Since our offer was accepted on our Watercolor Beach Vacation Rental, I have been busy designing, down to all the little details. Let’s be honest, I have been dreaming about decorating a beach house for years! While this is just the beginning, I’m excited to finally share my design plans with you!

We purchased and designed this home with you in mind. We want it to feel like your slice of paradise. Every detail has been thoughtful chosen to fit your needs – before you perceive them, and make you feel at ease, so you can make memories with your family and friends. As you walk up the stairs, you are greeted by an oversized porch that feels like a big hug inviting you in.

A white porch swing with striped pillows hanging on a covered porch.
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Porch Swing

The porch is 8 x 27′ which adds valuable outdoor living space. We plan to keep the porch swing and flock it with pillows for comfort and a hint of color. I can’t decide if I want to remove the curtains or replace the curtain rod. Outdoor curtains soften a space while providing privacy – we love them in our screened in porch at home!

White wooden porch swing with chains.SwingSquare decorative pillow with broad light blue and white vertical stripes.Stripe PillowRectangular white throw pillow with a fringe border.Fringe Pillow
Four white wicker armchairs arranged around a round white coffee table on a covered porch.

Porch

To balance the color of the home on Rainbow Row, I chose whitewash rattan chairs with cushions for comfort, layered with a neutral rug and stripe lumbar pillows that tie in the blue trim and porch swing pillows. I envision families sipping on coffee, reading a book and having conversations in this peaceful space that embraces a salty breeze.

Two matching armchairs with gray woven frames and off-white cushions.ChairsRectangular throw pillow with wide light blue and white vertical stripes.Stripe PillowLight blue folded throw blanket with a fringed edge and a monogrammed crest embroidered in the center.Throw BlanketRectangular rug with a light beige, fine-textured weave.Rug
A light blue console table with two drawers and two woven baskets underneath, featuring an abstract watercolor painting in a white frame mounted on the wall above.

Entry

The front exterior has 3 sets of double doors which floods the home with light, brings the outdoors in and feels inviting, but limits wall space. I chose a console table that provides storage for keys, flashlights, and bug spray with ample storage below for sandy shoes. A white scalloped tray will be the perfect place to toss keys. I will likely add hooks to the right of the entry for bags, purses and jackets as well.

Light gray writing desk with two drawers and gold ring pulls.Console TableRectangular woven wicker basket with two side handles.BasketsA framed print showing a hazy, monochromatic interior scene with large windows and a sofa.FrameA key on a gold keyring with a navy blue scalloped leather fob inside a white, scalloped ceramic dish.Tray
A furniture floor plan featuring two white sofas, two light blue armchairs, a woven coffee table, a beach landscape print, and a light-colored rug.

Living Room

I am pairing the previous owners’ 2 white slipcovered sleeper sofas with a pair of green upholstered chairs, bringing the color of the Emerald Coast in. The square rattan coffee table gives everyone a place to kick their feet up – or play a game!

Light blue upholstered armchair with a skirted base.ChairsSquare woven rattan coffee table with a lower shelf.Coffee TableWhite two-tier nightstand with four legs.End Tables

A few throw pillows will add pops of color and a little extra cushion.

Rectangular lumbar pillow with a sage green center panel, white sides, and white corner tassels.Colorblock PillowLight blue square throw pillow with white fringe trim.Blue Fringe PillowLight blue folded throw blanket with a fringed edge and a monogrammed crest embroidered in the center.Throw Blanket

A Frame TV with a white bezel doubles as a piece of art! A neutral indoor outdoor rug grounds the space and brings it altogether. This room will also include a first for me – you’ll never believe it!

Samsung The Frame television displaying landscape artwork of stylized trees and a moon.Frame TVRectangular rug with a light beige, fine-textured weave.RugA flat-screen television with a white frame displaying a painting of a moonlit, snow-covered forest with figures standing in a clearing.Bezel
A bright, open-concept kitchen and dining area featuring a white dining table with light blue chairs and a kitchen island with four woven stools.

Dining Room

Life is about balance – and so is design. At least that’s what I tell myself (girl math)! I went all in on a statement chandelier and chose a lack of contrast for a casual feel that allows the eye to continue across the room. The balance? 8 wood dining chairs for just $36.50 apiece! They are comfortable and look like Serena & Lily. We have them at the lake house and love them. I’m excited I found them in this mint green hue! The dining table seats 8-10 people, bringing everyone together! I plan to add a rug, but wanted to get a feel of how it all comes together. I’m envisioning a blue pinstripe to integrate the pendants.

White linear chandelier featuring five lotus-shaped light fixtures suspended by two chains.ChandelierPale green spindle-back dining chair.ChairsA rectangular white dining table with four straight legs.Dining Table

Kitchen

Counter-height stool with a woven white seat and back and a light wood-tone frame.Counter StoolsA light blue conical pendant lamp with a brass fixture and a white cord.Pendant LightingGold-colored metal cup drawer pull with mounting screws on the sides.Cabinet Hardware
A bright hallway with white walls and wood floors, featuring a long runner rug leading toward a glass-paneled door.

Hallway

The hall is visible from every room in the home, so I plan to keep it simple, while adding a little color and texture. My friend Maggie, Margaret of York, added a beautiful peel & stick grasscloth wallpaper in her dining room at their Watercolor Home, Cove Hollow and I love the subtle impact it makes! I purchased a beach chair print from my friend Danielle, at Finding Silver Pennies Studio that will hang in a burl wood frame.

