of the nearby ocean.

The powder room has many features that include a stain glass window featuring seashells and textured glass. The vanity was wire brushed and then lime washed to convey tones of aged driftwood.

The ceilings have been treated with bead board, reminiscent of an old beach cottage.

Stepping out onto the exterior deck made of Massaranduba wood, you will find an oasis complete with a unique barbecue area, lighted pergola, and countertop seating overlooking the shoreline.

By installing a cable railing, the ocean views appear to be unobstructed.

Custom casing were created to hide and house motorized shades.

Contemporary beach house with uninterrupted ocean views

Plett 6541+2 House was designed as a family home by SAOTA Architects in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. The clients required the residence to be designed with an understated elegance and quite grandeur, with six bedrooms and indoor/outdoor living spaces with uninterrupted views, with a ”lived-in beach-house” feel. The interiors of this fabulous home were carried out by Daniela Priebatsch and Emi Cavalieri.

Here is a description from the architects, “The beach-front site falls within a pristine and unique environment, nestled at the foot of the Robberg. With direct access to a strip of idyllic beach, it is characterized by its rolling dunes and the dense indigenous vegetation of extraordinary variety, including a well establish Milkwood thicket. The site is subject to hot summers and moderate winters, with a cooling on-shore breeze, from the North East. Taking advantage of the large dune across the majority of the site, the views were maximized by elevating the living levels to above natural ground level, terracing built forms down the dune.”

“The design incorporates large glazed areas and extensive use of outdoor spaces, with each aspect of the house having a terrace or deck. The linear open plan composition of the interior spaces allows views from every room. To take advantage of the sea and distant mountain views, while providing protection from the extremes of climate, the living spaces were designed with South West/North East orientations. Sculptured rectangular forms, linear elements, large areas of horizontal glazing, timber cladding and expansive external terraces are the principal elements of the design. Externally the natural fynbos was brought up to the house achieving a feeling that the house is set in nature and does not disturb the natural beauty.”

“The simple choice of materials complements the sculptural form of the house. The flooring is of large format leather finish Neo Sardo Granite throughout the house, alongside painted walls and ceilings. The principal neutral elements are complemented by the natural timber shutters, screens and pergola. These will mature in time to a silver-grey colour. Each bathroom is characterized by walls clad in granite to match the floors, frameless glass shower enclosures and white Corian vanities. The master bedroom is finished with white oiled Oak flooring with feature granite, tying it back to the rest of the house.”

Rustic fisherman’s house in the village of Buzios

High on a hill, away from the hype, is this small house in the picturesque fishing village of Buzios, Brazil. The owner, businessman Santiago Bebianno sought out a space that was on high ground, isolated, but close to the village, with the constant breeze and beautiful scenery surrounding. Divided into modules, the construction of the 1,614 square foot (150 square meters) house was carried out by architecture studio Das Canoas. Building was done gradually, respecting the budget and because the client was in no hurry.

When Santiago first moved in, he just had his bedroom and bathroom, the rest of the house was a concrete slab with no electricity. He lived by candlelight for four months, waiting for the installation of cables. The work took place over the course of a year, with labor and local raw materials. Santiago wished for a simple style, a rustic finish and simulating a fisherman’s house. The goal to create relaxing spaces that are open and airy and that everything was easy to use and maintain. Via

Ultra-modern beach house in La Jolla

The Lemperle Residence has been designed by Jonathan Segal, FAIA on a small pie shaped lot focusing outwards from the street and onto the ocean in La Jolla, California. This ocean front residence promotes an outdoor connection through the use of expansive glass and deck areas.

Here is a description of the project from the architects, “Every room above grade space in the house is forced to the ocean through the use of vertical and horizontal planes defining visual edges. These edges also create an air of privacy from the adjacent neighbors. Built entirely of concrete, steel and walnut the home combines warmth with a machine like precision.”

“In addition to the above grade spaces the basement maximizes allowable floor area with lighting provided by glass flooring and light wells. Although very well concealed the home is almost entirely powered by highly efficient solar panels. In addition, due to the temperate climate cross ventilation provides all of the cooling needs, while heating needs are provided through high efficiency in floor heating throughout.”

