We’re nothing if not house optimists, so even as our beach house comes apart (literally — we have mold and termite damage and bad wiring and no HVAC and a failing foundation and pretty much all of the other not-ideal things that necessitate carefully rebuilding a lot of it), we’ve learned that sometimes you have to focus on the fun, exciting renovation ideas to survive the highly unglamorous parts. We’ll update you on our rebuilding progress soon — it’s slow-going — but today we’re swinging open our brains to share the more enjoyable beach house style ideas bouncing around in there. Even if there are a million steps between now and decorating, dreaming about the end result is keeping our house-reno mojo alive. So without further ado, welcome to my brain.
Before we dive into the images, you may want to refresh yourself on our floorplan and preliminary renovation plans in the original house tour post. There’s a full house tour video there too, and we’ve included the floor plan below for quick reference. Note: our only significant change since creating it is that we plan to move the downstairs bathroom door into the mudroom, rather than having access from the dining area.
Our general inspiration for the interior can be summarized as relaxed, uncomplicated, comfortable, and old-meets-new. We want to resist the urge to overfill or overdecorate the house; it should feel easy and light rather than meticulously styled. It’s an old home, which is one of our favorite things about it — so we’re embracing that fully: keeping original doors and knobs, refinishing the heart pine floors, preserving the curved wall and the original back staircase, and even uncovering an old brick chimney that we plan to expose.
We’ll add updated touches for guest comfort, mostly through new mattresses, bedding, and curtains rather than filling the house with antiques until it feels like a period set. After uploading these inspiration images I realized many feel very white — we’re aiming for light and airy, but plan to add more color than some of these photos suggest.
Let’s start with the bedrooms, which epitomize our goal of relaxed and uncomplicated spaces.
Bedroom Inspiration:
A bedroom — especially one for guests or renters — doesn’t need much because the rooms aren’t huge. Our main objective is a bed that looks extraordinarily comfortable and unfussy. Maybe a simple nightstand, some fun artwork, and one or two interesting lights. These images show that a minimal bedroom can still feel welcoming and calm rather than stark or bare.
Bunk Room Inspiration:
In addition to the three main bedrooms, we’ll carve out a bonus sleeping zone for kids. It will be compact, likely wall-to-wall bunks with a ladder. We’ll probably keep the beds white to make the small space feel larger. The goal is casual, playful sleeping quarters — less formal than a tailored guest room. Dibs on the top bunk!
Bathroom Inspiration:
We have a tub similar to the classic clawfoot style shown — scratched and rusted now, but full of potential. We can’t wait to get it reglazed and back into the bathroom (currently the tub is in a bedroom because the original bathroom was literally falling off the house). We’d love to bring in natural tones or colorful accents through vanities or floor tile. John especially likes classic hex tile in a medium gray instead of black so it reads lighter overall.
Mudroom Inspiration:
The mudroom will corrall sandy beach gear and offer direct access to the downstairs bathroom so people can rinse off and toss towels into the washer and dryer located there. We’ll likely include some closed storage for beach toys and towels, but mainly keep it simple and affordable with shelves and hooks — this isn’t an everyday commuter mudroom, it’s all about beach practicality.
Kitchen Inspiration:
The beach house kitchen only needs a few cooking and serving staples, so we won’t load it with gadgets. We like unfussy base cabinets, some open shelving, and maybe color on the lower cabinets. Affordable, slightly rustic finishes feel right here — butcher block counters on the island, a few wood accents like stools, and perhaps a freestanding cabinet to add character.
Dining Inspiration:
“Dining room” feels too formal for what will be a casual eating area. We’re drawn to a black round pedestal table with bench seating and warm, coppery chairs paired with peachy pillows for cozy, welcoming vibes. Natural wood tables and woven pendants also feel right for the relaxed seaside atmosphere.
Door Inspiration:
I have a borderline unreasonable love for the old wood and chippy-painted doors in this house. We have a smorgasbord of originals and plan to reuse them all, despite warnings about the challenges of making crooked old doors functional. If we can get them working again, they’ll add character in spades.
Living Room Inspiration:
The living room is modest in size and includes a layout-challenging curved wall. We’re picturing minimal furniture — a sofa, chair, coffee table, and TV — but want each piece to be interesting since it’s the first room guests will see. Clean-lined wood furniture and pops of color, like blue ottomans or a colorful sofa or chair that wears well, are top of mind.
Bookcase Inspiration:
Even while keeping the house simple, we want one or two book-filled spots that feel lived-in and homey. A bookshelf packed with books, magazines, and games makes rainy beach days so much better. We may opt for casual wood racks in the bunk room for kids’ books or a larger, cozier shelf in the main living area.
Stair Inspiration:
The main front stairs will remain wood (our risers and spindles are painted white), and we’re excited to restore them. We also have a bonus back staircase we’re keeping because of the character it adds. The back stairs are rougher and might be a great place to introduce color — from minty risers to a fully painted statement — if the treads can’t be salvaged.
And so ends the dream-version tour of how the beach house might look. There will be twists and turns as we move toward a finished, livable home, but it’s fun to throw out inspiration and see what sticks. One thing’s for sure: there will be built-ins, blue-green accents, old doors, light walls, peach pillows, and lots of wood. Viva la beach house! Now back to dealing with the decidedly unglamorous situation of a bathroom falling off the house. Thanks for daydreaming with me.
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