Coastal Carolina Project
Asking our clients what feeling they wanted to evoke throughout the design of their new-construction beach house brought a seemingly common answer - ease, simplicity, and casual beauty. They desired a put-together coastal-influenced look, minus the adornment of the typical sea creatures and nautical elements found in beachside homes. That drove our team's design to be mid-century modern-inspired, with beautifully-crafted, clean-lined furniture, a mix of textures, bold light fixtures, and fun patterns. A pastel watercolor pallet mixed with gold, black and white transformed the homeowners' blank slate into a serene and interesting living space.
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Move through our clients' spaces and see how the geometric shapes, beautiful wood grains, subtle color ways and unique decor accents form an easy bond of style and functionality. Take note of the variety of mid-century furniture pieces reimagined by our Two Poppies Design team, as well as the other projects and selected elements specifically chosen to bring cohesion to this one-of-a-kind coastal property.
Front Exterior & Entry
Materials meant to protect homeowners in a coastal setting don't have to be boring! Bold green lap siding on the upper levels and a crisp white board-and-batten finish on the ground level are accented with clean-lined white details. Sleek black cylindrical lighting, horizontal aluminum railing and concrete-look planters introduce a modern coastal exterior design while coordinating with nearby neighbors.
Once inside the entry foyer, the mid-century modern coastal vibe starts to unfold with an angular black and gold light fixture. A black and white patterned rug atop the polished concrete floor looks smart against the cool gray wall color. Horizontal planks, painted crisp white, add modern texture and a hardy surface in this pass-through space.
Custom-built entryway storage adds practical functionality to the entry-exit point of the home. Slots for shoes, hooks for hats and bags, and a bench makes beach days a breeze! The Two Poppies Design team packed major function in the slim space, while adding modern design touches cohesive with the rest of the home.
Living Space
Light-color woods, shades of gray-green and pale pink, along with a mix of textures bring a subtle calmness in this family space. Minimalist design in the furnishings keeps the look cohesive. A soft green backdrop and organic geometric patterns in the textiles hint at the oceanside locale. Modern accessories include a teardrop-shaped floor lamp, gold-tone simplistic candleholders and a mix of houseplants in varying metal and ceramic containers. Tweed-like textural drapes and crisp white horizontal planks add texture to the space. A subtle wave-patterned area rug cozies up the family area. Plenty of natural makes the space bright and inviting.
A pair of deep, cushiony sofas flank a refinished mid-century game table and chairs set. The neutral sofas are piled high with watercolor hues and offer plenty of lounge space for the whole family. The walnut game table (originally stained dark brown) was brought back to life with a whitewash stain, while the chairs (with original cane insets) were lightened and reupholstered in a mod-inspired velvet fabric. Above the table, black and gold-tone arms hold glass egg-shaped lights (a nod to mid-century Sputnik-style light fixtures). Other living space furniture pieces include two barrel-back chairs in a funky patterned fabric and a whitewashed oak and smoked glass console table.
Cooking Space
What's most important in a family kitchen? Space for everyone! This modern coastal kitchen has plenty! Hard-working, wood Shaker-style cabinets have a cool gray-green paint finish and provide optimal storage for cooking, bakeware, and serving pieces. Upper cabinets that reach to the ceiling provide additional storage and pretty display space behind glass-front doors. Simple brushed brass drawer pulls and flat knobs add a sophisticated touch of glam to the space. A beautiful shimmering glass mosaic tile backsplash hints at cool waters and sea glass tones. Modern appliances in stainless steel finishes keep the streamlined kitchen in top working order.
A massive 10' long island forms the center of the kitchen. The owners chose to clad the exterior walls in shiplap as a continuation of the material from various other locations in the home. Painted white on the wing walls and color-matched to the lower cabinetry on the inside back, the shiplap is a low-maintenance choice for sandy-feet guests. Gold metal legs and cream leather seats in a modern silhouette are a stylish, yet easy-to-clean, option for extra seating at the island. The four low-back seats don't hinder the owners' views of the water beyond by sliding mostly under the countertop's overhang. The solid-surface countertop and white wing walls form a substantial structure for the island cabinetry.
To bring more of the coastal locale feeling into the cooking space, a solid surface countertop with a large gentle wave in gray tones on a white background is just right. The calm, detailed surface fits perfectly with the owners' desire for easy sophistication.
The dark-stained credenza was sanded to the original walnut veneer and refurbished with a whitewash stain to lighten it up and give a it coastal feeling. Painting the "new" sideboard drawers white and reattaching the original brass hardware made this piece perfect for storing table settings, a slue of household utilitarian items, and board games in the most stylish way. The beautiful woodgrain is apparent along the waterfall top and sides. The sideboard holds textural vases in a variety of shapes and colors, but could easily function as additional serving space during gatherings.
