Front beach and center on Sullivan’s, this island home was built to mesh with old island ambiance, providing its owners a beautiful and easygoing retreat. Architect Beau Clowney, working with builders Daly & Sawyer, gave the street side of the house a smaller scale, in keeping with old Sullivan’s charm...
...while the beachfront façade is a classic, porch-perfect beach house.
The soothing vista of an endless horizon makes a breathtaking backdrop.
Pillows made from vintage textiles add a pop of color to the porch.
Pattern Play: The foyer’s painted floor “gives an unexpected punch,” says designer Jenny Keenan. It sets the tone for the beautiful yet casual and comfortable interiors the homeowners wanted.
Surf’s Up: The family room is a primo spot with a bright yellow and blue surfboard-inspired coffee table. Delicious artwork by Matthew Brandt is made of Gummi Bears and Pixy Stixs.
Bright Ideas: Keenan refashioned two old gymnasium lights, hung by a whipped rope cord, as kitchen pendants, adding a pop of color to the mostly white space.
Furniture maker Brian Hall of Kistler Design Co. searched high and low for the perfect cypress stump to anchor the dining table.
Keenan also enlisted Hall to craft the teak porch sectional for the back porch.
The outdoor dining table echos the home’s clean lines.
Old-School Charm: White shiplap walls throughout lend a classic beach-house feel while showcasing contemporary art, such as this surfer painting by Isca Greenfield Sanders in the living room.
The rooms are filled with fun-in-the-sun decor and artworks, such as this panorama by Italian photographer Massimo Vitali.
Keenan added whimsical elements, such as the fun Cole & Son wave print wallpaper in the elevator.
Sunny Spaces: The “hyphen” that connects the street-side wing with the beachfront part of the house also functions as an inviting sitting/reading area.
A guest bedroom, outfitted with dreamy creams and blues, proves that comfort and style can come in smaller sizes.
Cozy bedrooms and...
...bunks abound to fit in plenty of visitors.
A double-duty sleeper bench upholstered in a vintage dhurrie in the cedar-lined “office”
Clowney’s beak window in the master (with ceiling faux-painted like driftwood) expands the ocean view from the rear of the house.
Down Under: A breezy plein-air living room under the house includes an outdoor fireplace and bar, with room for entertaining or just lounging in the shade.
A young family’s relaxing seaside escape
