Interior Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller

Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller decorated her Carpinteria, California, beach house she shares with her husband and two sons, with white walls, slipcovered seating, and antiques to create a tranquil and serene space. Almost all the rooms and all the hallways are Benjamin Moore's White Heron, a nice, soft white, not glaring, not too bright. The kitchen and master bath are a seafoam color, Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/I8/0910-miller-patriotic-table-15-de.jpg" style="width: 460px; height: 587px;" /><br />A trestle-leg desk is positioned in front of French doors in the office the designer shares with her husband.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/Lj/0910-miller-dining-table-02-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 461px; height: 589px;" /><br />A large mirror over a long French serving table gives the dining area the feel of a café in Paris. Sea grass rug and slatted chair complete the look.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/eA/0910-miller-staircase-black-banister-01-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 460px; height: 587px;" /><br />In the entry, a well-worn Gustavian bench and blue and white striped rug.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/8p/0910-miller-doorway-04-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 461px; height: 588px;" /><br />Ocean breezes waft in through the entry's screen door.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/vH/0910-miller-fireplac-family-room-03-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px; width: 560px; height: 438px;" /><br />Espley-Miller's living room has an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean, a massive stone fireplace, and big, comfortable sofas and chairs slipcovered in white cotton denim. A huge antique dhurrie defines the seating area.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/VX/0910-miller-white-picket-table-05-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 462px; height: 590px;" /><br />In the kitchen, a light with a Victorian wicker shade hangs above a table made of antique corbels topped with glass.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/65/0910-miller-kitchen-stove-08-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 461px; height: 589px;" /><br />Just about everything in the kitchen got a coat of white, including the hood. The light fixture is trimmed with antique fabric.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/um/0910-miller-drawer-decoratons-06-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 462px; height: 590px;" /><br />A distressed cabinet from a milk factory and the shutters against the wall make a statement in this corner.<br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/O8/0910-miller-framed-photos-staircase-07-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 462px; height: 590px;" /><br />A black banister and black chandelier help ground the bright, airy, open upstairs hall landing.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/Df/0910-miller-decor-detailing-10-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 462px; height: 590px;" /><br />A winsome flea market portrait leans against a wicker lamp<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/h2/0910-miller-ship-photo-11-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 461px; height: 589px;" /><br />In the upstairs hall, skipping ropes with brightly colored handles are piled under a French poster.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/ZK/0910-miller-red-line-detail-14-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 460px; height: 587px;" /><br />Stripes of red tile lend definition to the shower walls and tub surround in a boy's bathroom.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/5t/0910-miller-bed-master-pink-16-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 460px; height: 588px;" /><br />Striped bedding and a striped rug echo the lines of wooden French blinds in the bedroom of one of Espley-Miller's two sons.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/z3/0910-miller-white-bathroom-12-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 459px; height: 586px;" /><br />The master bath opens to an oceanside deck. "It's very white and very simple," Espley-Miller says. "I wanted nothing to detract from the incredible view and the light."<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/Lx/0910-miller-bed-window-20-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 460px; height: 587px;" /><br />Barn doors with their original seafoam color for the headboard in the master bedroom.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/RB/0910-miller-roses-13-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px;" /><br />Shells fringe a custom shade on a lamp in the master bedroom.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/nD/0910-miller-fireplace-stone-19-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 465px; height: 594px;" /><br />The bedroom's mantel is a wooden French window frame. A framed grid of shells on fishing wire "sparkles and catches the light from windows and the fireplace," Espley-Miller says.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/EW/0910-miller-outdoor-bonfire-09-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 464px; height: 592px;" /><br />The patio fire pit takes the chill off after sunset.<div style="display: block;" class="description" id="fb_captionbox"><br /><p>All images and information from <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/">House Beautiful</a>. </p></div>

Interior Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller

Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller decorated her Carpinteria, California, beach house she shares with her husband and two sons, with white wall...

