Living on the coast provides a quiet place to connect with nature – the tranquil blue water, plumes of beach grass, and the green of oak and palmetto trees. Interior Designer Laura Covington of Laura Covington Interiors planned to capture these naturally peaceful elements for the interior of a new home constructed on a stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway that skirts Wilmington. The young family who built the home requested a design that takes advantage of water views and exudes relaxation, yet with rugged features that stand up to little ones and furry friends.
Covington delivered a truly transitional style home that incorporates elements of modern, traditional, and even touches of art deco design in sturdy, washable fabrics layered in ethereal shades of cream and sea glass blue.
The layering of muted colors and textures is the pièce de résistance in this beachside home. Covington began the dining room’s design, for example, with a sea glass colored wall layered with abstract art in a deeper, richer blue and sheer fabric curtains on a wrapped curtain rod that frame the water view. The top layers in the room include a bold chandelier, also reminiscent of sea glass, hanging above a custom dining table mimicking the soft grays of driftwood.
Driftwood gray appears in many rooms of the house, including the modern stairwell, where grey-ish floors and handrail blend with white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. Classic gray stain on the hardwood floors throughout the home echo the feel and temper the bright white finishes in each room.
“The infusion of warm gray touches ensures the home will not feel too cold, but soft and layered, the same as nature’s mix of driftwood and shells on the beach,” Covington says. This color palette even makes an appearance in outdoor spaces, including the porch off the master bedroom with deep driftwood lounging chairs holding cushions upholstered in soft gray-blue. Along with wooden floors and other natural colored architectural elements, the outdoor furniture keeps the house’s white columns and trim from becoming too stark. Similarly, the brown tones of the front porch’s ceiling and the rope holding a hanging bed balance well with nature just a few steps away and provide an ideal place for the whole family to pile on and enjoy the outdoors.
The main areas, such as the living room, also give a nod to the earth tones-versus-white color scheme. Covington chose couches and chairs upholstered in both blues and earthy gray pigment surrounded by all white walls and grounded with a printed natural-toned area rug. The room is elegant yet sturdy enough to hold up to kid and pet traffic, as the linen-look upholstery is actually indoor-outdoor fabric.
The living room is not the only room featuring elegant, yet family-friendly materials. The bar stools in the expansive white and gray kitchen are covered in faux cream leather that is wipeable. “All the fabrics are light, airy, and bright, but durable,” Covington says about an important element necessary for the family’s style of living and season of life.
Some rooms are set aside for adults, which is where Covington was free to choose materials with a little swagger. The master bath’s showcase feature is a wall of glass tile, whitewashed in a subtly frosted “pure silk” color and providing a backdrop for an elegant Victoria Albert freestanding tub. A round Worlds Away chandelier coolly sparkles in silver. Cream sheers on a ripple fold track provide privacy and add to the ethereal feel of the room. The powder room received a wow touch with an Art Deco-style mirror and mercury glass pendants hanging from varying heights. A hammered nickel sink matches the silver vibe, and all the elements are pulled together by a silvered print iIkat wallpaper. Metallic and mirrored accessories and hardware complete the jewel-like look.
“The powder room is always the jewel box of the house, and it should make a statement,” Covington says. Metallic accents embellish most other rooms of the home, too. The living room’s custom Tritter Feefer metal side tables gleamunder lamplight beside the sofas. A stainless steel farm sink and range hood flow with polished nickel hardware in the kitchen. The master bedroom receives a shot of sparkle from a round metallic mirror hanging on the wall behind the bed and matching ribbed mercury lamps on each side of the bed.
The home is customized through fabric selections and custom furniture, design elements that touch almost every room. The result is a natural, diaphanous ambiance that remains practical for a family with young children and pets.
“We maximized and complemented the water views through design,” Covington says, “which make the spaces calming, yet modern. It’s important to live well. This house is functional for daily use with an elevated look to it.