Creating the Perfect Beach House with a Modern Flair

Now, we know what you’re thinking… “The Perfect Beach House!!”. Hah! I mean really, brown carpeting, taupe walls, 70’s light fixtures.. what more could a coastal cool condo need?! What you don’t see pictured here is that this little cutie is less than 200 steps to the sand. Are you feeling beach vibes yet?!

When we first walked into the Sea Loft, it was dark, dingy and a lot less lofty than it is now. But, it was EXACTLY what we had been dreaming of. You see, Mom always had the fantasy of a little beach getaway near the sand in a sweet little beach town. This was it. Sure, it took a little bit of vision and a lot of white paint, but we knew this would be the place to start the beachy chapter of our lives and begin sharing this coastal paradise with others.

The terms “Beach House” or “Coastal Living” generally elicit a sense of relaxation… the sound of the waves, the smell of sunscreen, warm sunshine on your skin… not the dark cave that we originally walked into. With our favorite beach feels in mind, we devised a plan to transform our new space into a home filled of natural light and a sense of airiness. 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

OUT WITH THE OLD, in with the beach house

Step one in the process was to get all of the tired, dark surfaces out creating a blank canvas for us to put back together. Brown carpeting – gone. Dark cabinets – gone. Dated light fixtures – gone. And probably the most impactful removal – taking the bonus “extended” bedroom back into a true loft, opening up the entire home and giving a grand feeling of spaciousness as soon as you walk through the door. Now that we had our framework, it was time to bring in the new!

2 SIMPLE STEPS TO TRANSFORM AN OVERALL SPACE 

There are a few simple things you can do to instantly transform a space with minimal investment – white paint & modern flooring – that’s it, it’s really that simple. Paint and flooring is the game changer for any home update.  

For this project, we went with glossy white paint for the walls and ceiling. Normally we would not choose a higher-gloss paint for main walls unless it was in a bathroom, however, we wanted the natural light to bounce & reflect to create a brighter overall space. We were hesitant, but so happy with the end result. *Side note – glossy paint is also easier to clean and does not show as many scuff marks as it’s matte-like friends

Secondly, we modernized the flooring throughout with a Luxury Vinyl Plank product. We’ve used this product in the past and are always so pleased with the results and durability. This Luxury Vinyl Plank product is water-resistant so it can be used everywhere (cutting down on the need for a tile in the kitchen and bath – we’re all for a few less choices when it comes to a full-home remodel, there are A LOT of decisions to be made). When choosing the style we knew we wanted a lighter color, something that really did evoke “Beach Vibes”.

We went a little overboard & beyond these two simple things – you know, if you give a mouse a cookie. . .

FIRST STOP – the Living Area

Again, that white paint and modern flooring will really knock your socks off! Since the Living area really does not include any fixtures, the main living space was really transformed with paint and flooring magic. Interior decor is the real star in this space as we were able to bring in the beach with our accessory items. For more ideas on how to design a relaxed beach inspired living room, take a look at: Creating a Relaxed Beach Inspired Living Room

STOP #2 – BEACH HOUSE Kitchen

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home & as a family of big cooks we wanted this space to really shine as well as be functional. So, we took this little U-shape and extended it along the entire back wall taking over the existing dining nook. We then added an eating (and storage) peninsula to offer additional seating and eating space as well as lots more counter space. Looking for more of the build details? Take a look at our post How to Build a Modern Coastal Kitchen. Need kitchen styling inspo? Check out Styling a Kitchen with Coastal Flair!

STOP #3 – BEACH HOUSE Bedroom

Holy Open Concept!! As a small space really only meant for two we were able to throw privacy concerns aside and open up the bedroom area into it’s former lofty glory. We hemmed and hawed for a while about what type of railing we were going to incorporate and ultimately decided to stay true to the Coastal Cool vibes and dive head-first into the coolest glass railing ever. This decision further opened up the space and keeps the whole home feeling breezy, open & airy – seriously California Cool. For more insights on how we styled this beachy bedroom, take a look at our blog post: The Design of a Modern Coastal Bedroom.

STOP #3 – the Bath

Ohhh this thing was gross when we first walked in. Nothing screams sparkly clean like a brown swirly resin-product covered shower. Thankfully, we were able to scrap this little number and start from scratch nixing the tub and opting for a bright white tiled shower enclosure complete with glass shower doors and a simple shower head. For more information on our bathroom transformation: How to Style a Beach Spa Bathroom

the BEACH HOUSE dream

Now that the dust has settled and we’ve put our own spin on this little beach loft, it’s time to put our toes in the water, our you know whats in the sand and enjoy this modern coastal beach house lifestyle.

For more Beach House design inspo, take a look at: our Modern Coastal Bedroom, Creating a Relaxed Beach Inspired Living Room, How to Build a Modern Coastal Kitchen, & Styling a Kitchen with Coastal Flair!

Photography by Rafael Bautista (before pics by the Johnsons)