White House in Scandinavian Style by the Beach

The owners of this house are spouses Natalie and Daniel Finch, their daughter Villa, bulldog Buddy, and cat George. The couple decided to buy new housing the moment they saw this house.

We were looking for a cottage with a large amount of natural light within minutes from the beach. This house was exactly that, although a bit old, but we knew how to deal with it.

When the couple first saw their future home, it looked like a hut. An old and slightly crooked one due to constant sea winds. However, inside there was a good layout: spacious bedrooms, panoramic windows, a large garden, and even a fireplace that remained. The only thing the couple changed was removing the wall between the kitchen and living room to create a social space for the whole family.

Natalie and Daniel did the renovation for ten months, but completed the main part in one month: replaced old windows and shutters, painted floors and walls white, plastered the ceilings, ordered new French doors and furniture.

Surprisingly, the first part of the work went smoothly. When everything was ready, they moved in and continued furnishing the house as they went along.

Now white color is dominant in the house. The ever-cool white here combines with warm beige, peach, and brown tones. Another reason for choosing white was that the couple has different tastes in interior details, and white as a background is known to blend different styles.

My tastes with Daniel are quite different, so we simply mixed them and hoped for the best.

The kitchen and living room are joined. The kitchen is still white—main: white cabinets, worktop, bar counter. But the chairs, dining table, and kitchenware are warm peach color. Wooden furniture is practical and beautiful from nature, and its beige tones combined with field colors always bring comfort. There’s also a vibrant accent — brass lighting fixtures.

The living room is the family's favorite space. And it’s no surprise — every detail here creates a cozy atmosphere: fireplace, natural textiles, wooden coffee table, green ferns, and lots of light from panoramic doors leading to the yard.

Sometimes I worry about my dog on the white sofa, but then I remember that the covers are removable and it becomes easier.

There are three bedrooms in the house: Natalie and Daniel’s bedroom, a child’s room, and a guest room. In all bedrooms, emphasis is placed on many details: an antique Indian cabinet in the child’s room, natural textiles (fur, sisal, linen) in all rooms, wide windows in the couple’s bedroom, and green ferns reaching the ceiling everywhere. French doors made to order from the guest room lead to the veranda. What softens this almost fairy-tale interior is a carved cow skull from Indonesia.

The bathroom is just as airy and spacious. The main accent here is Moroccan tiles. White walls allow them to take the leading role.

The house's highlight is its tropical lawn, where you can find all shades of green.