This dynamic beach house captures the essence of the seashore with contemporary pieces and a committed color scheme.
By Elizabeth Bonner
The striking retro Big Chill refrigerator in the kitchen was the first spark of inspiration for this waterfront dwelling in Galveston, Texas’s Crystal Beach. Designer Laura Umansky says she and the homeowner fell in love with the Beach Blue hue right away and carried it throughout the home. Generating a look reminiscent of the sea and its shore, they achieved their “casual coastal” concept with a palette of primarily neutrals with pops of the fun shade all around—even on the exterior shutters.
The home is brimming with comfortable, casual, and coastal charm.
—Designer Laura Umansky
The busy homeowner balances motherhood with running her own company, so this beach house was meant to be a relaxing getaway for the family. “Her request was for unique and stylish but not pretentious or precious,” Laura says. “She wanted everything to be practical, with a youthful and coastal vibe.” The homeowner’s children love to bring friends with them on visits, so the team designed each guest room with creative bunk accommodations to sleep multiple people.
In the master bedroom, Laura continued her personal design philosophy, which she calls “Classically Current” and describes as “bridging the gap between high design and practical living with clean lines, striking details, and unexpected pops of color.” From comfortably rustic pieces like the acacia-wood bed to the nautical-inspired bathroom mirror, Laura says, “the Gulf Coast location is easy to recognize inside and out, instantly lending Southern hospitality to the home.”
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