Square swatch of light green wallpaper with a fine, horizontal ribbed texture.WallpaperRectangular area rug in a solid off-white color.RugWatercolor painting of a light blue and white striped beach chair in a wooden frame.Art
A bathroom with a marble-topped vanity and a tub-shower area featuring black and white star-patterned tile.

Jack and Jill Bath

The previous owners had recently installed the tile and shower door hall / bunk bathroom. It is a contrast to my style, but feels wasteful to remove. A few inexpensive pieces will make it feel lighter and playful.

Wall-mounted lamp with a brass arm and a conical, sage-green shade.SconcesBrass-colored metal boat cleat with four screw holes.HooksSage green square wastebasket with a clear outer shell.Bath Accessories

I am working with our contractor to design the bunk bedroom this week! I have so many ideas to maximize the space – and fun!

A bedroom with a white bed featuring cane paneling, a pink throw blanket, two green nightstands, a desk with a blue chair, and a round green mirror.

Guest Bedroom

The bedroom currently has two closets that bump out to flank each side of a double or queen bed, which makes the room appear smaller than it is. We are having a closet removed and replacing the custom bed with storage for a King size bed with cane detail. Furniture legs give the illusion of more space and will instantly make the room feel larger. We are replacing the dresser and adding a small desk that will double as a vanity. A neutral indoor / outdoor rug will lay the foundation for this beach-y bedroom.

White bed frame featuring a headboard and footboard with cane webbing panels.BedLight green round side table with two tiers.NightstandsRectangular cream-colored rug.Rug Light blue wall-mounted lamp with a scalloped shade, gold interior, and a pull cord.Sconces
A folded light pink blanket with fringe trim and a gold embroidered letter K.ThrowA minimalist white rectangular dining table with four slender legs.DeskLight blue spindle-back dining chair.ChairA circular frame made of light green beads.Mirror
Bathroom vanity with a white marble countertop, a circular sink, and a large mirror reflecting a walk-in shower with green leaf-patterned tiles, under a ceiling with pink and white stripes.

Guest Bath

Square white bathroom tumbler encased in clear acrylic.White WastebasketSquare soap dispenser with a white cylindrical interior and a chrome pump.White Soap Dispenser
A bright bedroom with a white bed, pale green pillows, two bedside tables with lamps, and two luggage racks at the foot of the bed.

Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom is a little more formal than I initially intended, but I wanted it to feel calm and integrate light green. Since the property will be rented, I selected practical pieces, like metal lamps (and sconces in other bedrooms) to reduce replacement.

Light green nightstand with an open shelf and a single drawer with a gold handle.NightstandsWhite five-light chandelier with petal-shaped shades.ChandelierGold-finish table lamp with a white conical shade and dual pull chains.Lamps
A white bedroom featuring a dresser with a vase of hydrangeas, a framed beach photograph, and a bed with quilted white bedding.

I like to incorporate folding stools, luggage racks or a bench at the end of beds in guest rooms for convenience. We are installing a Frame TV in the primary bedroom as well. It is visually appealing and is a focal point in the room. When looking at homes to rent or purchase, there are often a lot of cords dangling, which takes away from the rest of the room. The existing tv will be relocated to the guest bedroom and the guest bedroom tv will be installed in the bunk bedroom.

Off-white six-drawer dresser with gold ring pulls.DresserRectangular white upholstered headboard on black support legs.HeadboardRectangular area rug with a beige and off-white horizontal striped pattern.RugLuggage rack with a clear frame and four light-colored straps.Luggage Racks

To be honest, I don’t have any plans for the primary bathroom. Photographs distort colors and space depending on lenses, lighting, angles and editing. I am so excited to finally see it in person to evaluate the space!

Screened porch with light blue sofa and armchairs, a white coffee table with flowers, and turquoise horizontal siding.

Screened in Porch

We tend to spend a lot of time outdoors so I like it to feel like an extension of the home, complete with rugs, furniture, pillows and function. I plan to add an off white outdoor rug to define the space.

Two matching patio chairs with white frames and light blue cushions.ChairsSquare white metal side table with a slatted top and X-frame base.End TablesA three-seater outdoor sofa with a white frame and light blue cushions.SofaRectangular white patio coffee table with a slatted top and an X-frame base.Coffee Table
Square light green throw pillow.PillowsWhite throw pillow with a repeating light green floral pattern.PillowsRectangular off-white area rug with a fine, textured horizontal stripe pattern.RugFolded white waffle-weave throw blanket with tasseled edges.Throw Blanket
Turquoise cottage with white trim, a screened-in porch, and a stone patio with a dining set.

Patio

One of my favorite things to do is dine outdoors, which is nearly impossible November through April in St. Louis. If it is warm enough, the few restaurants that have patios post Covid are closed. We knew we wanted to offer outdoor dining for our guests. Fortunately, I found the perfect outdoor dining set for less than $600! It was meant to be!

Two matching patio chairs with white frames and light blue cushions.Dining ChairsRectangular white outdoor dining table with a slatted top and central umbrella hole.Dining Table

There’s still so much more to come! What do you look for when you are looking for a beach vacation rental?

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