ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME chatted with Susan Jamieson when she was just closing up for the day at her Bridget Beari Home Store in Richmond, Virginia. (Yes, you can get her beautiful wallcoverings and paints there.) The designer told us about this easy-living house for clients in Alys Beach, a town in the popular Gulf-front Florida community lovingly known as 30A (after the state’s Scenic Highway 30-A).
Q: This space looks so tranquil. Will the light colors stay clean?
A: Yes. The sofas are all done in indoor/outdoor fabric by Verellen. The dining chairs, to the left in the photo, were originally covered in indoor/outdoor linen. But my client has kids and likes easy living by the beach – she didn’t want to worry about wine or other spills, so we recovered the chairs in buttery, soft white vinyl from Kravet that looks almost like linen. The coffee table is by Tritter Feefer and has a painted limestone-like finish that can be wiped clean. All the walls are white Venetian plaster, with pearlescence. They look beautiful in candlelight.
Q: Stairway to heaven? Tell us about this pretty detail.
A: The steps sort of float. I found the six carved wood fertility statues that line them in Indonesia. My client likes things very natural, and these statues honor her Asian heritage. The soft, beautiful wood is locally sourced and stained very light gray. The steps are so smooth, you can go barefoot. The hand rails are carved out of wood but look like rope.
Q: So you can pedal (or park) your bicycle and forget your cares?
A: Yes. When you enter the front door, you walk through a beautiful alcove. Outside, the beaches are wide, with white sand, and there are paths for walking and biking. You feel like you’re in the Caribbean, but it’s Florida.
Q: What is this room for?
A: I call it the Sand Room. It’s the locker area, where you put down your beach bag and kick off your flipflops. Then you’re ready to go inside.
Q: The home has four stories and this swimming pool. Was the layout challenging?
A: The biggest challenge was that there is no elevator. We were walking up and down to make sure every sitting area had a perfect ocean view. I also had to get outside my comfort zone – my client didn’t want any rugs, just floors that could be easily swept clean. Nothing high maintenance. No carpets.
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