A Designer's Vacation Home on the Florida Coast Gets an Update

May 18, 2023

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The house is as stunning as the lake it overlooks.

It's a longstanding American tradition to vacation at the same beach town for decades—or perhaps even generations. And so it goes with interior designer Ashley Gilbreath and the beaches of Florida's panhandle.

"My husband and I have been vacationing in the same coastal area from the time our eldest daughter was a newborn, and I grew up going to the very same white-sand beaches," Gilbreath writes in the introduction of her new book, The Joy of Home (Gibbs Smith, 2023). "In fact, my most treasured childhood memories are from there, usually with cousins and other extended family in tow. I have loved keeping the tradition of joy at the beach and watching my babies develop their own love for the area."

The family adored the area so much, they decided to make it their permanent residence. They found a four-bedroom house in the perfect spot—on a coastal dune lake with Gulf of Mexico views—but it was something of a time capsule. Built in the '90s and not renovated since, the property lived its life as a vacation rental rather than a full-time home. Worst of all, it didn't take advantage of its site. "Aside from the house's physical location, there was little connecting the outside to the inside," wrote Gilbreath. "In my opinion, this house was originally designed from the outside in, with little thought about the interiors, so we slipped in some simple architectural elements that made a huge impact."

To start, Gilbreath removed some of the heavier interior elements that blocked views to the sea, including columns and beams in the kitchen. She also added retractable, windowed walls between the living room and the deck to take advantage of the indoor-outdoor lifestyle afforded by Florida weather, as well as a pool in the backyard.

Then it was time to decorate. The designer decided to stay away from coastal clichés, choosing instead to add subtle and elegant nods to the home's location—with the serene blue paint in the kitchen, for example. More importantly, she sought to add a sense of exuberance through color and pattern, particularly in the bedrooms. "I wanted the children to have special bedrooms; while youthful and beach happy in spirit, these spaces are not too childish, so older guests feel comfortable as well," wrote Gilbreath.

Overall, the project was a particularly introspective one for Gilbreath. As she wrote in her book, "I’ve realized that the serenity found near the water or in the mountains helps me enjoy my journey."

Courtesy of Gibbs Smith publishers from "The Joy of Home by Ashley Gilbreath."

New and vintage furnishings create a timeless look in the living room.

Console: Custom. Light fixture and floor lamp: Visual Comfort. Drapery: The Shade Store. Chair Fabric: Lee Jofa. Rug: From Jaipur with Love. Pillows: St. Frank.

Gilbreath incorporated bold graphic patterns to keep the home from feeling stuffy.

The island brings in a touch of beachiness thanks to the pale blue hue.

Paint: Languid Blue, Sherwin-Williams. Barstools: Summer Classics. Light Fixture: Visual Comfort. Artwork: Sarah Soule Webb. Fixtures: Waterworks. Cabinet Hardware: Devol.

Vintage leather-upholstered chairs add warmth to the dining room.

Artwork: Blackwell Botanicals. Table and Chairs: Vintage.

Playful wallcoverings and a floral lumbar pillow brighten this bedroom.

Wall covering: Farrow and Ball. Trim paint: Labrador Blue, Benjamin Moore. Nightstands: Vintage. Euro pillows: Marika Myers. Lumbar pillow: Lumbar: Brooke Paradon.

Another subtle nod to nautical decor: Blue bunks with brass hardware.

Paint: Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball. Bedding: Pom Pom. Railing: Gowan Iron Works. Chairs: Bobo. Ottoman: Dovetail. Sofa: Guy Goodfellow Collection. Rug: From Jaipur with Love.

This airy bath is all about natural light. Tile: Sellers Tile. Vanity: Custom. Fixtures: Waterworks.

Pictured above.

Gilbreath's penchant for patterns continues outdoors.Furniture: Summer Classics. Ginger Jars: Parish by Ashley Gilbreath. Pillows: Serena and Lily.

"It's always so fun to have dinner on the porch upstairs and see friends from school paddleboarding on the lake or spotting an alligator," she says.

Furniture: Summer Classics. Dining Chair Slipcovers: Kravet. Tablecloth: Pomegranate Home. Napkins: Sister Parish.

Retractable window-walls connect the interiors with the pool deck.

Window-wall: Euro-Wall. Furniture: Summer Classics. Towels: Weezie Towels.

House Beautiful: How extensive was the project?

Ashley Gilbreath: The renovation was primarily cosmetic with a few architectural edits, such as adding a fireplace in the living area and extensive landscaping. We updated every bathroom and kitchen, the living spaces had some minor architectural edits, and everything else was a finish change. Outside, we added the pool and did a full overhaul of the decking and landscaping. We also updated the roof from shingle to cedar shingles.

HB: What was the reason for the new design? What are a few ways you achieved your vision?

AG: My primary goal was to modernize the home and focus on functionality for full-time living. It needed to feel like it was a family home, not a beach vacation home, but also needed a sense of place. I had fun with the interiors, steering away from traditional coastal décor, but the blue kitchen cabinetry and pops of color throughout kept it from feeling overly stuffy.

HB: Did you encounter any challenges?

AG: A big hurdle we faced was re-staining the wood details throughout the home. The beautiful wood ceiling has a red tint to it, so we went through various iterations of stains to get just the right tint.

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