Beachfront Showhouse with a Beautiful, Calm Palette

Cultural Arts Alliance Showhouse
Alys Beach, Florida

The Alys Beach Designer Showhouse, designed by the Tallahassee architecture firm of Huffman Tarmey Architecture, is new construction. This 3,456-square foot courtyard home with four bedrooms and three and a half baths, has a wonderful flow between spaces, yet each room has definition to allow each designer to create a unique environment. To create the sense of cohesiveness you might find in the home of a single homeowner, the designers all agreed to use a soothing beachfront-inspired palette of neutrals with accents of color adding visual interest.

Photography by Colleen Duffley
Produced by Eleanor Lynn Nesmith

Architect: Huffman Tarmey Architecture

Design:
Holly Floyd Shipman, 51 N. Ryan St., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459; 850/510-6777

The Kitchen color cues come from the blue tile backsplash that was installed. The light blue color was used throughout the kitchen to accent the space. Designer Holly Floyd Shipman warmed the room with textures and tones from nature.

Kitchen Sources:
Flooring: ("Versailles"/Champagne): Peacock Pavers, 800/264-2072, peacockpavers.com
Refrigerator: (Classic/Stainless #650/S): Sub-Zero Inc., 800/222-7820, subzero.com Range: ("Dual Fuel" #DF366, 6-burner); range Hood: (#PW362210); microwave: (#MW24): Wolf Appliance Inc., 800/332-9513, subzero.com
Dishwasher: Bosch Appliances, 800/944-2904, boschappliances.com
Disposer: (Pro 333): insinkerator, insinkerator.com
Cabinetry: (V-groove flush-board panel): 30-A Cabinetry, 850/534-0822
Hardware: ("Pamar Italian Contemporary Knob" #PAM-14835): MyKnobs.com, 866/695-6627, myknobs.com
Countertops: ("Alhambra Travertine," honed): Walker Zanger, walkerzanger.com Backsplash tile: ("Tessera Series/Moonstone #102, 1x2-inch field tile, non-iridescent): Oceanside Glasstile, glasstile.com
Sink: ("Blanco Precision Super Single Bowl"/Stainless Steel #512747): Blanco America, 800/451-5782, blancoamerica.com
Faucet: ("Lady Lux Café with spray pull down"/Stainless Steel #33 755 SDE): Grohe, 800/201-3407, groheamerica.com
Wall-mounted potfiller faucet: (#36 851 625 + 12 650 970 in Platinum Matte): Dornbracht, 800/774-1181, dornbracht.com
Rug: Design on the Gulf, 850/231-4844, designonthegulf.com

This worn glass bottle accentuates the blend of old and new used in the kitchen. Holly Shipman said she wanted to make the kitchen look collected, as if the family had been living in their beach home for years.

Continuing with the natural theme in the kitchen, the limed oak breakfast table pays homage to driftwood that would be found on the beach. "A beach home should be a place where you can relax. Incorporating age and nature automatically makes it more serene," says Shipman.

Breakfast Room Sources:
Counter Stools: Bohlert Massey, 850/231-3940, bohlertmassey.com
Table: Pizitz Home and Cottage, 850/231-2240, theseasidestyle.com
Banquette Cushion: Norma Sears Upholstery, 850/622-5622
Pendant over table ("Costanzina"/White): Luceplan, 212/966-1399, luceplan.com Dishware, flatware, glassware, cooking utensils, food items: Williams-Sonoma, 800/541-2233, williams-sonoma.com

Designer Holly Floyd Shipman. "I often do this palette on the beach," she says. "It's inspired by the Gulf of Mexico--sand and blue--it's all right there for you, so this is a natural extension."

Design:
Susan Massey and Luanne Kelly, Bohlert Massey Interiors, The Villages of South Walton, 10343 E. County Hwy 301-A, Seacrest Beach, FL 34212; 850/231-3940, bohlertmassey.com

With windows on three sides, the living room is filled with natural light throughout the day. An antique daybed and elegant linen sofa provide comfortable seating.

Massey topped the stone floor that runs throughout the entire house with a large rug made of alpaca, which serves as an outline for the placement of worn, rustic furniture. Cerulean blue introduces a sense of fashion and ties the space back to the ocean. A leather-upholstered Chippendale chair offers a sunny spot for relaxing vacation reading, and a Venetian glass chandelier offers soft illumination at night.

A stone fireplace anchors one corner of the living room. An alpaca rug and rustic wooden coffee table continue the natural theme found throughout the house.

A blue Venetian glass chandelier complements the vintage baby-blue chair, and adds a touch of glamour to the space.

Custom-designed hanging shelves made from jute rope and driftwood allows for a creative way to display art.

The alcove in the living room is the perfect place for this table with a weathered-grey finish. Designer Susan Massey puts her stamp on the room through the details of the space, including the objects that adorn this table.

The wooden mirrors atop the table in the alcove have the feeling of driftwood, and are adorned with seashell decoration--a throwback to the shells that sprinkle the beach.

