Houzz Tour: Coastal Inspiration With Touches of Southern Prep
A designer helps her clients make their house fresh and family-friendly without major renovations
“I think a lot of interior design seems inaccessible to people, as they associate it with extensive, expensive renovations and bespoke luxury items,” interior designer Becky Wetzler says. “We can do that. But we also love to show clients how we can put their personal stamp on their homes with elements like wallpaper, paint and furnishings and without having to remodel.” That was the case for this Bethesda, Maryland, family of six and the spec house it had recently moved into.
The house had lovely millwork, including coffered ceilings, wainscoting, crown moldings and tall baseboards. The kitchen and bathrooms were up to date and in good shape — remodeling them would have been a waste of money and materials. But the blank slate of a home lacked personality and style that reflected the family’s Southern roots and love of coastal settings. Wetzler and her team listened carefully to the homeowners’ wants and needs. Accordingly, they created a house made for quality family time with coastal-inspired style and hints of Southern preppy flair.
The house had lovely millwork, including coffered ceilings, wainscoting, crown moldings and tall baseboards. The kitchen and bathrooms were up to date and in good shape — remodeling them would have been a waste of money and materials. But the blank slate of a home lacked personality and style that reflected the family’s Southern roots and love of coastal settings. Wetzler and her team listened carefully to the homeowners’ wants and needs. Accordingly, they created a house made for quality family time with coastal-inspired style and hints of Southern preppy flair.
Inside the front entry, the dining room is located to the left, and a study is behind the glass doors on the right. The wife was the one Wetzler worked most closely with, gaining her trust as she pushed her a little bit out of her comfort zone. “Her favorite colors are orange and blue, and she loved this wallpaper. But the boldness of the rug was something she was nervous about,” Wetzler says.
Another thing that made the clients a little nervous was the thought of furniture in the hallway protruding past the cased openings. “Often people don’t know you can layer furniture into a space, because they don’t think they have room. We used a pair of demilune tables that soften with their curves,” Wetzler says. “Layering furniture and a rug like this made the space feel more warm and inviting, and our clients are so glad they took these risks.”
Another thing that made the clients a little nervous was the thought of furniture in the hallway protruding past the cased openings. “Often people don’t know you can layer furniture into a space, because they don’t think they have room. We used a pair of demilune tables that soften with their curves,” Wetzler says. “Layering furniture and a rug like this made the space feel more warm and inviting, and our clients are so glad they took these risks.”
Wetzler added an oversize mirror over one of the tables. “We only did this on one side so that we didn’t cover up too much of the wallpaper,” she says. “The mirror adds so much interest with its bamboo. We also loved the way its open fretwork worked with the wallpaper behind it.”
To the right is the staircase and the family room. The designer gave the staircase a hint of Southern preppy style by adding a plaid stair runner with subtle contrast. The runner has honey and sandy tones as well as gray-blue hues. It ties the driftwood tones of some of the furniture with the blues and slates that appear throughout the home.
Browse mirrors in the Houzz Shop
To the right is the staircase and the family room. The designer gave the staircase a hint of Southern preppy style by adding a plaid stair runner with subtle contrast. The runner has honey and sandy tones as well as gray-blue hues. It ties the driftwood tones of some of the furniture with the blues and slates that appear throughout the home.
Browse mirrors in the Houzz Shop
Before: While Wetzler had nailed down her clients’ style, function was the most important thing to them. “The ethos of these parents was to encourage the kids not to be on screens,” she says. “They wanted inviting spaces for the kids to hang out, talk, read and do homework. There are no TVs on the first floor, but there is one in the basement.”
This study was a space the homeowners had no idea what to do with. “They were really cautious about our suggestions to do built-ins, dark paint and dark wallpaper, because they were afraid it would make it feel smaller and too dark,” Wetzler says. “But as you can see here, the lighter paint kind of washes the moldings out.”
This study was a space the homeowners had no idea what to do with. “They were really cautious about our suggestions to do built-ins, dark paint and dark wallpaper, because they were afraid it would make it feel smaller and too dark,” Wetzler says. “But as you can see here, the lighter paint kind of washes the moldings out.”
After: The study is now a cozy and inviting sitting room. “While our clients loved blue and white, we also had them lean into slate for some variety,” Wetzler says. “We added built-ins painted Bracken Slate by Benjamin Moore and covered the walls in Phillip Jeffries’ Manila Hemp grasscloth wallcovering. The darker colors make it feel finished and sophisticated, and they also really show off the moldings because of the contrast.”
