Text: Eleanor Lynn Nesmith
Photo: Jean Allsopp and Chris Luker
More than a dozen years ago, a Birmingham couple wanted to purchase a place at the beach and found a 1950s concrete block house high on the bluff in Seagrove, Florida. “With a tweak here and there, the little cottage was perfect for us,” explains the homeowner. But a decade later, their children were grown and starting families of their own. Their goal was a bigger house with the character and feel of a vintage Florida cottage. “We wanted an architect with local connections and experience building on the Gulf,” explains the homeowner. “We met Paul Geary with T.S. Adams Studio, Architects and hit it off immediately. His designs in WaterColor were just what we were looking for.”
To create an inviting scale for the relatively large house, Geary reduced the apparent mass by tucking the third floor under a gable while accommodating a sunset tower and roof deck above. For stability to withstand the elements, the actual structure is poured concrete with a traditional wooden exterior animated with intimate balconies, porthole windows, overscale brackets, and varied metal rooflines. The language of these details and the Old-World craftsmanship celebrate the nautical address and the spirit of the place.
“This a family who loves to swim, surf, sun, paddleboard, and kayak, so they wanted easy access to the beach, spots to relax, and storage for all their toys,” says Geary. Deep porches take in the morning sun and offer midday shading, with furniture placement defining a gracious conversation area and an outdoor dining space. The pool runs along the side of the house with a fountain wall offering privacy. “Two wings of the house serve as ‘outreached arms’ to embrace the pool,” Geary explains. “Balconies off the two guest suites allow parents to keep a watchful eye.”
The welcoming spirit of this house unfolds immediately in the foyer hallway with an open stairway and long views to the Gulf. Complementing this setting with equally enthusiastic aspirations, interior designers Paige Schnell and Anna Kay Tisa of Tracery Interiors infused the home with comfortable barefoot elegance in step with coastal sensibilities, selecting finishes and furnishings to echo the sophisticated architecture and acknowledge the waterfront setting.
Materials were chosen for beauty, permanence, and practicality. Natural coral sandstone continues throughout the main living space to porches, enhancing the seamless connection with nature. Exposed beams of reclaimed wood enliven the ceilings. Main living spaces flow one to another with a hierarchy and a few formal touches, allowing subtle details, furniture placement, and emotional techniques to define the functions.
“The client wanted color and textures, and we were happy to deliver,” explains Schnell. In the kitchen, soft blue cabinets complement the patterned marble backsplash. A natural wood-paneled island with a sleek marble countertop and a large farmhouse sink pair with a contemporary metal range hood and eye-catching brass hardware to strike the perfect balance of old and new.
Design themes continue upstairs where a den outfitted with a full-service coffee and drink bar featuring a dramatic blue staghorn coral mosaic tile backsplash provides a secondary gathering spot for family and friends.
“Every guest bedroom was to have a distinctive look with personal elements and a name,” recalls Schnell. “We looked at the floor plans and the family heirlooms to make the best use of their favorite pieces.” Bedrooms are large and designed to be flexible to accommodate a crib or other temporary needs. A vintage chair painted pink and upholstered in blue fabric sets the stage for the guest suite dubbed simply the Pink Room. The Peter Pan Bedroom has paper ship mobiles hanging from the ceiling that move with the wind.
The sumptuous primary suite also echoes the essence of the couple’s aesthetics and love of tradition. Luxurious linens and draperies are a soothing seafoam blue green that is repeated in the bathroom vanities. The bed is a custom design crafted by a third-generation family of woodworkers in Dothan, Alabama. French doors swing open to a covered porch overlooking the Gulf. “We love to be able to place comfortable swivel chairs at the foot of a bed for watching television or easily turning to take in the view,” says Schnell.
This house possesses a grace in its architectural aspirations with a thread of easy elegance and a sense of discovery. But more importantly, it is a new home that captures the spirit of a cherished old beach house and reflects the family’s love of the water in a mirror as large as life.
