Text: Eleanor Lynn Nesmith
Photography: Jean Allsopp
After spending numerous spring breaks and summer vacations along 30A, Tamara and David Campbell decided it was time to have a place of their own in Rosemary Beach. They found the perfect house just steps away from the town’s lively Main Street and the Gulf of Mexico. “I’ve always loved coastal colors and decorated our home back in Dallas with soft blues and aqua,” says Campbell. “I wanted something completely different for our actual beach house.”
The couple turned to Tina Vital and Bevin Cole Jones of Abode Beach Interiors, who were happy to take on the project. The house featured a white stucco exterior with Flemish gables and tall windows, enveloping a sculptural arrangement of gracious crisp-white, light-filled interiors. “It was a clean state of a great architecture and natural materials,” says Vital. “We layered fabrics and furnishings with loads of color, textures, and patterns.”
In keeping with the easygoing attitude of a beach house, the home’s interiors were given the best aspects of a contemporary plan with a gracious openness and a sense of balance. The nearly 14-foot-high ceilings were clad in a whitewashed pecky cypress, and draperies were crafted in an ikat pattern to fit the expansive windows in the main living area. “The lime green trim grounds the bold pattern and draws the eye upward,” says Jones. “We try to include custom tailored details and unique touches like that in every room.”
A glossy white dining table and chairs upholstered in textured navy-and-white fabric reside on axis with the foyer and the back door to the landscaped courtyard. For a welcoming interchange between indoors and out, durable outdoor fabrics in complementary shades of blues and greens were added to a swinging daybed and pool furniture.
A cozy den with a fireplace opens off the larger living room with just a hint of separation. The plush sectional sofa and painted table are designed for flexibility, while the floors are wide-plank with a rough limed finish. “We curated the master suite in a gambit of soothing shades of blue for a true escape,” says Vital. Draperies frame a cased opening to an intimate conversation nook, while Roman shades in the bank of windows soften the space. A pair of glossy blue vanities and marble flooring infuse simple luxury in the master bath.
For flexibility, each guest suite features a distinctive color scheme and accommodates either a pair of queen beds or a king. “For visual interest, we mix and match fabrics from different vendors and experiment with unexpected combinations,” says Vital. The carriage house was reimagined with a palette of corals and deep rose, infusing the space with its own identity. The expanded loft accommodates additional guests with enhanced comfort and privacy, and a washer and dryer tucked behind a built-in bookcase is a welcomed addition.
Even with the home’s slightly grand scale and elegant finishes, there’s a laid-back spirit and coastal overtures. One of the designer’s first purchases was an antique bamboo hall tree. “We loved it,” says Vital. “We painted it white and placed it as a focal point at the back door as a surprise for Tamara. She loved it, too.” From every vantage point, the Campbell home exudes an open invitation to unwind and enjoy all the beach has to offer, while the relaxed elegance and sophisticated color combinations shine with undiminished style.