Photography by David Papazian
Designers have much to contend with when creating homes for people who live at the beach: the elements, designing for groups and nailing the aesthetic. For this family home in Neskowin’s Sahhali Shores for a retired couple that often hosts a dozen other family members, Capri Architecture dialed in coastal vibes with a modern affinity through elevated material choices. “The whole place inspires people to think about experiencing the Coast differently,” says Dustin Capri, architect.
- Use darker colors (like the matte black in the kitchen) to balance the intensity of the space and make elements pop.
- Light woods (like cedar, above) and white walls lend the kitchen a beachy feel.
- Mixing woods, like the American walnut table above, adds a traditional gravitas without darkening the space.
- Add warmth with a vertical-grain wood on the ceiling and accent walls.
- Bring in the woods with vertically placed slats, which create a dappled light on sunnier days.
- For furniture, work in texture but keep the lines and forms simple.
- Work in the craggy coastline with manufactured-stone finishes (this one on the fireplace is from Creative Mines). “A lot of manufactured stone looks great from afar, but this kind feels like actual rock closer up,” says Dustin Capri.
- Prepare for sandy feet with luxury vinyl in the high-traffic areas.
- Add glow and warmth to the Coast’s gloomier moments with lighting tucked into the architecture.
“A minimalism tends to creep into modernism, but we have so many gray days at the Coast that we need to add texture and wood to warm up interior spaces.”
– Amanda Capri, architect
