This Colorful Carolina Beach Cottage Is the Perfect Mix of Classic and Contemporary

Coastal Living

September 5, 2019 at 6:37 PM

This Colorful Carolina Beach Cottage Is the Perfect Mix of Classic and Contemporary

<p><a href="http://www.barriebenson.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Barrie Benson;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Barrie Benson</a> likes the newness knocked off of things. So when her client came to her wanting the interiors of a new-build beach home on North Carolina's Figure Eight Island to have a collected vibe that emphasized vintage, one would think the Charlotte-based designer would be thrilled. But despite her love of older, classic pieces, she was hesitant to go all vintage everywhere. "If every piece is beaten-down and old, it's too much of one thing," she says.</p> <p>But vintage certainly would have its place in the home's design. The five-mile, 1,300-acre barrier island near <a href="https://www.coastalliving.com/travel/atlantic/wilmington-north-carolina-weekend-getaway" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Wilmington;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Wilmington</a> has long been a vacation destination, and Barrie and her <a href="https://www.mgpb.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:architect husband, Matt;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">architect husband, Matt</a>, drew inspiration from the region's 1920s and "30s beach cottages with wide, open porches and traditional details. It was a balancing act for Barrie, who layered contemporary patterns and fabrics in a beach-inspired, desaturated color palette with classic rattan furniture and woven, natural rugs (both a nod to early 20th-century Carolina beach cottage style). Matt, in turn, tempered modern architectural lines with details that acknowledge history: pecky cypress detailing and traditional tabby—a lime, water, sand, oyster shells, and ash material. Here, the Bensons share their tips for pulling off the balance between now and then.</p>

<p><strong>Use Formality with Restraint</strong><br> To balance the inherent formality of the dining room with its beach setting, Barrie draped the windows with <a href="https://ferrickmason.com/shop/product/tropicana-lattice/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Ferrick Mason Tropicana Lattice;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Ferrick Mason Tropicana Lattice</a>—a pattern that nods tropical but maintains a subtle, more modern vibe. For a touch of interest and sparkle to the room, she added the Tony Duquette crystal chandelier accented with oyster shells. "Every dining room, no matter how casual, needs a little pop of crystal," she says.</p> <p><b>Pop Up a Play Zone</b><br> The family loves to do puzzles and play board games at the beach, so a game table was essential. In lieu of an entire room devoted to the family pastime, Barrie found an easily-tucked-away vintage grasscloth game table and Brighton-style chairs with custom <a href="http://quadrillefabrics.com/Editorials-Pages/Kediri-Batik-swatch-Architectural-Digest-May-2017.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:China Seas Kidiri;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">China Seas Kidiri</a> seat cushions to complete the scene.</p>

<p><b>Dial Up the Details</b><br> Saving the big ocean views for the primary living spaces, Matt located the master bedroom at the back of the home. Barrie employed rich patterns and textures to make the room special, including the custom headboard by <a href="http://hallmanfurniture.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hallman Furniture;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hallman Furniture</a> with Soleil Bleu fabric and bed linens by Julia B.</p> <p><b>Use Vintage With Care</b><br> Though a 1970s McGuire rattan credenza was one of Barrie's favorite finds for the master bedroom, the designer thoughtfully incorporated new pieces—such as this Vanguard slipper chair swathed in a retro floral Osborne & Little fabric—to play a supporting role in the space.</p>

On the North Carolina coast, a brand-new vision of a traditional Southern beach cottage walks the (shore)line just perfectly

Yahoo Sports
NFL Draft: Packers fan upset with team's 1st pick, and Lions fans hilariously rubbed it in
Not everyone was thrilled with their team's draft on Thursday night.
3h ago
Yahoo Sports
Broncos, Jets, Lions and Texans have new uniforms. Let's rank them
Which new uniforms are winners this season?
2d ago
Yahoo Finance
Jamie Dimon is worried the US economy is headed back to the 1970s
JPMorgan's CEO is concerned the US economy could be in for a repeat of the stagflation that hampered the country during the 1970s.
3d ago
Yahoo Sports
Based on the odds, here's what the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft will be
What would a mock draft look like using just betting odds?
4d ago
Yahoo Sports
Luka makes Clippers look old, Suns are in big trouble & a funeral for Lakers | Good Word with Goodwill
Vincent Goodwill and Tom Haberstroh break down last night’s NBA Playoffs action and preview several games for tonight and tomorrow.
1d ago
Yahoo Sports
Dave McCarty, player on 2004 Red Sox championship team, dies 1 week after team's reunion
The Red Sox were already mourning the loss of Tim Wakefield from that 2004 team.
5d ago
Yahoo TV
Everyone's still talking about the 'SNL' Beavis and Butt-Head sketch. Cast members and experts explain why it's an instant classic.
Ryan Gosling, who starred in the skit, couldn't keep a straight face — and neither could some of the "Saturday Night Live" cast.
3d ago
Yahoo Sports
Ryan Garcia drops Devin Haney 3 times en route to stunning upset
The 25-year-old labeled "mentally fragile" by many delivered the upset for the ages.
5d ago
Autoblog
These are the cars being discontinued for 2024 and beyond
As automakers shift to EVs, trim the fat on their lineups and cull slow-selling models, these are the vehicles we expect to die off soon.
3d ago
Autoblog
These are the fastest-selling new cars of 2024
iSeeCars found that a handful of brands sell new cars much faster than others and noted that EVs are taking longer to sell than hybrids.
12h ago

News

Life

Entertainment

Finance

Sports

New on Yahoo

This Colorful Carolina Beach Cottage Is the Perfect Mix of Classic and Contemporary

This Colorful Carolina Beach Cottage Is the Perfect Mix of Classic and Contemporary

Recommended Stories

NFL Draft: Packers fan upset with team's 1st pick, and Lions fans hilariously rubbed it in

Broncos, Jets, Lions and Texans have new uniforms. Let's rank them

Jamie Dimon is worried the US economy is headed back to the 1970s

Based on the odds, here's what the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft will be

Luka makes Clippers look old, Suns are in big trouble & a funeral for Lakers | Good Word with Goodwill

Dave McCarty, player on 2004 Red Sox championship team, dies 1 week after team's reunion

Everyone's still talking about the 'SNL' Beavis and Butt-Head sketch. Cast members and experts explain why it's an instant classic.

Ryan Garcia drops Devin Haney 3 times en route to stunning upset

These are the cars being discontinued for 2024 and beyond

These are the fastest-selling new cars of 2024