Photos: Paul Body

Casual luxe weekend beach refuge in Seaview

The goal for the design of this 1950’s beach house interior was to create a refuge from the all-too-predictable Northwest coast rainy weather of Seaview, Washington. This is Portland designer Garrison Hullinger’s own playful getaway which is drenched with warmth to forget about the outdoor elements. Taking this home out of the 1950′s meant removing almost every surface in the house, except for the original wood paneling. The wood was painted a soft hue of blue that is a great contrast to the new coffee stained bamboo floors.

Guests are made to feel welcome at this beach house. The designer used the natural hues of the surrounding environment for inspiration in decor: nature-inspired tones infused with splashes of welcome color. This cheerful palette, when combined with unique choices of furnishings that showcase natural materials, helps create a perfect weekend getaway, whether rain or shine. The warmth of the dark bamboo flooring helps ground the space and hides a multitude of dirt, sand and dog hair. The fireplace was previously an old yellow brick with mauve-tinted mortar, but the designer switched all that out for simple and modern porcelain tiles on the bottom half, while the top half is smooth, hand-sanded plaster.

In the master bedroom, 100-year-old tongue-and-groove plank wood wall boards were discovered under the old chipboard of the walls during the remodel of the 1957 Ranch. Previous owners reported that the boards were salvaged from the old Victorian house that originally sat on the property. The designer used a soy based wood conditioner to clean and seal the wood boards, while leaving the paint and stain as they were originally found. Since the wall was a bold statement, the furnishings in this room were kept simple, the bed did not need a headboard, and the red side tables were clean and minimal.

Hullinger chose a soft white trim throughout, knowing it would work perfectly with Seaview’s often-cloudy and muted light.

The upper cabinets have been removed and stainless steel shelves hold the glassware.

The existing cabinetry was sanded down and repainted with a gray paint in a satin finish.

One of the only bright colors in the home is a brilliant turquoise wall that extends from the dining room into the kitchen.

The living room and family room have a very neutral palette, inspired by colors you’d find collecting seashells and driftwood.

A guest bedroom plays off of the beachy turquoise wall in the dining room and kitchen.

Carved basalt tile echoes the look of Seaview’s persistently rainy weather.

The stacked wood back wall in this family room is designed by hand from salvaged materials found on site from the remodel and other projects in the area.

Photos: Blackstone Edge Studio

Tropical beach house on Turks and Caicos Islands

This absolutely stunning private beach house called ‘Terrapin Residence’ is located on the Turks and Caicos Islands, designed by Denver-based Worth Interiors. Surrounded by tropical blues and greens, this fascinating home picks up on the beach theme and draws in vibrant hues in the fabrics and finishes that really pops off the white walls. Cool, fresh and clean, the home is drenched in glassy Caribbean blues, sandy whites, driftwood grays and coconut brown.

A beautiful accent wall in the dining area separates the space from the rest of the open plan design. Plenty of windows and sliding glass patio doors blurs the boundaries between the indoors and out and draws in ample daylight. The home also features an in-home cinema room and infinity-edge pool that seems to drop right off into the turquoise blue ocean. A spacious outdoor terrace offers plenty of room for entertaining and soaking up the sun.

What do you think of this tropical oasis, would this be your idea of the perfect vacation getaway?

Photos: Steve Passmore

Praia do Felix Beach House in the Brazilian forest

Since this projects initial conception Praia do Felix Beach House was treated as a “case” to be deployed in areas of high conservation restriction on the slope of the Serra do Mar, Praia do Felix, Brazil. Designed by architecture firm Vidal & Sant’Anna, maximum environmental conditions were preserved utilizing the principle of total mimicry with nature not to be perceived externally.

The project opts for circulations made by external stairs and separates the social and service, located across the slope from intimate area located along the slope below the ground. Very light, the residence, made of certified wood and glass, explores small and minimal rooms to meet the programmatic needs without losing the sense of sustainability.

With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, family and living room, guest bathroom, kitchen, service area and spacious terrace, the house with 1,668 square feet (155 square meters) of built area, is deployed against the contour preserving characteristics of soil and original ground vegetation. With cross ventilation and air chambers on the roofs / decks, environmental comfort is guaranteed without the need for equipment for temperature equilibrium. The rigidity in the form of execution of the work secured the commitment made by the owners in the conservation and preservation of the area. Today the house is prominent among the inhabitants of Praia do Felix although not noticed in the dense forest location.

