Sunday, August 1, 2010

Island Living



When most people think of island living, they often conjure up images of deserted beaches, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and balmy year round temperatures, but island living happens all over the world, in all kinds of climates.

For one lucky Maryland couple, the dream of living on the water became a reality when they designed and built their beautiful multi-story home on a small local island.



I've already introduced you to one of the homeowners, my friend Julie from Frosted Trash!  Along with her husband Larry, they have created an island home that is as extraordinary as it's awe inspiring setting!



Nestled on a lot which boasts nearly 360 degree water views, it truly is a sanctuary for this very busy couple.



And the rural nature of this small island, means that so much of what we all crave about waterfront living has been preserved!  Wildlife abounds and so do friendly neighbors!



From the moment you venture up the front steps and enter this unique home you feel like the stresses of every day living have suddenly slipped away.



Much of that has to do with the soothing color palette, comfortable furnishings, and coastal inspired decor that Julie and Larry have chosen to use throughout their charming home.



Seagrass rugs, painted pieces, and antique furnishings add color, interest, and texture while continuing the casual beachy vibe.



Cottage style furniture, like this beautiful green chest just inside the front door, pairs perfectly with the soft gray wall color.



Neutral slipcovered chairs provide a comfy place to sit and enjoy the gorgeous views!



Color is introduced throughout the living room with pillows, throws, artwork, and other fun accessories.



A pebble fireplace surround and unique architectural finds add texture and interest while providing plenty for visitors to look at besides the wonderful views outside!



I love how Julie repeated the golden yellow color found in the stained glass above the front door throughout the living room.   She painted the backs of her bookcases this great color, used an old quilt draped on the sofa with the same golden hued pattern, and then found pillows which are the perfect shade to create continuity in the space.



From every angle this is a space you want to kick off your shoes and spend time in!



And if you tire of relaxing inside, you can always step through the french doors to take in the expansive water views which await you outside!



Can't you almost smell the salty air and taste the Old Bay on those freshly steamed crabs?  Who wouldn't want to eat dinner out here?!



The open concept of Julie's home makes it ideal for entertaining, something she and Larry do frequently with close friends and family.



The peninsula, which separates the kitchen and living room, provides the perfect spot to eat an afternoon snack.



A budget conscious girl after my own heart, Julie created this stunning kitchen using Ikea cabinetry!



A large farmhouse sink, glass fronted cabinets, dark charcoal gray countertops, and a colorful braided rug all add charm to this wonderful country kitchen!



Julie also loves to collect vintage kitchenware like this beautiful platter, marble lazy susan, and antique pottery.



More yellow ware bowls can be found atop the cabinets, while the glass fronted cabinets below are ideal for showcasing her extensive Jadite collection.



Glass fronted cabinetry on the opposite side of the kitchen is used to hold more of Julie's wonderful antique finds!



Of course you know I was tempted to walk away with that lovely white starfish serving bowl...isn't it pretty?!



I wouldn't have minding walking away with this breathtaking view either!!  Cooking with that kind of view wouldn't be work at all!



Located just off of the living room and kitchen is a lovely dining area.



A simple black table and chairs help ground the room, and I love the large drum shade chandelier which really makes a statement in the space.



Ironstone platters surround a porthole window which brings extra light in from the screened in porch area.  A small chest painted seafoam green provides and ideal spot for showcasing some of the couple's one of a kind accessories!



Large windows let in plenty of light which is magnified by this large wooden framed mirror.  I adore the hand carved mermaid floating gracefully above the mirror!  



A white buffet and stepped wall provide more room for Julie and Larry to display some of their treasured mementos.



And just in case you were wondering if this room also sports a lovely water view, well here it is...and it is just as heart stopping as those from the living room and kitchen!



Rounding out the main level of the house are two guest rooms and a full bath.  The nautical theme of this guest room is perfect for visiting grandchildren and other visitors alike.



Upstairs is a large master bedroom suite.  Julie chose a muted color scheme and filled the room with antiques to create a cozy and restful retreat.



An antique pine dresser occupies the small dressing area.



Windows on nearly every wall provide plenty of natural light for Julie to create her wonderful jewelry in the studio which is attached to the bedroom!
Imagine waking up every morning or falling asleep each night to the sounds of the waves lapping the shoreline!



Or you could stroll out each morning in your jammies and have a cup of coffee or tea on your private balcony overlooking the water!



I could learn to get used to this pretty quickly couldn't you?!  Julie is a better person than I am, if I had this balcony to sneak off to, I'd never get any work done!



I love how Julie incorporated a mix of vintage finds, classic elements, and folk art throughout her bedroom.  



The master bathroom also boasts amazing views and has a spa like atmosphere.



Getting ready to go to work takes on a whole new meaning when you have a view like this!



The top floor, often called a crow's nest, is where Larry practices his music and gets caught up on work.  A small kitchen in this space makes it perfect for visiting guests as well.



The view from the top floor balcony pretty much says it all about this wonderful beach house!  I hope you've enjoyed the tour of this lovely one of a kind beach house, and I want to thank Julie and Larry for opening up their home to me so that I could share it with all of you!



If you haven't already, be sure to enter to win the giveaway for some of Julie's beautiful Seaglass jewelry...that's her bowl filled to the brim with glass she finds along her beach!  



Just click HERE to enter to win these gorgeous earrings!  And be sure to visit her Frosted Trash Etsy Store to see more of her wonderful sea glass jewelry, including beautiful sea glass Troll Beads!!

