A Jersey Shore Beach House Breaks Free
Not many people could have imagined any expectation with this dank and obsolete bungalow beyond tearing it down, but the homeowner and her interior designer, Sheila Rich, could. “My customer has a great eye for simplicity in style and managed to see the potential in this aged midcentury beach bungalow,” says Rich. Her customer had a stressful job at nyc and wanted a relaxing second home, which she discovered a few blocks from the coast at Spring Lake, New Jersey.
Rich was called into transform the home into a brand new and urbane yearlong weekend escape with enough sleeping area for the client’s parents, four siblings and their kids to join for visits. She focused on creating continuity between the tiny rooms, making the most of natural light, giving lots of storage and bringing in the shore via textures instead of”themeyness.” The result is refreshing, airy, modern cottage style that is subtly beachy and leaves the area look and feel a lot bigger than its 25-foot-wide footprint. Buckle up for some striking before and after shots.
at a Glance
Location: Spring Lake, New Jersey
Who spends evenings here: A single woman in Manhattan, roughly 1 1/2 hours away by car
Size: 1,750 square feet; 4 bedrooms, plus a family room that converts into a guest room, 2 baths
Year finished: 2008
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER:“The porch is your gateway into the home and transitions from the standard exterior to the sleek and urban-inspired inside,” says Rich. “It is also the lifeline of a beach home. We started by vaulting the ceiling only enough to give it a lift.”
Retro porch furniture respects the home’s age, while light blue upholstery keeps things light, fresh and airy. Sisal rugs add beachy feel and define different sitting and dining/game enjoying places. Fantastic light and ceiling fans make things comfortable and functional, whilst beadboard adds a cabin touch.
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: Loaded kicked off the renovation about the screened-in porch, which set the tone for the remainder of the remodeling.
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: Yucky carpeting, an outdated fireplace, little windows and dark wood trim have been creating the living space feel warmer and little. The three largest changes were replacing the doors and windows, adding a new heating and air conditioning system, and replacing or rehabbing each the dark trim.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER: Rich used lots of small-space tricks to make the living space look and feel bigger. A light color palette, bigger windows and gauzy Roman colors keeps things light and bright. “Because of the versatility and thickness, using pairs of furniture instead of single bigger bits solved the space issue,” says Rich.
She generated architectural interest with the addition of thick crownbase and trim moldings. “Painting the trim and walls the exact same shade of white helps things blend and look bigger,” she states. “We painted the cut in semigloss to give only the subtlest comparison to the walls”
She adds,”We also utilized the exact same hardwood flooring throughout the home to add contrast, warmth and continuity through the first floor”
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: The old family room wasn’t a space where anybody would want to gather.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER: The living room’s light color palette continues to the adjoining family room. “Using the exact colours and fabrics throughout the first floor keeps it open and provides continuity,” explains Rich. “Each room has its own personality but can also be part of a complete.”
Rich utilized durable Sunbrella fabrics across the home to stand up to wet bathing suits, sun and sandy feet. “The real test of a style would be to see if it holds up for many years after you’re done,” says Rich.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
Rich made the most of the little family room. She utilized upholstered ottomans that double as extra seating and are easy to move out of the way. The smart buit-in cabinets and shelves shop media components as well as a printer, copier and fax machine so the operator can work at home.
This room doubles as the fifth bedroom. Rich angled the cupboards to permit space for your convertible sofa’s queen size; pocket doors offer privacy without taking up an extra inch of space and Roman shades have a layer of blackout fabric.
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: The kitchen was dark, dank, cramped and outdated.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER: The kitchen is currently airy and light, modern yet beachy. Rich choose this granite for the counters and the kitchen table since it has a”sand-like rhythm,” she states, and continued up it the walls instead of dividing the appearance with a tile backsplash. Light finishes and glass top cabinet doors bounce the light around.
Simple round knobs and pulls and stainless steel appliances include some sleek urban style. Rich’s customer required to have the ability to work at home, so the desk on the left has lots of use.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
“This space was originally a back porch/laundry room,” says Rich. “We were able to turn it to a dining nook and then tuck the washer-dryer to a new kitchen laundry cupboard.” Four new windows let in the light.
The customer provided the iron foundation for the dining table, and Rich had a custom top made from precisely the identical granite used on the countertops, supplying more continuity within the kitchen. In reality, she even used the exact same granite onto the living room hearth for the exact same reason.
The art provides continuity as well; the customer bought the entire series from a artist she awakens, and Rich placed the bits throughout.
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: The dining room’s outdated dividers, trimwork and carpeting have been in desperate need of a makeover.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER: Rich believes in a successful area, no 1 bit sticks out. Case in point: the successful mixture of styles and textures at the dining area.
She used the exact same fabric and color palette from the rest of the first floor. A rich mixture of textures and styles includes a classic Moroccan-style glass chandelier which her customer discovered, a good wood parson’s dining table, Danish Wishbone Chairs with woven chairs, a sisal rug and a potted plant.
Storage has been also a priority. “We made much-needed storage space as well as seating with this dining area window seat,” says Rich.
Before Photo
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
BEFORE: A darkened toilet.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
AFTER: “The clear, frameless shower allows unobstructed views of the area,” says Rich. It also lets the natural light from the bathtub’s window to the entire room. Employing the exact same opalescent tile from the floor in the shower stall and up the wall creates continuity. These elements, also utilizing an open floor sink in lieu of a clunky dressing table, make this toilet look and feel a lot bigger.
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC
“While my customer wanted to update the inside, it was quite important to her that the exterior was all respectful of the area; she did not want the home to stand out as different,” says Rich.
