Carefully Curated
Writer Meg Fox | Photographer Raquel Langworthy | Designer Salt Design Co. | Architect Virtuoso Architecture | Builder Dreyer Custom Homes | Location Sea Girt, NJSet within a neutral foundation, it’s the details that guide this happy home by the sea
A young couple who had long cherished summer months at the Jersey Shore dreamed of one day living near the beach year-round. When the ideal property became available — as it did in Sea Girt, New Jersey — they vowed to build their “forever home.”
“I always found Sea Girt to be a special town because of its picturesque landscaping and greenery and the beach being within arm’s reach,” the wife says. “It really was just a pipe dream to live there someday.”
Once architectural plans were in place for the new Seashore Colonial-style home, “I knew I needed to enlist a designer to make our vision come to life,” the wife recalls. “Building a house from scratch was a daunting task.” But she was determined to get it right.
Enter Sarah Brady, the owner and creative director of Red Bank-based Salt Design Co., and her team. “I had pinned some photos from Design NJ that featured Sarah’s work,” the homeowner says. After coming back to the same images over and over, “I had a strong feeling Salt would be a good fit.”
Brady and her fellow designers, Jessica McDonald and Karen Vasquez, joined the project at the start of the building phase, allowing them to make structural recommendations onsite. They also collaborated on various architectural elements within the approximately 8,000-square-foot home ranging from custom millwork and cabinetry to flooring, furnishings and the final touches.
From an interior design perspective, “I wanted a casual coastal feel that was true to the town of Sea Girt, with a modern twist — one that embodied the feel of a full-time residence, not a beach house,” the homeowner says. As a family of four with two young children, “It was very important that the design choices were made with this in mind.” In addition, “I wanted things to be beautiful and chic but also to be functional and realistic.”
The result is a design that caters to year-round living and evokes the spirit of the beach with easy-care textiles, an array of natural materials, organic shapes and textures. They’re all set within a neutral foundation of warm woods, pristine whites and impactful black highlights, Brady says. This establishes a sense of flow and cohesion “in a captivating juxtaposition of bright and breezy spaces, harmonized with striking black accents.”
Distinctive design elements give each room its own character. In the foyer, for instance, multiple fixtures arranged at varying heights crafted from abaca rope accentuate the lofty ceiling space against a crisp white background. An adjacent sitting room — painted soft black — heightens the drama, exuding the feel of a sophisticated adults-only club with a baby grand piano, a built-in bar and lounge-worthy seating.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint a favorite feature in the house, “I believe the entrance is a showstopper,” the wife says. “With the moody piano room on the left and the unique light pendants and large staircase at the forefront, it really makes a statement.”
Throughout the house, white woven shades from Hunter Douglas provide different privacy applications tailored to each room’s function. In various rooms they are paired with elegant white linen curtains, which add softness and lightness to the home’s black-framed windows.
A white oak coffered ceiling defines the dining room, furnished with a practical extendable table that can accommodate extra guests during holiday get-togethers or for everyday use. The host chairs, custom leather wingbacks that are scaled to suit a tall homeowner, “impart a formal touch,” Brady explains. “To strike a balance, and add a touch of playfulness, we opted for more casual side chairs with exquisite detailing on their backs.”
The kitchen is appointed with custom white inset cabinets, honed white Calacatta Lincoln marble countertops and a warm, white oak island, all balanced by black and natural accents. Even the family pug, “Summer,” has her sweet spot: a built-in doggie bed tucked into the base of the island (not visible in photo).
Style and practicality also went hand in hand in the design of the family room, one of two primary gathering spaces in the house. A dark blue rug “helps conceal the wear-and-tear that comes with a family and a dog,” Brady says. And high-performance fabrics on the sectional and ottoman “ensure resilience against sticky fingers.”
A stain- and water-resistant Crypton fabric on a pullout sofa in the bonus room above the garage helps to keep worries to a minimum. The multifunctional space, which also houses a bunk bed for overnight guests and plenty of storage for toys and games, has pops of color and layered design elements that can be updated easily as the children get older, the designer adds.
Bold and colorful wallpaper choices enliven many spaces, notably in the children’s en suite bedrooms and baths. “We love using wallpaper … it has the incredible ability to infuse personality and make a significant impact on a space,” Brady says.
That impact was not lost on their mom. “My kids’ rooms hold a special place in my heart,” she says. “I never knew children’s bedrooms could be playful and sophisticated at the same time, but Salt managed to do that. I always smile anytime I am in their rooms.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: To view the primary bathroom in this Sea Girt home, see “His and Hers” on DesignNewJersey.com.