Close up on Glasses
Even the tray of glasses on the table gives a nod to nature through the presence of some oyster shells.

Living Room Sources:
Belgian linen sofa; flax linen daybed: Verellen, 336/889-7379, verhellenhc.com
Banded linen and flange pillows: Bohlert Massey Home, 850/231-3940, bohlertmassey.com
Wing-back chair(mid-century); zinc table (antique); mirror (petite vintage mirror); chandelier (antique): Antiques on Holiday, 850/837-0488, antiquesonholiday.com Cocktail table: Bobo Intriguing Objects, 404/355-2309, bobointriguingobjects.com
Rug: (Abaca): Merida Meridian, 800/345-2200, meridameridian.com
Side table: ("Nickie"): Vagabond Vintage, 404/351-6484, vagabondvintage.com
Plaster tree fungus ornament: Campo de'Fiori, 413/528-1857, campodefiori.com
Faux bois table: Currey and Co., 877/768-6428, curreyco.com
Pharmacy floor lamp ("Pimlico Tripod Boom-Arm Pharmacy Floor Lamp"/Bronze #CHA9151, by Visual Comfort): Circa Lighting, 877/762-2323, circalighting.com
Golden iron and antiqued mirror side table: Arteriors Home, 877/488-8866, arteriorshome.com
Alabaster lamp (with parchment shade by Visual Comfort): Circa Lighting, 877/762-2323, circalighting.com
Chinese garden stools: Emissary Home & Garden, 800/848-5997, emissaryusa.com

Designer Susan Massey. "Even though the natural elements outside are very calming, the beach can still be chaotic with bright colors," says Massey.

Design:
Carol Murphy Rauschkolb, Carol Murphy Design, P.O. Box 611208, Rosemary, FL 32461; 850/830-3541, carolmurphydesign.com

The study, designed by Carol Murphy Rauschkolb, switches up the blue color scheme by incorporating a light sea-foam green rug into an otherwise neutral white space.

Sources:
Chair ("Bruno Wing Chair"): Cisco Brothers, ciscobrothers.com
Pillow: Hable Construction, 718/834-1752, hableconstruction.com. Available from Piztiz Home & Cottage, 866/795-5675, theseasidestyle.com
Seaside throw: discontinued
Small side table: Two's Company, 800/896-7266, twoscompany.com. Available through Bella Beach, 850/837-621, bellabeachhome.com
Rug (custom): Oasis Rugs, 850/650-9292, oasisrugsandhome.com

Design:
Dale Trice and Kati Lockley, Design Services of Florida, 4281 East County Hwy 30-A, Seagrove Beach, FL 32459; 850/231-4844, designonthegulf.com.

Two antique Scottish Oak Barley twist chairs are flanked by custom-designed ivory duck-cloth chairs with wooden legs and jute accents at a Simone table in the dining room.

Linen draperies were used to create visual interest and separation between the open kitchen and dining room.

Beautiful Juliska dinnerware and crystal glassware settings offer style without the formal fuss. The cream and blue color scheme continues with the hallmark palette of the house.

Dining Room Sources:
Table base ("Simone"); glass top: Old Biscayne, oldbiscaynedesigns.com
Barley twist chairs: (antique); Dining chairs in ivory duck cloth (custom); chandelier (antique); rug: (custom); faux white tortoise shell wall hanging Design on the Gulf, 850/231-4844, designonthegulf.com
Aqua salmon-glass sculpture (by Will Dexter): Fusion Art Glass Gallery, 877/231-5405, fusionartglass.com
Textured sheer drapery (custom); hardware (bronze): Drape 98, 850/225-8861, drape98.com
Chargers; dinner and dessert plates; goblets ("Graham"); flutes and petite vases ("Florence"); martini pitcher and glasses ("McCleary"); flatware ("Bamboo"): Juliska, 888/414-8448, juliska.com
Hammered stainless steel bowl, serving pieces (by Atticus Cole); votives ("Vie Luxe Maldives Votives"): Design on the Gulf, 850/231-4844, designonthegulf.com
Art (encaustic on wood and acrylic, by Dusty Griffith): Bill Lowe Gallery, 404/352-8114, lowegallery.com

Designer Dale Trice stands in front of the large encaustic painting of acrylic on wood that creates a dramatic backdrop in the dining room.

The cozy sun-filled window seat at the bottom of the stairs is a sweet spot in which to curl up with a magazine.

The whimsical patterned pillows on the window seat add a splash of color without interrupting the serenity of the small space.

Sources :
Window-seat cushion ("Wrangler White" #2542216): Fabricut, 800/999-8200, fabricut.com Center pillow ("Alfa I/Linen 3136); pillow with black piping (#502); patterned pillows ("Estrellas de Sol 1"): Pablo Mekis Artisan Pillows Inc., 305/666-8878

Design:
Susan Byrd, Piztiz Home & Cottage, 850/231-2240

In the guest bedroom, the bed is covered in a neutral-toned linen-cotton blend. The antique starfish prints in the windows play up the beach theme of the showhouse.

