Serenity by the Shore

Smooth Venetian plaster walls echo Alys Beach’s signature aesthetic.

Designers Nina Nash Long and Don Easterling sourced open fretwork chairs and a painted table from Mathews Furniture + Design to give the dining space “breathing room.”

The multifunctional breakfast nook hosts a flurry of activities, from morning pancakes to late night card games. The whitewashed pecky cypress ceilings add natural dimension and further define the space.

The designers created a splash with a distinctive marble and brass tile backsplash in the butler’s pantry.

Calm colors and textures envelope the great room. “We wanted it to feel tranquil, so we kept the hues very soft using whites, pale blues and light wooden tones,” says Easterling. The ceilings and walls are Venetian plaster that was applied by hand, nodding to the Alys Beach aesthetic.

Polished nickel, distinctive pewter and elegant brass mix effortlessly in the kitchen amongst the custom hood and waterfall island. The island was built to accommodate a crowd; the original abstract artwork by Paige Kalena Follmann commands their attention.

The tranquil master bedroom features waves of blue, from cornflower to cerulean, that complement the coastal hues outside. A linen Hickory Chair headboard and a luxe velvet chair add subtle texture.

The tranquil master bedroom features waves of blue, from cornflower to cerulean, that complement the coastal hues outside. A linen Hickory Chair headboard and a luxe velvet chair add subtle texture.

Mirroring the relaxing views of Alys Beach, this bathroom favors streamlined, natural materials in a sea-inspired palette.

To handle the overflow of guests, four custom bunk beds were designed for the upper level.

An eye-catching headboard is the focal point of the Moroccan-inspired bedroom.

A grid of four abstracts by Birmingham artist McKenzie Dove anchors the wall of the bedroom.

In addition to the bunk room, the upper level also houses an elevated game room and lounge area, complete with a Lucite game table and the homeowners’ beloved record player.

Teak chairs hold court outside the luxurious courtyard and pool.

Strategically painted dark gray, the exterior doors counterbalance the crisp white walls and exposed copper piping.

Brass sling chaise lounges and chairs add a subtle touch of glamour to the pool.

Alys Beach has always made its own waves amongst the cluster of communities sprinkled along Florida’s revered 30A Highway. The iconic hamlet maintains unwavering architectural standards with its unmistakable white edifices that fuse together Bermuda and Mediterranean influences, making the perfect canvas for an Atlanta family’s idyllic seaside retreat.

“You can’t help but get inspired by the natural surroundings and simplicity of Alys Beach,” shares Nina Nash Long, who co-designed the space with colleague Don Easterling of Mathews Design Group, the in-house design team for Mathews Furniture + Design. 

The homeowners, who lived in a different Alys Beach abode previously, were ready for more space and an interior refresh. Long and Easterling helped reimagine their new residence with an updated perspective that also felt true to their style and the area, incorporating white plaster walls and colors that reflected the sand and crystal-clear waters of the nearby shore. “We visited their previous home in Alys Beach and knew their style, but wanted to give them something fresh and different,” says Easterling.

The large family frequently entertains, but they didn’t want the comings-and-goings of friends—not to mention their spirited four-legged pet—to deter the design from a dirt-fearing palette of airy hues. Long and Easterling opted for pretty performance fabrics that are hardworking and durable, but to the naked eye, are contemporaries to beautiful interior fabrics. Long notes that, unlike most second homes, this retreat would not be used as a rental during the off-season, so they invested in quality, long-lasting furniture sourced from Mathews that they could enjoy season after season.

The free-flowing home was designed by Domin Bock Architects and built by Galvas Construction with a keen eye for detail, which Long and Easterling highlighted with a clean and sophisticated aesthetic circulating the home. Incorporating original curated art, including works by abstract artists Joe Adams and Paige Kalena Follmann, was a priority and thus sprinkled throughout the home. The kitchen mixed unassuming natural materials in the open space, like polished nickel, pewter and brass, plus a touch of handsome leather on the island stools.  

In the great room, a complementary assortment of fabrics, like linen, bouclé and velvet, add nuanced texture as opposed to distracting patterns. “We wanted it to feel tranquil, so we kept the hues very soft, using whites, pale blues and light wood tones,” Easterling explains.

Venetian plaster, applied by hand to the majority of the walls and ceilings, ties back to the signature style of Alys Beach. “It’s a beach house that doesn’t scream Beach House!” says Long. “We gave the home a sophisticated feel.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Nina Nash Long and Don Easterling, Mathews Furniture + Design, (404) 237-8271; mathewsfurniture.com ARCHITECT Douglas Bock, Domin Bock Architects, LLC, (850) 830-5773; dominbock.com BUILDER John Galvas, Galvas Contruction, Inc. (850) 231-0509; galvasgc.com