The space is inviting, with four comfortable swivel chairs covered in performance fabric. The deep gray built-ins provide space for books and favorite objects, with polished nickel library sconces to illuminate them. The designer layered in more texture with a hide rug and a lacquered grasscloth coffee table. The coastal vibes make an appearance through several paintings on the right side of the room. Also, the woven grass shades add a light and breezy organic feel. “This room faces the street, so we wanted to pick something that would provide privacy while allowing lots of filtered natural light to come through,” Wetzler says.
The inviting strategy worked. “Our clients tell us that they all spend a lot of time in this room. They love to hang out together to talk and read in here,” the designer says.
Shades: Hunter Douglas
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The space is inviting, with four comfortable swivel chairs covered in performance fabric. The deep gray built-ins provide space for books and favorite objects, with polished nickel library sconces to illuminate them. The designer layered in more texture with a hide rug and a lacquered grasscloth coffee table. The coastal vibes make an appearance through several paintings on the right side of the room. Also, the woven grass shades add a light and breezy organic feel. “This room faces the street, so we wanted to pick something that would provide privacy while allowing lots of filtered natural light to come through,” Wetzler says.
The inviting strategy worked. “Our clients tell us that they all spend a lot of time in this room. They love to hang out together to talk and read in here,” the designer says.
Shades: Hunter Douglas
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Before: Similar to the paint palette in the study, the colors in the dining room washed out all of its beautiful millwork. However, the white trim paint used throughout the house was fresh and there was no need to repaint it. Note that the chandelier the designer helped her clients choose had already been hung when this “before” photo was taken.
After: A new slate gray wall color makes the white wainscoting pop. Also popping are the beautiful botanical drapes with orange accents. “This fabric had all the colors in it — orange, blue, slate and off-white,” Wetzler says. “We used the same shades on these windows that we used in the study. We encourage all our clients to use the same window treatments across the front of a house for continuity.”
The designer brought blue and white into the room through a windowpane plaid fabric on the dining chairs. The dining table wood has a bleached look that recalls the color of driftwood.
The rug is a jute-wool blend that layers in blue, sandy tones and slate. “This rug is organic with a very irregular texture. A lot of this house is so linear and clean-lined that it needed organic touches like this for softness and contrast,” Wetzler says. The room isn’t used only for dining — the kids like doing their homework in here as well.
Wall paint: Rock Gray, Benjamin Moore
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The designer brought blue and white into the room through a windowpane plaid fabric on the dining chairs. The dining table wood has a bleached look that recalls the color of driftwood.
The rug is a jute-wool blend that layers in blue, sandy tones and slate. “This rug is organic with a very irregular texture. A lot of this house is so linear and clean-lined that it needed organic touches like this for softness and contrast,” Wetzler says. The room isn’t used only for dining — the kids like doing their homework in here as well.
Wall paint: Rock Gray, Benjamin Moore
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The only overtly coastal reference in the room is the stunning seashell mirror. Again, the slate walls provide lovely contrast that makes this element a standout.
The console table also provides dark contrast. “I love a touch of black, and I’ll always bring it into a space,” Wetzler says. “Here it kept things from looking too beachy. I think it’s more sophisticated.”
Mirror: Made Goods
The console table also provides dark contrast. “I love a touch of black, and I’ll always bring it into a space,” Wetzler says. “Here it kept things from looking too beachy. I think it’s more sophisticated.”
Mirror: Made Goods
Before: The living room was another blank slate, though with architectural assets that included a coffered ceiling, tall baseboards and a lovely fireplace.
After: As mentioned, the painting was the jumping-off point for the entire house, and especially for this room. Wetzler knew her cautious clients would need some reassurance about the drapery fabric selection but that it was worth taking the time to convince them. “This Kravet fabric is the star of the show,” she says. “It’s bold and brings the white and blue together in here. There’s an organic feel to the abstract floral pattern, and I don’t think the room would have been half as successful without it. It was a risk well worth taking.”
In terms of function, the family wanted enough seating for all six of them to feel comfortable. The ottomans underneath the lacquered grasscloth console table provide extra seating when needed. Also, the blue, green and white stripe pattern adds a little punch of Southern preppy style.
In terms of function, the family wanted enough seating for all six of them to feel comfortable. The ottomans underneath the lacquered grasscloth console table provide extra seating when needed. Also, the blue, green and white stripe pattern adds a little punch of Southern preppy style.
The armchairs and coffee table bring bleached driftwood tones into the room. The caning on the stools, the ceramic table lamps and the sandy sisal rug provide additional organic textures. “The glass top on the coffee table is great for teenagers who may not bother with coasters,” Wetzler says.
Luckily, this home already had electrical outlets in the floor, so there are no cords from the lamps creating tripping hazards. But for times when that’s not the case, Wetzler loves the new technology of battery-powered LED lightbulbs that don’t require a cord.