Designer Susan Byrd. Of the guest bedroom, Byrd says, "I wanted to give it a serene feeling--soft lines, soft colors. I didn't want to overwhelm the space."

Sources:
Bed ("Butler Bed"); heirloom quilt and vintage washed linen bolster and pillowcases; seashell pillow (custom); starfish prints (antique); adjustable tent lamp: Pizitz Home & Cottage, 850/231-2240
Drapery (custom): Carol Holloway-Draperies & Window Coverings Inc., 850/865-4263

Design:
Libby Baker, Mary Kay Samouce and Susan Paige York, SPY Lifestyles, 790 N. Hwy 393 3-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459; 850/855-0935, www.spylifestyle.com

The colorful upstairs bedroom has playful touches that say "all boy" while still maintaining the sophisticated tone that is featured throughout the rest of the house. Custom turtle pillows and the draperies hung with nautical rope complete the beach house room.

Sources:
Painting (Red Bridge by Leila Nejad LaCrosse): Stellars Gallery, 800/642-5716, stellarsgallery.com
Chest of drawers: Bernard Molyneaux Collection, 954/596-5858
Twin Beds; sea turtle pillows: (custom design by Mary Kay Samouce), window treatments: (custom rope hanging treatment): Baker Design Co., 850/502-0790 Antique wheels: Love Train Antiques, 404/271-8630, lovetrainantiques.com
Drapery (silk): The Silk Trading Co., 323/954-9280, silktrading.com

Design:
Paige S. Schnell, Tracery Interiors, 72 Main St., Rosemary Beach, FL 32461; 860/231-6755, traceryinteriors.com

A touch of glamour is added to the master suite by the mirrored bedside tables with curvy legs that flank the bed. The bed, upholstered in a taupe cotton velvet, is positioned in a carved-out niche. The elegant chandelier with a dramatic silhouette serves as a focal point for the room.

A generous chaise anchors a sunny corner of the room that looks out on to the private veranda.

Sources:
Bed (#40-66, king); bed fabric ("Laster"/Taupe); chaise ("TV Lounger" #3672-21); chaise fabric (discontinued): Lee Industries, 800/892-7150, leeindustries.com
Sheets (Italian): Restoration Hardware, 800/910-9836, resorationhardware.com
Coverlet and Euroshams ("Far East Coverlet"/Oystershell #8175): SDH Fine European Linens, 707/864-8075, sdhonline.com
Striped pillow on bed ("Breton"/Alpine #7327/01); floral pillows on bed ("Manderley"/Alpine #7325/01): Romo, 212/319-7666
Bedside tables ("Distressed Mirror Side Tables" #F155): Aidan Gray Home, 888/273-4229, aidangrayhome.com
Table lamps ("Terrarium Large," with shade #L145); shell balls in lamps (discontinued): Roost, 415/339-9500, roostco.com
Wooden carved transoms in niche (antique): Tracery Interiors, 850/231-6755, traceryinteriors.com
Chandelier ("Maxim" #89414): Arteriors, 877/488-8866, arteriorshome.com
Rug (Afghan, one-of-a-kind): Paige Albright Orientals, 205/877-3232, paigealbrightorientals.com
Carved twisting sculpture with steel stand (one-of-a-kind): Bjorling & Grant, 612/827-3000, bjorlinggrant.com
Floor lamp ("Bodega" #75409-403): Arteriors, 877/488-8866, arteriorshome.com
Table bedside chaise ("Brigitte 1-Drawer Side Table"): Bungalow 5, 212/947-1500, bungalow5.com
Sepia Photograph behind chaise (by Colleen Duffley): Colleen Duffley Photography, 850/534-0475, colleenduffleyphotography.com
Armoire (antique): drapery design; drapery hardware (custom): Tracery Interiors, 850/231-6755, traceryinteriors.com
Plain drapery ("Brother"/Natural #3404535): Fabricut, 800/999-8200, fabricut.com Striped drapery ("Breton"/Alpine #7327/01): Romo, 212/319-7666, room.com
Paint ("Decorators White"): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667, benjaminmoore.com

Master Suite Shot 3
The master bath, covered in green tile, is the perfect space to wash away a day in the sun and sand.

Sources:
Tub ("Iron works" #K-711): Kohler, 800/456-4537, kohler.com
Faucets ("Brandywood Tub Faucet with Soft Touch Personal Shower and Cross Handles"/Polished Chrome); towel bar ("Brandywood" #D441411): Danze, danze.com
Tiles (field mosaic); countertop (white Venetino slab, honed); floor (Tribeca Series/Classic White): Walker Zanger, 713/880-9292, walkerzanger.com
Seashells: Tracery Interiors, 850/231-6755
Vanity and cabinet: 30-A Cabinetry, 850/534-0822
Cabinetry pulls (#PAM-10251, by Pamar): MyKnobs.com, 866/695-6627, myknobs.com

Designer Paige Schnell did not let the laid-back attitude of a beach home deter her from creating a luxurious retreat--complete with a touch of glamour--out of the master suite.