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Tour a Designer’s Modern Glam Beach House in Rhode Island
Desiree Burns pulls together a green sofa, navy blue accents, rattan chairs and brass to create coastal style that pops
The beach house Desiree and Christian Burns bought in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2017 had a lot going for it. The couple loved the open plan, the breezy white kitchen cabinets and the dark soapstone countertops and backsplash. The hardwood floors and an abundance of natural light were other selling points. But to make it their own, they still had a lot of work to do.
Before they moved in, Desiree, an interior designer, spearheaded several cosmetic updates. She painted every wall, changed out every light fixture and added new furniture, art, wallpaper and accessories. Greens, navy blues and brass finishes pop against light gray walls, creating a modern glam style that Desiree balanced with earthy pieces like tree stump side tables and rattan accent chairs. “It was nice to begin with,” Desiree says. “We just wanted to modernize it a bit, glam it up and make it personal.”
Before they moved in, Desiree, an interior designer, spearheaded several cosmetic updates. She painted every wall, changed out every light fixture and added new furniture, art, wallpaper and accessories. Greens, navy blues and brass finishes pop against light gray walls, creating a modern glam style that Desiree balanced with earthy pieces like tree stump side tables and rattan accent chairs. “It was nice to begin with,” Desiree says. “We just wanted to modernize it a bit, glam it up and make it personal.”
Before Photo
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After: To put a personal style stamp on the space, Desiree used an emerald green velvet sofa as a jumping-off point. “It was this perfect modern glam element,” she says. “I wanted to have pops of blue to incorporate coastal style but not so overly in your face.”
She balanced the attention-grabbing sofa with airy gray walls (Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore), navy accents in the rug and pillows and earthy elements like tree stump side tables and rattan accent chairs.
Brass elements come up throughout the house. Here, a brass side table with a leaf-shaped top coordinates with a brass tray on the cement coffee table and brass-framed art and mirrors.
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She balanced the attention-grabbing sofa with airy gray walls (Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore), navy accents in the rug and pillows and earthy elements like tree stump side tables and rattan accent chairs.
Brass elements come up throughout the house. Here, a brass side table with a leaf-shaped top coordinates with a brass tray on the cement coffee table and brass-framed art and mirrors.
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The rattan chairs create a seating area in front of the fireplace, which the couple use year-round.
Before Photo
Before: They were satisfied with almost everything in the existing kitchen, including the white cabinets and soapstone countertops and backsplash. “We lucked out with the kitchen,” Desiree says. “I like white cabinets. It was a blank canvas for me, so I was OK with keeping it.”
But they disliked the contemporary lighting and tone of the wood floors.
But they disliked the contemporary lighting and tone of the wood floors.
After: Subtle changes made a significant difference. Desiree removed the contemporary pendants and hung a large gray beaded chandelier as a focal point. Pendants with navy shades and brass chains hang over the peninsula and coordinate with new brass bar stools.
The couple sanded and refinished the wood floor. “We brightened it up a little and gave it some sheen,” Desiree says.
Watch now: See more of this glam beach house on Houzz TV
The couple sanded and refinished the wood floor. “We brightened it up a little and gave it some sheen,” Desiree says.
Watch now: See more of this glam beach house on Houzz TV
An expandable wood table was the starting point in the dining area. Desiree contrasted the piece with solid white chairs. A forest-pattern wallpaper plays off the many trees that surround the home. The shimmery gold trunks and branches in the wallpaper coordinate with the warm brass finishes throughout the house and complement the navy rug.
Before Photo
Before: Desiree liked the wainscoting in the powder room but felt the space could use more visual energy.
After: A vibrant blue fern-patterned wallpaper perked things up. The powder room is off the kitchen, so the blue works with the navy pendant shades over the peninsula.
Desiree initially thought she’d switch out the vanity and sink, but after installing the wallpaper she liked how the weathered wood vanity brought softness and balance to the blue. “It again brought in that earthy glam balance I was going for, so I left it,” she says.
Warm orangey tones in the brass-accented mirror, light fixture and towel ring complement the bold blue.
Desiree initially thought she’d switch out the vanity and sink, but after installing the wallpaper she liked how the weathered wood vanity brought softness and balance to the blue. “It again brought in that earthy glam balance I was going for, so I left it,” she says.
Warm orangey tones in the brass-accented mirror, light fixture and towel ring complement the bold blue.
Desiree used wallpaper to update the master bedroom as well. Here a soft navy print recalls a compass rose or ship’s wheel for a subtle coastal effect. A rattan headboard and wicker bench add earthy elements.
Light gray pendants hang from the ceiling, freeing up space on the navy blue nightstands.
Wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Watch now: Tour Desiree Burns’ updated beach house
Light gray pendants hang from the ceiling, freeing up space on the navy blue nightstands.
Wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Watch now: Tour Desiree Burns’ updated beach house
The existing bathroom was also in good shape. Desiree kept the vanity, countertops, floor tile and other elements the same but ditched the baby blue walls for a chalky, muddy beige (Gatherings by Magnolia). “It brought an immediate warmth to the room,” she says. “It felt classic but modern at the same time.”
She also added the ivory tasseled light fixture over the tub. “I really wanted a fixture over the tub and when I found that one I thought it was different for a bathroom and played off the wall color,” Desiree says.
She also added the ivory tasseled light fixture over the tub. “I really wanted a fixture over the tub and when I found that one I thought it was different for a bathroom and played off the wall color,” Desiree says.
The designer wanted to do something unexpected for this guest room, and she landed on painting the headboard wall black (Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams). “I wouldn’t choose black as a paint color for a main bedroom, but it’s perfect for a guest room,” she says. “It’s unexpected in a beach house. The room gets a ton of natural light, so I decided to go for it.”
A palm-print headboard builds on the beachy theme and the green ties back to the living room sofa.
A palm-print headboard builds on the beachy theme and the green ties back to the living room sofa.
A new fringed chandelier hangs in another guest bedroom, where Desiree mixed gray, white and teal. A jute rug and light-wood-and-white dresser punctuate the breezy vibe.
In a bathroom that connects two guest bedrooms, Desiree repainted the baby blue walls in a minty green color (Feather Green by Benjamin Moore). “It’s really pretty and refreshing,” she says.
A new deck features zones for dining and lounging and cascades down to a small pool. “Outdoor living was really important to us,” says Desiree, who used blue pillows and rattan furniture to continue the casual coastal style from indoors to out.
Watch now: Go inside this designer’s modern beach house
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Watch now: Go inside this designer’s modern beach house
More on Houzz
See more house tours
Get design ideas
Find a local professional
Browse a collection of trending furniture
Watch now: Tour this designer’s modern glam beach house in Rhode Island
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Desiree Burns and her husband, Christian
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Size: 4,588 square feet (426 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designer: Desiree Burns Interiors
Before: This living room photo was part of the real estate listing from when the Burnses bought the home. It shows some of the existing features the couple liked, such as the hardwood floors and abundant natural light.