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Houzz Tour: A Jersey Shore Beach House Breaks Free
Shedding its dismal and oppressive rooms for a gloriously radiant outlook, this weekend home finds the light
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Very few people could have imagined any hope for this dank and dated bungalow beyond tearing it down, but the homeowner and her interior designer, Sheila Rich, could. "My client has a great eye for simplicity in design and was able to see the potential in this outdated midcentury beach bungalow," says Rich. Her client had a stressful job in New York City and wanted a relaxing second home, which she found a few blocks from the shore in Spring Lake, New Jersey.
Rich was called in to transform the house into a fresh and urbane year-round weekend retreat with enough sleeping space for the client's parents, four siblings and their children to join her for overnight visits. She focused on creating continuity between the small rooms, making the most of natural light, providing lots of storage and bringing in the coast via textures instead of "themeyness." The result is fresh, airy, contemporary cottage style that's subtly beachy and makes the place look and feel much larger than its 25-foot-wide footprint. Buckle up for some dramatic before and after shots.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Spring Lake, New Jersey
Who spends weekends here: A single woman in Manhattan, about 1 1/2 hours away by car
Size: 1,750 square feet; 4 bedrooms, plus a family room that converts to a guest room, 2 bathrooms
Year completed: 2008
Rich was called in to transform the house into a fresh and urbane year-round weekend retreat with enough sleeping space for the client's parents, four siblings and their children to join her for overnight visits. She focused on creating continuity between the small rooms, making the most of natural light, providing lots of storage and bringing in the coast via textures instead of "themeyness." The result is fresh, airy, contemporary cottage style that's subtly beachy and makes the place look and feel much larger than its 25-foot-wide footprint. Buckle up for some dramatic before and after shots.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Spring Lake, New Jersey
Who spends weekends here: A single woman in Manhattan, about 1 1/2 hours away by car
Size: 1,750 square feet; 4 bedrooms, plus a family room that converts to a guest room, 2 bathrooms
Year completed: 2008
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| AFTER: "The porch is the gateway to the house and transitions from the traditional exterior to the more sleek and urban-inspired interior," says Rich. "It's also the lifeline of a beach house. We began by vaulting the ceiling just enough to give it a lift." Retro porch furniture respects the home's age, while pale blue upholstery keeps things light, airy and fresh. Sisal rugs add beachy texture and define separate sitting and dining/game playing areas. Good lighting and ceiling fans make things comfortable and functional, while beadboard adds a cottage touch. |
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| BEFORE: Rich kicked off the renovation on the screened-in porch, which set the tone for the rest of the remodeling. |
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| BEFORE: Yucky carpeting, an outdated fireplace, small windows and dark wood trim were making the living room feel stale and small. The three biggest changes were replacing the windows and doors, adding a new heating and air conditioning system, and replacing or rehabbing all of the dark trim. |
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| AFTER: Rich used lots of small-space tricks to make the living room look and feel larger. A light color palette, larger windows and gauzy Roman shades keeps things light and bright. "Because of their versatility and symmetry, using pairs of furniture instead of single larger pieces solved the space problem," says Rich. She created architectural interest by adding thick crown, base and trim moldings. "Painting the trim and walls the same shade of white helps things blend and look larger," she says. "We painted the trim in semigloss to give just the subtlest contrast to the walls." She adds, "We also used the same hardwood floors throughout the house to add contrast, warmth and continuity throughout the first floor." |
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| BEFORE: The old family room was not a space where anyone would want to gather. |
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| AFTER: The living room's light color palette continues into the adjacent family room. "Using the same colors and fabrics throughout the first floor keeps it open and provides continuity," explains Rich. "Each room has its own personality but is also part of a whole." Rich used durable Sunbrella fabrics throughout the house to stand up to wet bathing suits, sunlight and sandy feet. "The true test of a design is to see if it holds up for years after you're done," says Rich. |
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| Rich made the most of the small family room. She used upholstered ottomans that double as extra seating and are easy to move out of the way. The clever buit-in shelves and cabinets store media components as well as a printer, copier and fax machine so that the owner can work from home. This room doubles as the fifth bedroom. Rich angled the cabinets to allow space for the convertible sofa's queen size; pocket doors provide privacy without taking up an extra inch of space and Roman shades have a layer of blackout fabric. |
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| BEFORE: The kitchen was dark, dank, cramped and outdated. |
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| AFTER: The kitchen is now airy and light, contemporary yet beachy. Rich choose this granite for the counters and the kitchen table because it has a "sand-like rhythm," she says, and continued it up the walls instead of breaking up the look with a tile backsplash. Light finishes and glass upper cabinet doors bounce the light around. Simple round knobs and pulls and stainless steel appliances add some sleek urban style. Rich's client needed to be able to work from home, so the desk on the left gets lots of use. |
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"This space was originally a back porch/laundry room," says Rich. "We were able to turn it into a dining nook and tuck the washer-dryer into a new kitchen laundry closet." Four new windows let in the light.
The client provided the iron base for the table, and Rich had a custom top made from the same granite used on the countertops, providing more continuity within the kitchen. In fact, she even used the same granite on the living room hearth for the same reason.
The artwork provides continuity as well; the client bought the entire series from an artist she admires, and Rich placed the pieces throughout.
The client provided the iron base for the table, and Rich had a custom top made from the same granite used on the countertops, providing more continuity within the kitchen. In fact, she even used the same granite on the living room hearth for the same reason.
The artwork provides continuity as well; the client bought the entire series from an artist she admires, and Rich placed the pieces throughout.
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| BEFORE: The dining room's outdated shutters, trimwork and carpeting were in desperate need of a makeover. |
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| AFTER: Rich believes that in a successful room, no one piece sticks out. Case in point: the successful mix of styles and textures in the dining room. She used the same fabric and color palette from the rest of the first floor. A rich mix of textures and styles includes a vintage Moroccan-style glass chandelier that her client found, a solid wood parson's dining table, Danish Wishbone Chairs with woven seats, a sisal rug and a potted plant. Storage was also a priority. "We created much-needed storage space as well as seating with this dining room window seat," says Rich. |
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| BEFORE: A dim bathroom. |
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AFTER: "The clear, frameless shower allows unobstructed views of the space," says Rich. It also lets the natural light from the shower's window into the entire room. Using the same opalescent tile from the floor in the shower stall and up the wall creates continuity. These elements, plus using an open pedestal sink in lieu of a clunky vanity, make this bathroom look and feel much larger.
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| "While my client wanted to update the interior, it was very important to her that the exterior was respectful of the neighborhood; she didn't want the house to stand out as different," says Rich. |
Ideabook published on Sept. 11, 2012.
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