Coastal style home

Seaside Custom Homes builds gorgeous residential homes in the Hilton Head Lowcountry area.

We designed the above lighting on the staggered upper cabinets to accent the kitchen and height of the ceiling and complement the under cabinet and interior lighting. The different layers of lighting complement the grey tones of the kitchen and open up the space to keep the beach theme. -Allison Caves, CKD Caves Kitchens

Tripp Smith Photography

Glenn Layton Homes, LLC, "Building Your Coastal Lifestyle" Jeff Westcott Photography

Who wouldn’t love to have this striking seaside bedroom, with a hidden en-suite accessed via a seemingly normal cupboard door? The owners of this listed property did not know what they wanted to do with the room, and had a simple brief to create storage and an en-suite with a sense of modernity. I introduced them to various strong colours with the idea of complementing the coast with certain textures. They needed guidance, so ultimately I chose Valspar’s “On a Mission” paint for them, and designed bespoke wardrobes spray painted in the same colour. I also designed a headboard and side cupboards which were stained in a Wenge colour, and inlaid with shagreen (fake manta ray skin) to add a luxury texture, feel and sense of the sea. Lighting is apparent in both obvious and hidden forms; behind the wardrobe cornice and shining up from inside the headboard lighting is concealed, and there are ultra-slick reading lights in antique bronze blending with the Wenge of the headboard which can be angled in multiple directions and delicately click on and off when opened. Bold, industrial antique bronze side lights complement the wardrobe furniture and statement dimmable starburst / sputnick lights offer a sun or star like appearance in the ceiling depending on brilliance. All obtained from Cotterell & Co Newcastle. The en-suite required listed building planning consent to have the wall knocked through and now features octagonal tiles with a designer atticus heated towel rail, hidden lighting in a mirrored recessed shelf and touch free over basin mirror. The dark units also complement the colour of the bed furniture. Top of the range white colonial plantation shutters (with retractable secluded black out blinds) from Shuttercraft Newcastle generate a well-appointed colonial feel, with the stark contrast of the white panelling sitting next to the blue walls as clouds would on a hot summer’s day. The tall “Florence” radiators have a traditional style yet modern sleekness to them and they nod to the shape of the shutters. A quality carpet from Global Flooring Studion in an oyster colour finishes the room, together with a Gallatin Karndene tile effect in the bathroom which has a variety of stoney / blue coastal tones. ​

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Front Elevation. The Sater Design Collection's luxury, cottage home plan "Les Anges" (Plan #6825). saterdesign.com

craig magee

Maria Hickey