Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller decorated her Carpinteria, California, beach house with white walls, slipcovered seating, and antiques to create a tranquil and serene space. Get more decorating ideas for coastal homes.
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Café-Style Dining
A large mirror over a long French serving table gives the dining area of designer Carolyn Espley-Miller's Carpinteria, California, house "the feel of a café in Paris." Slatted chair from Mecox Gardens.
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Entryway
In the entry, a well-worn Gustavian bench is set off by pristine walls in Benjamin Moore's White Heron.
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Perfect View
Does it get any better than this? 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 "wonderfully huge" antique dhurrie defines the seating area. Walls are Benjamin Moore's White Heron. The blue print throw is from Hermès.
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Breezy Entrance
Ocean breezes waft in through the entry's screen door. "I had such a strong vision of a serene, whitewashed house on the sea. So I just gave the whole place a big dollop of white, from floors to ceiling," says Espley-Miller.
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White Antiques
In the kitchen, a light with a Victorian wicker shade hangs above a table made of antique corbels topped with glass.
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Distressed Wood for Texture
A distressed cabinet from a milk factory has the "rough, briny texture" that Espley-Miller likes.
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Hints of Black for Balance
A black banister and black chandelier help ground the bright, airy, open upstairs hall landing.
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Simple Decor
A winsome flea market portrait leans against a wicker lamp from Pom Pom.
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Vintage French Sea-Themed Poster
In the upstairs hall, skipping ropes with brightly colored handles are piled under a French poster.
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White Kitchen
Just about everything in the kitchen got a coat of white, including the hood. The light fixture is trimmed with antique fabric.
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Slipcovers for the Road
Espley-Miller is "a girly girl" who loves gardens, and roses in particular. So she slipcovered her car seats in floral chintz.
"Why shouldn't your car be as lovely as your home?" she says.
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Red Line Tile
Stripes of red tile lend definition to the shower walls and tub surround in a boy's bathroom.
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Striped Bedroom
Striped bedding and a striped rug echo the lines of wooden French blinds in the bedroom of one of Espley-Miller's two sons.
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Simple with Ocean View
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."
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Light Blue in Master Bedroom
Barn doors with their original seafoam color make an arresting headboard in the master bedroom. Bedding is from Restoration Hardware; the blue accent pillows are vintage. Roses are from Espley-Miller's garden.
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Seashell Fringe
Shells fringe a custom shade on a Pottery Barn lamp in the master bedroom.
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Antique Mantel in the Master Bedroom
The bedroom's mantel is a wooden French window frame from Lucca Antiques. A framed grid of shells on fishing wire "sparkles and catches the light from windows and the fireplace," Espley-Miller says. "It's so beautiful."
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Sunset
The patio fire pit takes the chill off after sunset.
Cregan: "Are you 'someplace else' when you come to this house?"
"I'm absolutely transported — I've stepped out of the fast-paced, modern world into this sea of tranquillity. I sound like I'm tooting my own horn, but everyone who walks in here says a feeling of calm washes over them," says Espley-Miller.
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