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Alex Bates Beach Cottage

Happy Sunday to you my dear readers! Today I have a small beach cottage to show you. It belongs to Alex Bates, the creative director of West Elm and is located on Fire Island, New York.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Mo/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Farm-Table-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 506px; height: 646px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">In the kitchen contemporary chairs were paired with a weathered farm table that belonged to the home's previous owners. The oyster plates were a gift from Bates's mother-in-law.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/UB/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Breadbox-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 434px; height: 553px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">A vintage breadbox, earthy vessels by Heath Ceramics, and blue Martha Stewart bowls stitch together the room's beach-inspired color scheme.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/w2/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Sofa-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px; width: 507px; height: 396px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Alex covered her vintage sofa in easy-to-wash white canvas, and opted for a fuss-­free and affordable jute rug. An antique sea coral print hangs between the windows. High-gloss white paint on the ceiling reflects natural light.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/AG/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Porch-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px; width: 502px; height: 385px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">The enclosed front porch doubles as a guest room, thanks to a built-in daybed decorated with pillows. The turtle shells were found at an antiques store.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/sI/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Chess-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 500px; height: 638px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Chinese wisteria and a hydrangea shrub give the cedar deck a sense of enclosure.<br /><strong></strong> A few chalked lines turn the family's deck into a game board for oversize chess pieces.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/zX/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Bathroom-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 500px; height: 638px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">A collection of old group photos — from summer-camp kids to sports teams — hangs in the house's only bathroom<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Am/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Guest-Room-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 501px; height: 640px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">For the guest room, Bates added cotton slipcovers to twin headboards from her own childhood.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/s2/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Master-Bedroom-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 503px; height: 642px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Bates furnished the master bedroom with a headboard and linens from West Elm, plus a couple of vintage paintings.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/bE/West-Elm-Beach-Decor-Front-Porch-0610-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 503px; height: 642px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Extra sun hats and beach totes await guests on the front porch, which also features a sisal-covered boat bumper.<br /><br /></span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">All images and information from <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/">Country Living</a>.<br /></span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><br /></span>

Alex Bates Beach Cottage

Happy Sunday to you my dear readers! Today I have a small beach cottage to show you. It belongs to Alex Bates, the creative director of West...

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Beachfront House in Southampton

Today dear readers I'm taking you to see this beachfront house in Southampton, New York. It was decorated by Mariette Himes Gomez, while architect John Mayfield redesigned the interiors although the main architecture of the house was not modified.<br /><br /> <div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" class="featureimg" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl11_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />Splendid views with the Atlantic on one side and ponds on two others. The house is also sited so that you see the sun coming up and going down, and you don’t see any neighbors.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl01_gomez.jpg" style="width: 599px; height: 786px;" /><br />The pool faces a pond, instead of the ocean.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl02_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />Five rocking chairs in this minimalist porch.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl03_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 797px;" /><br />A Dutch door opens onto a landing, leading to stairs to the public spaces on the second floor and the private spaces on the first. “It’s an upside-down house,” Gomez remarks. Jasper Johns’s 1968 Black Numeral Series, lines the walls.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl04_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 695px;" /><br />In the living room, as throughout, Gomez chose a palette of multiple whites. A 1960 Sam Francis lithograph is above a sculpture by Brine, an investment manager turned artist and owner of this house. A 1977 work by Frank Stella is at right.<br /><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl05_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 797px;" /><br />The dining room chairs were designed by Gomez. Joseph Stella’s Hibiscus Flower, a 1944 watercolor, hangs above the mantel.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl06_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 772px;" /><br />“It looks like something out of the Adirondacks and makes for another mood,” Gomez says of the family room. Mayfield sourced the structure from a barn company, built it backwards and then inserted it into the already constructed house. <div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl07_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 777px;" /><br />Pains were taken not to obscure sight lines with draperies and instead many windows were left uncovered. The kitchen looks over the rear porch to the ocean.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl08_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 779px;" /><br />Love this painted four-poster bed. Geometric-patterned wallcovering in the guest room.<br /><br /></div></div><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2006/07/gomez/arsl09_gomez.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 803px;" /><br />A pine cabinet in the master bedroom giving the room height and balancing the windows.<br /><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">Except for the dining room, every room has a crowded bookshelf and stacks of books on almost every table. The bedroom has no fewer than five different shades of white.<br /><br /></div><span class="c"><span>Photography by </span>Durston Saylor<br /><br />All images and information from <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a>.<br /></span></div><br /></div><br /></div>

Beachfront House in Southampton

Today dear readers I'm taking you to see this beachfront house in Southampton, New York. It was decorated by Mariette Himes Gomez, while...