Dining Space
Perhaps the most adored "room" of Two Poppies Design, the dining space brings together texture and pattern with bold strokes. The team worked diligently to bring life back to the former office furnishings and repurpose them in the dining space. That's right! - a commercial office credenza and conference table now serve as the owners' sideboard and dining table. To complete the modern look, an asymmetrical metal and glass light fixture hangs above the dining table. Black and brass-finish metals complement both the clear glass and milk glass fixtures in the space. The freehand gold geometric pattern on the wallpaper gives the sideboard niche an extra dose of personality.
To rework the round office conference table (originally stained dark) into this standout dining table, Two Poppies Design used the same sanding and staining technique on the tabletop as on the sideboard. To add a glamorous touch, we painted a varied amount of gold bands across the surface. The bands and woodgrain work together to create a playful movement across the table surface and provide functional art in the space.
To balance the beauty of the walnut and gold top, textural wood strips were painted gray-green and a brass band was added give substance to the base. Mid-century influenced solid oak chairs, sanded and stained to match, are upholstered with cream, gray and green ikat-patterned chenile fabric. For the homeowners, having seating for plenty was a must - six to eight chairs fit nicely around the circular table and allow for easy conversation and flow in the space.
Main Bedroom
A soothing palette of soft blue-greens, pinks, whites, and grays are enlivened through texture and details in the owners' retreat. A sleek, gently curved platform bed upholstered in a teal textural fabric provides a base for mostly white bed linens and graphic pillows. Two Poppies Design sourced the gold-tone metal bench and added animal-print chenille fabric for extra coziness - what a great place to put on your shoes! Custom-painted artwork by Two Poppies Design pulls the room's color palette together and layers nicely over the shiplap wall. Underfoot, a palm leaf-inspired wool rug adds another layer of texture.
Long before breaking ground on their coastal property, the homeowners scored this pair of open-shelf nightstands - they became the seeds of inspiration for their airy beachside home. Sourced second-hand, the bedside tables provide the perfect perch for beautiful teal glass lamps. The cutout pattern of the end tables is reciprocated in the leaf pattern of the room's rug as well as on the bed's accent pillows. Throughout the room (and the entirety of the home), angular lines of the furniture are balanced with various curved decor elements.
What do you do with a long wall of space in your bedroom? Put a beautiful 9' long vintage dresser along it. Two Poppies once again refreshed this piece from the 1960s with a coat of whitewash stain over the walnut veneer. A blue-green color highlights the dresser's original details while updating it for today's space - original brass hardware was cleaned and put back into place. The dresser provides a generous amount of clothing storage for the homeowners. Modern lamps and accessories, along with reimagined mirrors (those were originally attached to the dresser in a vertical arrangement), complete the mid-century glam look.
Within the niche in the main bedroom, the owners requested a work-from-home space. The Two Poppies Design team designed and built a freestanding desk with shallow drawers for office supply and technology storage. The surface mimics the design used for the bunkbeds in the adjacent room - a sleek, whitewashed oak surface and drawer fronts. Gold-tone, modern x-shape metal legs and a pink velvet chair complete the look. A lotus-shaped pendant light illuminates the desktop and casts a casual, fun vibe in this chic nook.
Guest Bedroom No. 1
To outfit one of the guest bedrooms with a serene feeling, a wing-back style platform bed in a creamy neutral textured fabric sets the tone. Layers of white bedding, watercolor-inspired pillows, and both a chunky woven gray-green throw and a furry pink throw add dimension. To keep the bed area minimalist in functionality, curvaceous marble and brass side tables are a beautiful setting for gold-tone and white faceted lamps. A luxurious silk and wool rug adds soft texture underfoot, while adding movement through the abstract pattern.
The mid-century dresser received a chic update from Two Poppies Design. The original walnut groove detail hints at sun-bleached wood and the refreshing sage green color is of-the-moment. New hardware in satin brass and marble tie in with other accents throughout the home. In another corner of the guest room, a gray-green velvet ribbed fabric adds a touch of softness to the slipper-style chair. The linen wave fabric covering the pillow reminds the owners of the natural pattern inside a seashell, bringing a subtle coastal element into the room.
Guest Bedroom No. 2
The second guest bedroom continues the pastel watercolor hues from the other spaces. Here, a charcoal-black upholstered mid-century modern-inspired angular platform bed welcomes guests with textural layers. Minimal furniture pieces give visitors a place to store their belongings while not cluttering the space. In one corner, a clean-lined, cane-back chair was refreshed with coat of ebony stain and a newly upholstered seat. The modern fabric is a white and black, subtly textured take on snakeskin.
Two Poppies Design refinished the mid-century dresser and similarly designed nightstand by sanding and whitewashing the walnut veneer and strategically adding a blue-green paint to bring the coastal look. Both furniture pieces have slim proportions, allowing maximum movement around the room, while providing all the necessities for a sleeping space. Original gold-tone hardware on both the dresser and nightstand was brought back to life, while new ceramic and metal lamps with a decidedly mid-century look add retro-inspired character. Simple, yet functional accessories allow guests plenty of space for stashing their belongings.