32 comments:

  1. What a lovely, lovely home. With the almost 360 degree water views, it's almost like being on a boat.
    Love the Jadite pieces, sea glass, amazing windows and views. Love it all!

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  2. GORGEOUS! Love so many things in this beautiful home - especially the sweeping view of the ocean, and like you, I would never get anything done, I would be sitting right on that little deck outside of the bedroom drinking coffee, gazing on the sea and reading romance novels. Thanks Kat!

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  3. Oh their home is absolutely beautiful!! It made me relaxed just looking at the great pictures. Good for them!! Thank you for sharing their beautiful dream home :)

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  4. Thanks for showing us this lovely, lovely home. I love how the place is decorated with Julie and Larry's treasures in such a simple style. Beautiful!!
    Connie

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  5. Kat, such a wonderful home with great views all around and I love how she has filled the home with coastal touches and antiques. Thanks for sharing this home with us. I could sure move in to it. Let me just pack my bags.

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  6. That's just way too nice to even describe!

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  7. Love the soft color pallet, and the views are so beautiful...heaven on earth.

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  8. Spectacular waterfront home. I studied every photo carefully, and got some
    great ideas for our beach house.

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  9. Wow, Kat....what a beautiful home! I love the feel of it. So warm and inviting, but airy and open at the same time. Love those cedar shake sided homes out east...(sigh!) Julie did an awesome job creating the perfect home, for sure!

    Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

    xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

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  10. I don't think I could find enough words to express how beautiful their home is! Each room is prettier than the next and I just love their different collections. It has such a welcoming feeling...they must feel so lucky each day.
    Thanks for sharing - there's a lot of great inspiration in those rooms!

    Sarah

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  11. Honestly, if I had a home like that, I would never want to leave. It is so beautiful and soothing!

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  12. Beautiful beach home! I love that they added a nautical touch but did not go overboard with it. The soft colors and their collections are wonderful.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  13. Lovely, lovely house- and I lust after that rag rug in the kitchen, such wonderful colours! I love Julie's rush matting too, each perfect in its place.

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  14. *Sigh* - that was a wonderful tour. Thank you to your friends for allowing us that peek.

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  15. Kat, this is a wonderful house, so comfortable~ and the views are stunning!

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  16. What an amazing home. The views of the water and the lovely French doors make you feel like you are outside. The living room is perfect - very stylish and very relaxing at the same time.
    Thanks for sharing.
    ~Sam

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  17. Oh Kat, what a gorgeous home and fabulous location. Her taste is lovely and she really made it a charming seaside retreat without going to much on a "beach" theme.

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  18. Thanks to Kat and all her blog followers, we're so glad that you like the house. Larry and I are in constant amazement living here!
    Don't foget to visit my blog: http://www.frostedtrash.blogspot.com where I will show more pictures of some of the accessories in the rooms! Also some of my beachglass collections and jewelry. Please be sure you enter the contest for Kat's giveaway of a pair of beach glass earrings hand made by ME! You can find other beach glass jewelry by me on Etsy at FROSTEDTRASH.BLOGSPOT!
    Julie

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  19. Gorgeous, gorgeous home. I would live there in a second. Love the earrings too!

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  20. Oh my gosh Kat, I am with you! I would never get anything done! What a beautiful house!! All her furnishing and decor are gorgeous! I would love to go to sleep every night listen to the waves right outside my bedroom! Thank you so much for sharing!!

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  21. This is a beautiful home and to have those views would be dangerous. I would never leave to go to the grocery and the family would starve. The stone surround on the fireplace is perfect for a beach home. I hope you are well Kat.

    -Rene

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  22. Kat, what a charming house. I love the kitchen and dining room. I need cabinets and might look at Ikea now.
    hugs ♥ olive

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  23. My husband and I frequently ride our bikes in this area and love looking at the many beautiful homes on the island. Thank you for sharing the interior pics of an exceptional home. What a TREAT !

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  24. My blood pressure dropped just looking at those pictures. Ah, that bathroom!!

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  25. Kat, I want to live with Julie and Larry-LOL!!! What an absolutely gorgeous home!!! I love the views and the way Julie and Larry have decorated their home. Sensational!! You took lovely photos of their home too!

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  26. The coastal decor accents in this fabulous home are just exquisite!! And having produced my own line of coastal theme lampshades (a thing of the past), I immediately spotted that cool lampshade with the building on stilts. Just gorgeous!

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  27. Love that white kitchen and all those wonderful punches of color in there. Also, the colors of her painted cabinets and accent pieces are my favorites. Along with the mermaid, mussel shell wreath, stained glass. Yes, lots and lots of glorious color and a good feeling vibe in there! ~Lili

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  28. Kat, you had me
    at the VIEW!!!!
    I wouldn't get
    a thing done if
    I lived there;
    my coffee time on
    the deck would
    stretch on and on
    and on.... : )
    GREAT friends to
    have ~ what a
    special retreat!
    xx Suzanne

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  29. Gorgeous home, what a great way to start my morning :-)

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  30. WOW! This is one of the prettiest home tours I've ever been on. These two have impeccable taste. You know how much I love their use of quilts in their decorating scheme. Such a restful, serene place. I can't imagine having it, but these are two lucky people who do. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
    Brenda

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  31. Oh, Kat. This is gorgeous. Magazine gorgeous. Even the steps are beautiful!

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  32. What a gorgeous home and so nice of you to share it with us. Loved the lamp with the picture of the St. Michael's lighthouse on the shade. Makes me yearn for Maryland. Thanks for sharing.

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