Photos: Fran Parente

Ultra-modern Australian beachside villa

Sorrento House is a contemporary Palladian villa that unashamedly takes its lead from the great seaside villas but adds an ultra-modernist twist in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Designed by Robert Mills Architects, its large scale, but fine detail, mimics the wild and rugged beauty of the coast itself. Sorrento showcases the core ingredients of modern design: a monochromatic palette of exposed concrete and honed basalt; a seamless marriage between its raw elements and the coastal landscape. “A beach house is a place that can offer all the sophistication and convenience of modern life but is cloaked in casual clothes,” says Mills. At Sorrento, this has been achieved by allowing the structure to become the finish. The use of raw materials – exposed concrete and hand hewn timber with their natural flaws left intact, honed basalt floors – ensures the house sits comfortably within its natural environment.

The home’s ground floor is entirely living space, with an open-plan layout and north-facing terrace providing a large entertaining area. Large sheets of glass allow natural light to flood the vast open plan living and dining area downstairs and create a seamless flow to the terrace and pool outside. The sense of space this engenders is enhanced by high ceilings and a simple palette that continues through the pale ash ceilings and dove grey carpets in the bedrooms upstairs. The lost craft of interior decoration lifts Sorrento to another level. Bold use of tribal sculptures and unique Aboriginal art contrasts with the raw finishes, adding another dimension.

Photos: Earl Carter

Dream house magically suspended on a bluff

Having been neglected for nearly 50 years, this incredible dream home was rescued by new owners who sought to restore the home to its original grandeur by Siemasko + Verbridge, an architecture, interior and landscape design firm in Beverly, Massachusetts. Prominently located on the rocky shoreline, its presence welcomes all who enter into Marblehead from the Boston area. The exterior respects tradition; the interior combines tradition with a sparse respect for proportion, scale and unadorned beauty of space and light. The home had originally been built in 1899, taking four years to renovate; the historic facade was renewed and restored. The home was originally 4,000 square feet but was expanded to 9,300 square feet of living space, but was kept as historically accurate as possible. The existing sea wall was also rebuilt to protect the home and the neighboring properties.

The interior were respectful of the past, yet in total harmony with its ingenious avant-garde improvements. The interior feels as cozy as a cottage with average sized rooms all minimally furnished by interior designer Jean Verbridge. The fully equipped kitchen was expanded by enclosing a section of the front porch and looks out to ocean views. Where the kitchen used to be located, now lays a two-story library retreat for the owner’s eclectic collection of art. A carriage house that was burned down was rebuilt with an attached garage that extends into an extra floor of living space, with a home theater, game room, sauna, and elevator. The high tech home has fully automated and energy-efficient systems; window blinds, espresso maker, landscape irrigation, solar roof panels, and the temperature of the wine cellar, pool water and sauna can all be controlled remotely. If the owners are away and a storm blows in, the push of a button will drop shutters into place over windows.

To see more on the building and restoration of this incredible home, check out the owner’s blog, here.

The attached carriage house to the left of the restored house contains guest quarters and pool cabana above a three-car garage.

A NanaWall Systems door folds, accordion style, completely out of the way, the swimming pool can be fully opened to the lower level of the house where the is a second kitchen, changing rooms and full bath.

The custom weather vane atop the turret depicts an Austrian mountain goat.

Fabulous beach-chic house on Tybee Island

This fabulous two-story beach house on Tybee Island in Savannah, Georgia was designed from the ground up by designer Joel Snayd of Rethink Design Studio. The first floor living space was designed as an open concept, which allows ample space for large family gatherings. Old recycled beams were incorporated into the design scheme to add visual interest and create natural divisions between the living, kitchen and dining room spaces. The crisp white butt joint paneling was offset using the cool gray slate tile below foot. The stairs and cabinets were painted a soft gray, roughly two shades lighter than the floor, and then topped off with a Carerra honed marble. Apple red stools, corky art, and fun colored bowls add a bit of whimsy and fun.

The second story features a sleeping loft, separated from the rest of the upstairs by white flowing curtains. Built in beds are adorned with a nautical reading light and built-in hideaway niches. The space is light and airy with painted gray floors, all white walls, old rustic beams and headers, wood paneling, tongue and groove ceilings, dormers, vintage rattan furniture, mid-century painted pieces, and a cool hangout spot for the kids. The rest of the bedroom and bathroom spaces are punctuated with bright bursts of color that gives an extra punch to the otherwise white interiors.