Houzz Tour: A Cheerful Beach House for Every Season
Portland designer's own playful getaway warms up the rainy Northwest coast
Seaview, Wash. gets an average of 82 inches of rain a year, so interior designer Garrison Hullinger's beach house is a decidedly pleasant refuge from the all-too-predictable Northwest weather. Using the natural hues of his environment as inspiration, Hullinger played with a palette of nature-inspired tones and infused it with splashes of welcome color. "I knew I wanted to have soothing colors throughout the main part of the home," Hullinger says. "But I wanted a few color pops that would energize, without feeling too literal for a beach house."
This cheerful palette, when combined with unique product that showcases natural materials, helps create a perfect weekend getaway — rain or shine.
This cheerful palette, when combined with unique product that showcases natural materials, helps create a perfect weekend getaway — rain or shine.
"I think the first thought someone has as they walk through the front door is hotel luxe," Hullinger says. "It's casual. The dark bamboo floor helps ground the space, and hides a multitude of dirt, sand, and dog hair."
Console: Wisteria
Lamp: Barbara Cosgrove
Mirror: West Elm
Console: Wisteria
Lamp: Barbara Cosgrove
Mirror: West Elm
The living room and family room have a very neutral palette, which is inspired by colors you'd find collecting seashells and driftwood. Materials from the thick seagrass rug, to the ocean blue pillows create a soothing, beachy vibe.
Rug: Overstock.com
Floor lamp: Am-Living
Sectional: custom design by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
Rug: Overstock.com
Floor lamp: Am-Living
Sectional: custom design by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
Hullinger chose a soft white trim throughout, knowing it would work perfectly with Seaview's often-cloudy and muted light. "I also kept the furniture backs low in this room, so you can sit anywhere in the space and enjoy the expansive views outside the windows," he says.
Trim color: Benjamin Moore's Winter Wheat
Coffee Table: Oly Studios
Side Table: Wisteria
Tripod Lamp: AM Living Surveyors Lamp
Art: Robin Denevan
Trim color: Benjamin Moore's Winter Wheat
Coffee Table: Oly Studios
Side Table: Wisteria
Tripod Lamp: AM Living Surveyors Lamp
Art: Robin Denevan
The fireplace is a particular source of pride. When he bought the home, the fireplace was a old yellow brick with mauve-tinted mortar. He switched all of that out for a simple and modern porcelain tile on the bottom half, while the top half is hand-sanded smooth plaster.
Tile: NuTravertine by Cronin Tile
Tile: NuTravertine by Cronin Tile
One of the only bright colors in the home is a brilliant turquoise wall that extends from the dining room into the kitchen.
Wall color: Benjamin Moore's Juneau Spring
Table: CB2 Darjeeling Dining Table
Barstools: CB2 Contact Stool
Bar: Hudson Goods
Lamp: Barbara Cosgrove
Mirror: Katayma Framing
Wall color: Benjamin Moore's Juneau Spring
Table: CB2 Darjeeling Dining Table
Barstools: CB2 Contact Stool
Bar: Hudson Goods
Lamp: Barbara Cosgrove
Mirror: Katayma Framing
The existing cabinetry was sanded down and repainted with a gray paint in a satin finish. White and gray granite blends the cabinetry with the porcelain backsplash, while classic metal fixtures round out the look.
Cabinetry: Painted with Fine Paints of Europe
Flooring: Porcelain tile
Countertop: Madam White Granite
Cabinetry: Painted with Fine Paints of Europe
Flooring: Porcelain tile
Countertop: Madam White Granite
In the master bedroom, Hullinger exposed a 100-year-old tongue-and-groove plank wood wall, revealing the home's natural beauty. Because of this wall's bold statement, the furniture in the room is kept simple — the bed has no headboard, and the red side tables are clean and minimal.
Table lamps: Kovacs
Table lamps: Kovacs
A guest bedroom plays off of the beachy turquoise wall in the dining room and kitchen. Custom bedding designed by Hullinger gives the room a playful feel, while smoky glass table lamps evoke the look of foggy sea glass.
Table lamps: West Elm Gourd Table Lamp
Bed frame: custom by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
Bedding: custom made
Table lamps: West Elm Gourd Table Lamp
Bed frame: custom by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
Bedding: custom made
"It was so much fun designing a space where I was the actual client," Hullinger says. "I wanted to make sure that the house had all of the conveniences of home — and a few more." For the flooring, porcelain tile — designed to look like classic cut travertine — came from a local tile company.
Flooring: NuTravertine by Cronin Tile
Backsplash: Basalt Linear Mosaic by Cronin Tile
Flooring: NuTravertine by Cronin Tile
Backsplash: Basalt Linear Mosaic by Cronin Tile
Finely carved basalt tile echoes the look of Seaview's persistently rainy weather. "I wanted to design a luxurious shower that you wouldn't want to step out of," says Hullinger. Hullinger's use of soothing color tones and high quality materials creates a truly high-end space.
Shower tile: Basalt Autumn Rain Basalt Tile by Cronin Tile
More:
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Houzz Tour: Coastal Chic Family Getaway
Houzz Tour: Style and Surprise in the Hamptons
Shower tile: Basalt Autumn Rain Basalt Tile by Cronin Tile
More:
20 Spectacular Beach Houses
Houzz Tour: Coastal Chic Family Getaway
Houzz Tour: Style and Surprise in the Hamptons
Table: CB2 Teepee Table
Chairs: Eames Molded Plastic Armchair
Side tables: West Elm