Luckily, this home already had electrical outlets in the floor, so there are no cords from the lamps creating tripping hazards. But for times when that’s not the case, Wetzler loves the new technology of battery-powered LED lightbulbs that don’t require a cord.
Blue and white continues in the powder room, where the only major change was bringing in a variety of preppy whales though a wallpaper called Melville. “This wallpaper was another bold choice our client was a little nervous about. But she was over the moon after it was installed,” Wetzler says.
The bold paper plays beautifully off the existing navy blue vanity. “We didn’t have to paint this vanity, but that is an easy change any homemaker can do themselves,” Wetzler says. “For a soft look like this, I like to use paint with a satin finish.”
The bold paper plays beautifully off the existing navy blue vanity. “We didn’t have to paint this vanity, but that is an easy change any homemaker can do themselves,” Wetzler says. “For a soft look like this, I like to use paint with a satin finish.”
The kitchen was attractive, updated and functional, so there was no need to renovate it. The designer made two interventions to adapt it to the family’s lifestyle. First was finding the homeowners the comfortable counter stools they craved. “Like many homeowners, they feared these might impede the flow behind them, but we found stools with backs that tuck nicely right up to the countertop,” Wetzler says. “If you don’t have stools that are comfortable, no one is ever going to want to use them.” Second was a banquette big enough for the whole family to gather around for meals.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
“Designing a banquette is very technical,” Wetzler says. “You want to make sure there is enough space for people to move around and be able to get in and out easily. Also, you want to make sure that the seating places you comfortably at the correct distance from the table. You want to get the base right, preferably something that won’t get in the way. One pedestal is ideal, but if the table is bigger like this one, you need two so that it doesn’t wobble.” She also notes that you need to figure out how chairs will fit correctly on the open side of the banquette.
Cheerful color comes in through the throw pillows and the fabric on the back of the chairs. Wetzler also added a deep slate paint to the window wall behind the banquette. “It’s nice to add some variation,” she says. “This is something super simple any homeowner can do and it has a big impact.
“The family has found all the comfortable seating in the kitchen is great for working from home and doing homework,” Wetzler says. “Our client told us that one of her favorite spots to sit with her laptop is in one of the new counter stools at the island.”
Accent paint: Nightfall, Benjamin Moore
Cheerful color comes in through the throw pillows and the fabric on the back of the chairs. Wetzler also added a deep slate paint to the window wall behind the banquette. “It’s nice to add some variation,” she says. “This is something super simple any homeowner can do and it has a big impact.
“The family has found all the comfortable seating in the kitchen is great for working from home and doing homework,” Wetzler says. “Our client told us that one of her favorite spots to sit with her laptop is in one of the new counter stools at the island.”
Accent paint: Nightfall, Benjamin Moore
“The bedroom was so blah, it had no definition,” Wetzler says. “We started with a beautiful silken abaca wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries that’s very organic. Our client already had the pineapple pillow, so we suggested adding the coral and the blue and white bedding. Of course, we added monograms because they are very Southern prep.”
The designer had the nightstands custom-painted in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy and topped them with shapely table lamps. The upholstered wingback bed adds a traditional touch.
“We have a passion for accessible design that doesn’t disrupt lives with lots of upheaval or budget busting,” Wetzler says. “There are lots of fun and creative things you can do without major renovations or inaccessible luxury. Our clients wanted a really inviting space for their whole family to hang out. Now they love to read and visit in the study, do their homework in the kitchen and the dining room, and gather in the family room.”
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The designer had the nightstands custom-painted in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy and topped them with shapely table lamps. The upholstered wingback bed adds a traditional touch.
“We have a passion for accessible design that doesn’t disrupt lives with lots of upheaval or budget busting,” Wetzler says. “There are lots of fun and creative things you can do without major renovations or inaccessible luxury. Our clients wanted a really inviting space for their whole family to hang out. Now they love to read and visit in the study, do their homework in the kitchen and the dining room, and gather in the family room.”
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Tour more homes
Hire a local design professional
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four teenage children
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Size: 5,000 square feet (465 square meters); five bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms
Designer: Becky Wetzler of Haus Interior Design
“The house was kind of a blank slate and we were looking to infuse it with the homeowners’ personalities,” Wetzler says. “The wife is from coastal South Carolina and loved a Southern coastal feel. She also loved bright, cheerful colors and the look of blue and white. She specifically told us that she did not want any muddy colors.”
This beloved painting by Elizabeth Lennie set the tone for the entire house. The homeowner had long admired the artist’s work, which often features children enjoying the water. While the artist doesn’t accept commissions, she agreed to look at some of the owners’ photos of their kids playing on a floating dock on a lake in Whitefish, Montana, to possibly use as inspiration. The couple fell in love with the three paintings their photos inspired and ultimately chose this one.
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