Surf Shack Makeover
What makes a surf shack so charming is its freedom from nonsense. Finding joy in life's imperfections and simplicities.
When Tom & Anita LaGrassa, a fun, laid-back couple, asked me to help them makeover their living room in their Sag Harbor home (aka. The Surf Shack), I jumped at the opportunity! This project is so perfectly aligned with my secret sauce of barefoot bliss, and I wanted to share our fun makeover process with you, from start to finish.
After photo by Eric Striffler
A Fresh New Concept
In addition to being an avid surfer, Tom is a builder, so the envelope of the existing space worked well - terracotta tile flooring, walls in Benjamin Moore White Dove and white-washed wood plank ceiling. However, my clients wanted to brighten up the space and make it feel more welcoming and cohesive.
Tom & Anita’s house is full of life, with friends, family and pets. Inspired by their warm, indoor/outdoor lifestyle, we chose a Casual Coastal design concept. With this fresh concept in mind, I put together a mood board and a new furniture plan to determine the best placement & size of items.
© Natura Interiors
© Natura Interiors
Out with the Old…
Many times one of the most “delicate” parts of a project is deciding what to hold on to, and what to get rid of. Fortunately the LaGrassa’s were 100% open to hearing my suggestions, and eager to get rid of whatever didn’t work. They also had some cool existing items that worked very well in the space - such as a reclaimed wood hutch, a custom surfboard with Montauk nautical chart, and beach photographs taken by Tom himself.
After photo by Eric Striffler
…And in with the New
Once the concept was approved, I created a more finalized list of new items - including furniture, accessories & lighting - and developed a budget/estimate to make sure we weren’t exceeding our original budget. I also obtained swatches of fabric and rug samples, to see how the textures & colors looked in the space.
We painted the existing brick fireplace a soft white to brighten things up and allow the wood burning stove to stand out. We chose cozy textures, such as wool, wood and woven textiles, to add warmth to the room. Inspired by the colors of the coast, we selected a palette of whites, blues and neutrals.
Photography by Eric Striffler
A Design that Fits a Real Lifestyle
Imagining the way my clients actually use the space, is essential to creating a successful design - one that fits their lifestyle. In the case of the LaGrassa’s, I considered all their functional needs, such as what is the most efficient use of space and which materials are going to hold up best to an indoor/outdoor use. For example, the white slip-cover sofa is done in a high performance fabric and can easily be thrown into the wash. We chose light-weight poufs as additional seating, so the furniture can be quickly rearranged when they have guests.
Photography by Eric Striffler
A Refresh for the Home & Soul
Each detail in our Surf Shack makeover was carefully chosen, to make sure the space felt personal and cohesive - hand blown glass lamps, reclaimed wood pieces, special knick-knacks collected from Tom & Anita’s travels to Costa Rica. All the details & items work together to create a casual, beachy, comfortable vibe: barefoot bliss.
I hope this before & after post has helped inspire you, especially in these times when a home refresh can do wonders for the soul! Feel free to post a comment below, I would love to hear from you :)
Ready for your home makeover? Book a discovery call with me today!