White House in Scandinavian Style by the Beach

The owners of this house are spouses Natalie and Daniel Finch, their daughter Vella, bulldog Buddy, and cat George. The decision to buy new housing the couple made immediately after they saw this house.

We were looking for a cottage with plenty of natural light within minutes' walk 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 resembled a hut. An old and somewhat tilted by 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 a 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 gradually.

Now, white color is the leading one in the house. The timeless cool white here combines with warm beige, peach, and brown tones. Another reason to choose white was that the couple has different tastes for interior details, and white as a background is known to smooth out 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 as the main color: white cabinets, worktops, and bar counter. But the chairs, dining table, and kitchenware are warm peach in color. Wooden furniture is practical and beautiful from nature, and its beige tones combined with field colors always bring comfort. There is also a bright accent – brass lighting fixtures.

The living room is the family's favorite space. It’s no surprise – every detail here creates comfort: fireplace, natural textiles, wooden coffee table, green ferns, and a lot of light from panoramic doors leading to the yard.

Sometimes I worry about the dog on the white sofa, but then I remember that the covers are removable, and it makes me feel better.

There are three bedrooms in the house: Natalie and Daniel’s bedroom, the child's room, and a guest room. In all bedrooms, emphasis is placed on 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 ceiling height everywhere. The custom-made French doors from the guest room open to the veranda. This almost fairy-tale interior is softened by 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.