Tour a Martha’s Vineyard–Inspired Family Beach Home in Ponte Vedra, Florida

Working with Greg Busch and Zachary Line of Greg Busch Architects, everyone agreed on a Martha’s Vineyard–inspired cedar shingle facade with two gambrel roofs. “The lots there are tight and create limitations on this style of house, but I think it still feels big on the inside and not imposing from the road. Scale was very important,” says Busch.

“And once you walk in the front door, it’s all about the view, which we focused on in the design.”

For the interiors, Izlar embraced a primarily blue palette for the first floor that pays homage to the setting, but not in such a literal fashion. “This is their primary residence now, so she wanted elegant coastal, not too beachy in style, but warm and comfortable. We used wood floors throughout and avoided stone or other materials that would lean cold or too modern,” says the designer. To avoid a sense of sameness, the foyer floors show off an intricate parquet pattern, and Izlar hired decorative artist Mary Meade Evans to work her magic by creating a stencil design on a long hallway on one side of the house, where all the outdoor gear for the grandchildren is housed and a door that leads to the pool. Not only did it add colorful charm, it gave the new house a sense of age and character. Evans also created a weathered
finish on built-in bookcases in the sitting room that gives the impression of driftwood. For the fireplace surround, the designer chose tiles made to look antique encased with limestone trim that created a noteworthy moment against the grasscloth walls.

Izlar also employed varying textures to tone down some of the newness, including a mix of prints and furniture styles that feel like they could have been in other locations and happily slipped right in. The dining table, while new, is made to look like an antique. And while there are original antiques in the mix, especially in the primary bedroom, her clients wanted this home to have that “walk in and start living” feel with nothing too precious or delicate. In the downstairs living spaces, two uniquely custom handwoven rugs from Izlar’s favorite source, Montagne Handwoven, help define these rooms that were treated before install, and she used an easy-to-clean zigzag patterned Dash & Albert rug for the grandchildren’s bunk room.

Tongue-and-groove board walls in select areas added another layer and kept the house from leaning too formal. The lighting provided flair and a touch of fancy at times, such as the handblown green glass and antique brass sconces by artist Mollie Wood from Compliments Gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine, and glass globe pendants over the island that let the light flow through. Perhaps one of the most unusual overhead lights is in the primary bathroom. “My client and I were shopping in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and we were intrigued by this fixture that happened to be an actual tumbleweed transformed!” says Izlar. “I told her this is going over your bathtub, and it was perfect.”

Another dimension to the success of the interiors included the couple’s outstanding collection of art. Izlar and her client paid special attention to the placement of the pieces to bring out their best. “For the living room, we selected a new painting by Bridgette Meinhold that we purchased in Gallery Wild in Jackson Hole. It’s an encaustic work, and it changes when the light hit hits it at certain times of the day—very lovely,” says Izlar. “And we also drew inspiration for colors and fabrics for the room from that work.”

Upstairs, for the guest bedrooms and baths, the designer spun the color story with more vibrancy, adding notes of coral, green, and wheat-hued yellow, conjuring up a different look for every room. Many pieces show off meaningful dressmaker details, such as contrasting piping on upholstery and pillows and trim on roman shades.

Despite the home’s limited lot size, the team made use of every available inch. In the upstairs, a built-in chest of drawers and storage were tucked under the many eaves and windows seats added that are wide enough for a child to sleep on. On the back of the house is a generous covered porch, a swimming pool, a putting green, and fire pit. There is no shortage of places for the whole family to enjoy being together and for creating meaningful beachside memories.