Beach manners

Southern Living, Nov 2000 by Nesmith, Lynn

A new vacation house with old-world sophistication sets a high watermark of style at Rosemary Beach Florida.

At first glance, this house and its furnishings might appear a bit too formal or refined for the beach. But everyone knows that looks can be deceiving. The style may be high, but the lifestyle is low-key, relaxed, and always lively.

Julie and Ed Downing wouldn't have it any other way for their vacation home on the Gulf of Mexico. "We can come inside from a swim or a walk on the beach and feel comfortable enough to sit in any chair in the house," says Julie. And Julie, Ed, and their friends have done just that on more than one occasion-- from a moonlight dip in the heat of July to the year's last swim as the days get shorter and the water cooler. But whatever the season, good looks and great times rule this house at the beach.

As lifelong natives of New Orleans, Julie and Ed possess a gracious and gregarious attitude when entertaining and a grand sense of style in furnishing their vacation home. "Our first priority was for everyone to feel at ease as soon as they walk through the door," says Julie.

To recapture the spirit of their hometown in this house, the couple turned to New Orleans designer John Fernandez for inspiration. "We didn't know exactly what we wanted," recalls Julie, "But we knew we didn't want rattan, wicker, or pastels. John was happy to oblige and focused on a sophisticated design approach that was decidedly more European than Florida beachy in feel."

The house is located at Rosemary Beach, a neo-traditional resort community with design guidelines intended to evoke the historic architecture of Southern coastal and Caribbean towns. Julie and Ed were among the first to purchase property, and they completely embraced Rosemary Beach's design sensibilities and sense of place.

Inside and out, the design was truly a collaborative effort between architect Cheryl Troxel of Florida Haus, designer John Fernandez, and the Downings. Befitting the climate and waterfront setting, the house takes cues from older homes in St. Augustine, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; and, of course, New Orleans. In spirit and stance, the house nods to the stripped-down classicism of the British Colonial architecture of the West Indies and Bermuda.

To capitalize on the Gulf views, the living room and kitchen were located on the second floor. Cheryl crowned the 1,790-square-foot house with a gently pitched corrugated metal roof, incorporated wide overhangs, and wrapped deep porches along the waterfront. This arrangement allowed the public rooms to take advantage of the extra ceiling height afforded by the sloping roofline.

"The color scheme of both the exterior and interior evolved easily and logically We love the beach in every season," says Julie. "But we especially like to spend time there in the fall." To capture a warmth and refinement appropriate for a year-round second home, John drew from a mix of earth tones, including rich green, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna, all in keeping with Julie and Ed's preferences and the established colors of the community.

Furnishings, fixtures, and fabrics echo this palette. Upholstered pieces in the living room mix leather, chenille, and textured and multicolored patterns, and all the fabrics were chosen for comfort, appearance, and durability. With a Doberman pinscher and a cat who have free reign of the house, finding user-- friendly fabrics was a necessity.

In the kitchen, countertops are a combination of mossy green granite and warm reddish-colored tumbled marble tiles set on the diagonal for added visual interest. The large island features carved detailing and legs that resemble a piece of furniture.

Although space is limited, there's a splendid sense of openness and ease of movement here. The front door, foyer, and staircase are deliberately unassuming. The splendor of the house unfolds when visitors reach the top of the stairway landing to find an unsurpassed view of the Gulf. where to find it

BEACH MANNERS

Pages 126-130: Interior design by John Fernandez, John Fernandez Interiors, 4239 St. Charles Avenue, Suite C, New Orleans, LA 70115, (504) 524-2992; architecture by Cheryl Troxel and Ty Nunn, Florida Haus, P.O. Box 4772, Seaside, FL 32459, (850) 231-3100; construction by Laurent Construction, foreman and craftsman Stan Hayward; interior paint is Apple Cider #60-4 by Martin Senour Paints; interior trim is Baroque #1675 from Benjamin Moore; bedroom paint is a natural powder pigment available at Wirthmore Antiques in New Orleans. Note: All interior wall colors were applied as washes.