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Summer House in Florida

Good morning Friday, good morning dear readers. Remeber the movie <em>The Truman Show</em>? With Jim Carrey? Well, the house we are going to see today is built in the town where the movie was filmed.<br /><br />I had seen and admired a couple of photos of these rooms but not the house they belong to until now. This summer house is located in a place called Seaside in Florida. It was in this town where the 1998 movie <em>The Truman Show</em> was filmed.<br /><br />Seaside was founded in 1981 and it is the first town in the United States to follow the precepts of the New Urbanism: a movement in city planning that favors the pedestrian over the car, that believes that all residences should be a short walk from the town center, and that tries to foster a sense of community—of people actually living together. The idea of this easy going town was concieved by developer Robert Davis and designed by Miami architects Andrçs Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.<br /><br />Now this particular residence was <span class="c"><span>built and designed by </span>Robert A. M. Stern Architects.</span><br /><br /><span class="dd"><br /></span><img alt="" class="featureimg" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl01_stern.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />As you can see in this photograph the high dunes block an ocean view from the first floor, so they had to come up with a solution to give the living and dining rooms a view of the ocean. What they did was to reverse the usual placement of rooms. Three of the four bedrooms are on the first floor, and the living and dining rooms are on the second floor, where the bedrooms usually are. The master bedroom, which has the best view of all, is on the third floor.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl02_stern.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />Painted coffered ceilings in the living room and dining room. Built in shelves flank the fireplace. A huge area rug brings the living room neatly together.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl03_stern.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 694px;" /><br />The dining room is in the same area as the living room. You can see the same built in shelves in the previous photo.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl04_stern.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 644px;" /><br />The kitchen’s pocket doors open to views of the town. Didn't know I liked yellow kitchens. But I do!<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl05_stern.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />This porch with a magnificent sea view is right off the living room. If you have a look at the first picture you can see this porch with its curtains on the second floor facing the sea. There are other houses quite near so the curtains here offer privacy. The house has three porches, one on each floor and all facing the ocean.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl06_stern.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 750px;" /><br />The guest room off the entrance hall. Stone and marble floor.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl07_stern.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 497px;" /><br />One of the children’s bedrooms has a built-in sleeping nook.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl09_stern.jpg" /><br />On the first floor, facing the dune there's the children’s screen porch with wicker furniture and enclosed by French doors. I like the detail of the lanterns attached to the columns and the hanging settees.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl10_stern.jpg" /><br />The master bedroom on the top floor opens onto a porch.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl11_stern.jpg" /><br />To support the porch roof, Stern conceived a dramatic single column.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/architects/2008/04/stern/arsl12_stern.jpg" /><br />The south façade.<br /><br />All images and information from <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a>.<br /><br />I have linked this post to Toot your Horn Tuesday at <a href="http://www.sillylittlesparrow.com/">Leah's blog </a>and also at <a href="http://simplysweethome.blogspot.com/?">SimplySweetHome</a> where Jerri is hosting a MckLinky party. Thanks Jerri!

Summer House in Florida

Good morning Friday, good morning dear readers. Remeber the movie The Truman Show ? With Jim Carrey? Well, the house we are going to see to...

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Scandinavian House

I love Scandinavian white houses. They are so airy and bright. Here is a minimalistic house by the sea. Lots of white. Lots of light. Totally bare walls. Might this be your style?<br /><br /><br /><img alt="Vardagsrummet snart klart" src="http://www.skonahem.com/_internal/cimg%210/euq52jomrz5fb450u17rms26lxb2ges" style="width: 500px; height: 333px;" title="Vardagsrummet snart klart" /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Vi ska skaffa ett större bord, elipsformat." src="http://www.skonahem.com/_internal/cimg%210/cymv24hihhzredkee4kcuuihjdkdk8j" style="width: 500px; height: 331px;" title="Vi ska skaffa ett större bord, elipsformat." /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Gungstolarna ska få sitt– och nackkuddar i fårskin" src="http://www.skonahem.com/_internal/cimg%210/elg9egphc2fs0lcfcjbgeij7yfcckco" style="width: 498px; height: 331px;" title="Gungstolarna ska få sitt– och nackkuddar i fårskin" /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Båda fyndade på blocket" src="http://www.skonahem.com/_internal/cimg%210/me7b13a2n6kx2ghor1gvztpgofok9kq" style="width: 500px; height: 749px;" title="Båda fyndade på blocket" /><br /><br /><br /><img alt="Höstpyntat vardagsrum" src="http://www.skonahem.com/_internal/cimg%210/iopp92vtbndho1tpg55fap7bjg55x77" style="width: 500px; height: 752px;" title="Höstpyntat vardagsrum" /><br /><br />All images from <a href="http://www.skonahem.com/">Skona hem</a>.

Scandinavian House

I love Scandinavian white houses. They are so airy and bright. Here is a minimalistic house by the sea. Lots of white. Lots of light. Totall...

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