CHESAPEAKE COASTAL SERENITY
A patriotic palette infuses this bay home with a crisp coastal vibe.
A patriotic palette infuses this bay home with a crisp coastal vibe.
When homeowners Kathleen and Doug Gilbert enlisted
designer Carrie Miller to redo the interiors of their Chesapeake Bay home, their initial instinct was to go nautical. “I was thinking yellow, navy and red,” recalls Kathleen. “We (my husband and four sons, our family and friends) come here to crab, waterski, boat and sail, so I was leaning toward something nautical.”
Carrie, who has worked with the Gilberts since starting her business Lapis Ray Interiors in 2009, however, convinced the Gilberts to take a subtler, more sophisticated and coastal approach to the redesign, with some nautical elements layered in. Above all, Carrie wanted the décor to suit the family’s lifestyle.
The three-bedroom home sits on a waterfront lot on Maryland’s West River, a tributary with navigable water that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. The house was built in 2003, with its main floor (kitchen, living and dining rooms) on an open plan surrounded by picturesque waterfront views.
“Everything Kathleen does has color, so that was a given,” says Carrie, who whitewashed most of the main floor’s ceilings and walls to create a clean canvas. “Here, she wanted a bright, crisp and fresh look, so we decided to layer in furnishings in patriotic reds, whites and blues.”
The three-bedroom home sits on a waterfront lot on Maryland’s West River, a tributary with navigable water that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay.
“This home is all about practically and providing an environment where people can commune or retreat ”
—Carrie Miller
Previously the interiors had an earthy palette of beige and cream, with green and burgundy accents. One of the colors that triggered the new palette was the formerly cobalt-blue countertops in the kitchen. “The bright blue laminate counters were just extremely overwhelming and demanded being the focal point on the open plan.” says Carrie. “That was not what we were going for. We wanted the focal point to be those gorgeous views outside, so we switched out the counters for a seashell white,” she adds.
“We always feel like we’re on vacation when we’re here… it’s so peaceful.”
-Kathleen Gilbert
A new fish glass-mosaic backsplash behind the stove also adds a playful coastal touch to the kitchen, whose existing wood cabinetry worked nicely with the redesign; the kitchen has two bar-top ledges, with ample seating for larger gatherings.
“The Gilberts are very generous and always hosting folks. It was important to them to have comfortable and plentiful seating throughout the home. They also did not want to worry about staining furniture or wet swimsuit bottoms. It is a waterfront home after all,” says Carrie.
Wood bar perches and vinyl café style dining chairs fit that durability bill, as did the stain-and water-resistant Sunbrella and Crypton fabrics selected to upholster seating elsewhere. There are plenty of places to lounge in the home, whether in one of the swivel armchairs in the living area, or outside on the Adirondacks at the dock.
“We added some spatial definition throughout the open plan, including in the dining area, with its navy-blue grasscloth feature wall,” says Carrie. That space also has striking chandelier made of oyster shells, paying homage to the home’s locale, as well as an expandable circular table for dinner parties.
“This home is all about practically and providing an environment where people can commune or retreat,” says Carrie. “It also offers the Gilberts a serene escape from the hectic Washington, D.C. area.”
“We always feel like we’re on vacation when we’re here,” says Kathleen, “whether we drive up for one night or spend the summer. There is nothing quite like being on the water. It’s so peaceful.”