A Designer Transforms Her Shore Getaway into an Artistic Haven

Laura Krey and husband Alec Berman remodel a Coastal Cottage-style home in Manasquan inside and out

The exterior was re-sided with cedar shingles, new trim and copper accents to evoke a more coastal feel, homeowner and designer Laura Krey says. Additionally, the turf lawn was replaced with an “English garden meadow design using all native species.”

BEFORE

Designer Laura Krey and her husband, Alec Berman, have long been fans of the Jersey Shore, appreciating its easier commute from their primary residence in Manhattan compared to battling traffic in the Hamptons.

The couple rented in Spring Lake for years while searching for vacation properties there and in neighboring beach towns. “We love how each community on the Shore has its own unique character” and often a charming downtown, says Krey, founder of Laura Krey Design in New York City.

In this area off the kitchen, Krey transformed a 15th-century Spanish table into a stylish bar and buffet space. The stairwell boasts a textured plaster and lime finish that enhances the double height of the stairwell and the second-floor landing.

Following an extensive search, they found a Coastal Cottage-style home in Manasquan, only a short walk from downtown shops and restaurants. Krey was excited about the prospect of a “major project” or a gut renovation, while her husband valued the ease of a move-in-ready option. Ultimately, they reached a compromise that satisfied them both.

Previous owners entirely rebuilt the 2,800-square-foot home in 2014 except for the 1950s foundation. They also added a small garage/pool house a few years later. Still, the home was far from perfect for the couple, son Oscar and dog Hermione.

Hermione, the family’s beloved pet, claims her spot on a handcrafted white oak bench in the entryway.

As a proponent of sustainable design, Krey — an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers — believed in making adjustments rather than starting from scratch. “I couldn’t justify ripping everything out,” she explains. Instead, she got creative while ensuring that any modifications aligned with the overall use of the space. This resulted in a partial renovation of the main house, a gut reno of the garage/pool house and a redecoration of all.

Improvements would be addressed in stages, beginning with the main house. “A few things didn’t need to be redone, but I ended up changing them because I wanted more of my imprint on the space,” Krey says. In those instances, “I tried to find a home for anything that could be reused.”

In the living room, where the family spends much of their time, Krey upgraded the fireplace with a new limestone surround and added custom bookshelves. “I adore the café curtain window treatments,” she says. “Every room needs a pedestal too! It really completes the space.”

Says Krey: “Lots of evenings are spent with a bevy of feet up on the custom ottoman,” which is upholstered in “Annabel Warp” fabric by Schumacher.

BEFORE

“Refined modernism with a hint of whimsy” is how Krey defines her personal style. “Design should be elegant and fun,” she maintains. She also has a particular fondness for English designers and makers. For this project, her guiding mantra — “English design meets the Jersey Shore” — led her to blend the playful, layered patterns characteristic of English design with vibrant wallpaper and textile selections while maintaining the sophisticated details of modernism, particularly in the millwork and built-in elements.

The lot is very long and narrow so the interior “feels a bit like a brownstone to me,” Krey says. “This allowed for a lot of little design moments as you progress through the rectilinear layout.”

A Margot Bergman painting takes center stage in the casual family room. “The shiplap wall was existing, but I added Maya Romanoff wallpaper on all other walls,” Krey says. The custom sectional, fabricated by Naula, is a “go-to workroom of mine.”

In a landing area off the kitchen, Krey transformed a 15th-century Spanish table into a stylish bar and buffet space. And to distinguish the stair wall from the first floor, she incorporated a textured plaster and lime wash finish that extends the double height of the stairwell and second floor landing.

Custom black steel-framed French doors replaced sliders, creating a stylish transition from the family room and dining area to the newly refurbished back porch.

BEFORE

In the living room, where the family spends most of their time, Krey enhanced the fireplace with a new limestone surround and added custom built-in bookshelves for extra storage and display space. “Lots of evenings are spent with a bevy of feet up on the custom ottoman,” she says. Sweet café curtains “provide ground-level privacy, but we can still enjoy the light.”

Curated art collections are placed throughout. “Art figures prominently in my designs,” says Krey, who started her working life in the New York gallery world as an art historian before earning her design degree. In the casual family room, a striking piece by artist Margot Bergman occupies a central spot. “I particularly love art that challenges the aesthetic notion of what is beautiful,” she adds, highlighting her appreciation for thought-provoking works.

To create a fun powder room, Krey commissioned a custom octopus-inspired sconce as a subtle nod to the beach. The raffia shades echo the scalloped details in the mirror, while a classic stone-topped washstand from Waterworks completes the look.

BEFORE

Krey’s projects often involve close collaborations with artists and artisans, and the powder room is no exception. “I was itching to have a really fun powder room,” Krey says. She commissioned artist Adam Wallacavage to create an octopus-inspired sconce that she topped with playful raffia scallop shades. “We use the house year-round, so I didn’t want it to scream ‘beach house,’ but instead to have these fun, subtle nods to the marine world.”

“I love spoiling guests and like to have fun designing guest rooms,” Krey says. Here she combined two small bedrooms to create a junior suite with an adjoining bathroom. “A variety of blues and reds make this space welcoming.”

The ensuite bathroom addition, created from scratch, is “small but feels chic and comfortable,” Krey notes. A small hallway leads to the bathroom and is flanked by two walk-in closets (not shown). “Of course, all hallways need wallpaper,” she says. Here she chose a tropical print from Cole & Son.

Across from the family room is a dining area where the designer optimized seating and entertaining with a custom banquette and a modern oval table that she designed in collaboration with artisan Robert Sukrachand. “The tabletop is crafted from a single piece of terrazzo and required four people to install,” she notes. Additionally, she replaced a broken sliding door with her favorite — “now trendy yet always timeless” — black steel French doors from Atelier Domingue.

Custom bunk beds and built-ins define son Oscar’s bedroom. “I like to give clients’ children some design agency, mine included,” Krey says. While “she couldn’t bring herself to incorporate the exact Mets blue,” she added a pop of orange in the custom bookshelves for good measure.

I’ve always wanted a canopy bed,” Krey says. For the couple’s primary bedroom, she had her drapery workroom customize a running line Michael Dawkins bed. The walls are adorned with a very pale pink Indian block print pattern.

The artwork above the bedside table is a vintage woodblock print. The sconces and window shades, sourced from the British brand Soane, are among Krey’s favorite elements in the room, along with the wallpaper.

Structural changes to the house focused primarily on the second floor. To accommodate the family’s need for an additional bathroom, Krey combined two of the five bedrooms, creating a stylish junior suite that connects to a chic bathroom. Son Oscar’s bedroom now showcases custom bunk beds and built-in furnishings that Krey designed, while the primary bedroom exudes relaxation with its charming canopy bed. Krey describes this space as an “exercise in relaxation,” a goal she strives for but admits is only “sometimes successful.” Even in the Shore retreat, “I’m always drawn to working, often in my veggie garden.”

The entire back patio, access door and railings were redone, Krey notes. “We now have a backyard with a variety of entertaining areas, plenty of seating and a big table for dining outdoors — my favorite!”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story first appeared in the June-July 2025 issue of Design NJ under the headline “Seas the Day” • Click here for a story about the revamp of this home’s cabana.

For more stories about seaside homes, see “A Study in Contrast,” “Shore Home Combines Contemporary and Coastal Aesthetics,” “Textured Elements Add Warmth To This Year-Round Residence in Spring Lake,” “Block Party,” “Shingle-Minded” and “Back to the Beach.”