Bunk Room
How better to accommodate several guests at a coastal home than in a room designed to sleep many? The black, white, and gold decor accents are carried from the rest of the home. A cozy black and white thick tufted rug is a perfect spot for playing games or just lounging on pillows after a day at the beach. The low-slung mid-century influenced daybed acts as a couch by day and a sleeping spot by night, with sconces overhead for reading. Cool purple wall paint creates a calm backdrop for daydreaming on the many beds. Open space in the room's center allows for more sleeping space with the use of inflatable beds.
A pair of petite, spherical lamps top a mid-century chest of drawers refreshed by Two Poppies Design. The original gold-tone hardware looks fresh against the light walnut woodgrain. The piece provides plenty of storage for guests, while leaving the center of the room open for hanging out.
When working with their builder, the homeowners designed a bunk nook that would sleep extra guests and not intrude into the main space of the room. Two Poppies Design built the bunk structures and faced them with whitewashed oak boards to replicate the angular shape of the daybed.
To complete the look, the team built a ladder and grab bar of plumbing pipes painted black. The cozy spots are piled with pillows in a variety of fabric textures and patterns. Each bunk area is also outfitted with charging ports for guests' devices. Rainy days are a blast in this fun space!
Main Bathroom
The main bathroom came together as a compilation of geometric shapes, marble, sea-glass tones and black and gold fixtures. The homeowners selected the same milk glass geometric lights that hang above the sideboard in the dining space to complete the look in the bathroom. Diamond-shaped, marble-look porcelain floor tiles were laid in a herringbone pattern to lead your eyes into the space. The clean white and gray palette of materials is accented with barely mint green walls, creating a relaxing retreat. Gold-tone finger bar pulls keep the vanity sleek, while black faucets, towel rings and mirrors add an edge.
To add texture underfoot in the walk-in shower area, gray and white mosaic rock tile was selected. To contrast the more organic feel of the floor, the walls were tiled with blue-green elongated subway tile in a straight-stack pattern. The cool tones in the wall tile remind the homeowners of the coastal locale, while providing a soothing escape after a long day.
Guest Bathroom No. 1
Finish selections continue in the upstairs guest bathroom - marble-look geometric floor tiles, white modern double vanity with gold finger bar pulls, and milk glass light fixtures. To differ the shower from the main bathroom, a white elongated subway tile was straight-stacked keeping the smaller space bright. A frameless, glass swing-out door gives a look into this clean retreat. Capsule-shaped mirrors framed in black alter the style for this bathroom, while multiple gold wall hooks provide space for guests' towels. Artwork in soothing watercolor pastels adds softness to the hard surfaces in this functional space.
Guest Bathroom No. 2
In keeping selections consistent throughout the home, the same double vanity style was selected for the second guest bathroom, but in a more compact size. To add a splash of fun to the space shared by both the bunk room and guest room, the homeowners chose an encaustic geometric floor tile in blue-green. The linear pattern complements the white lotus flower pendant above and feels cool under sandy feet. A tub-shower functions for guests, with several hooks for towels and bath accoutrements. Pocket doors slide open to either room while maximizing space for getting ready in the morning.
Hallway
The space between the upstairs bathroom and guest room allows for a great design moment in this coastal home. Two Poppies Design took advantage of the area which is opposite the stair landing to create a place for additional storage and a beautiful focal point. The team applied the graphic gold and white wallpaper as in the dining nook and hung smoke-colored capiz shell pendants that are all aglow in both sunlight and when electrified in the evening.
Extra chairs from the dining space flank a mid-century modern buffet passed down from the homeowners' grandparents. Two Poppies Design lightened the original brown color with a whitewash stain and gray-green paint. The multifunctional piece now houses extra bath and beach towels, along with bed linens for guests. Chunky textural pillows and planters in a variety of colors and shapes add dimension to the pass-through space.
A mix of mid-century modern-inspired metal-frame dining and working tables, woven-back chairs, and benches allow the homeowners plenty of options for outdoor seating. A pair of rockers in an outdoor-tolerant wood and woven mesh provide the perfect spot for taking in views of the water beyond. A mix of planters and glass and metal hurricanes bring ambiance to the outdoor spaces.
Even beach-loving homeowners need a respite from the sun. Plenty of deck space on each level of the home allows for a multitude of activities. Aluminum-frame dining tables and chairs easily accommodate outdoor dining or a work-from-home (on your deck) sort of day. The gray-black and beige tones in the composite decking are picked up in the dark metal furniture. Minimal outdoor cushions and pillows add coziness and pattern, but are easily brought inside during stormy days.
Decks
Conversations come easy in the seating group on the bedroom level of the house. A pair of egg-shaped swing chairs are a cozy alternative for lounging the day away. Outdoor-friendly fabrics in brighter greens, pinks, blacks and whites replicate the textures and patterns found inside the home, while keeping the vibe coastal cool.
For the homeowners, this beachside locale fits their vision of casual beauty perfectly! Two Poppies Design enjoyed the opportunity to work with the homeowners and builder to make their desires a reality. The updated take on mid-century-influenced design combined with a watercolor palette, bold textures and unique decor fit the bill for these coastal dwellers.