Monterey Real Estate Update
Here is a real estate update for Monterey for the first quarter of 2013. The Monterey real estate market continues to see positive trends in 2013. Neighborhoods described are: Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, Carmel, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Monterey/Salinas Highway, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a 1.1 square mile quaint coastal enclave village built amongst a magnificent forest, perched along the Pacific Ocean. Many would describe Carmel as a magical, whimsical fairytale like place showcasing enchanting cottage style architectural homes, astonishing ocean vistas with white sand beaches, and a vibrant coastal ambiance. Carmel-by-the Sea was founded in 1906 by Frank Powers and Frank Devendorf and incorporated as a city in 1916. The one square mile village is bound on the west by Carmel Beach, on the north by Pescadero Canyon, on the east by Monterey St., Forest Ave, and Ladera Dr., and on the south by the Carmel Mission.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California is located along the Pacific Coast of Central California, just south of Monterey Bay. Founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916, Carmel-by-the-Sea is situated 120 miles south of San Francisco, 70 miles south of San Jose, 350 miles north of Los Angeles, and 26 miles north of Big Sur.
The abodes of Carmel are an architectural mixture of storybook English cottages, Swiss Alpine chalets, and uniquely Carmel style building design. No two homes are alike, a refreshing change from the typical suburbia lifestyles. The village of Carmel-by-the-Sea resembles a miniature version of Europe. It is not improbable to see to a bereted Parisian saunter out of one of the captivating, Euro-themed bistros. Meander a few blocks down Ocean Avenue to Carmel’s sandy beach and the view is pure California, a rugged Pacific coastline spangled with rocky outcroppings, ghostly cypress trees and the electric green slopes of the famed Pebble Beach golf course.
A privileged few call Carmel home, with a population of approximately 4081 citizens, 847 dogs, and 2285 households. A survey done in 2008 reveled that approximately 37% of the residences within the city limits had full time occupancies, the balance of residences are vacation homes. Carmel-by-the-Sea has all the offerings of a big city without the commotion. Enjoy world class art galleries, theater, music, dinning, and breathe taking site seeing all within walking distance of each other. Exclusive global travelers are unlikely to encounter another place that has so much to offer and is so memorable.
The enchanting village is a lively collection of exclusive inns, almost a 100 art galleries, hundreds of boutiques, small bistros and gourmet restaurants. For locals, part-time residents, and visitors, Carmel is a public resort whose membership fees depart from a range of hotel rates to some of the highest mortgages in the world. A property situated on Scenic Drive overlooking Carmel Beach that was built at the turn of the last century by M.J. Murphy originally sold for $100 with $5 down, but sold in the new Millennium for $8 million. Yes there were upgrades along the way but as us Realtors say…
To continue reading about Carmel-by-the-Sea and complete neighborhood information and homes for sale, click here
Pebble Beach is located in Monterey County on the Monterey Peninsula. It is bordered by Carmel-by-the Sea to the south, Pacific Grove to the north, the City of Monterey to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Big Sur is approximately a 30 mile drive south on scenic State Route 1. Santa Cruz and San Francisco are approximately 45 and 120 miles to the north, respectively. The Zip code for Pebble Beach is 93953 and the telephone area code is 831.
Fifteen minutes from Pebble Beach is the Monterey Peninsula Airport, which has direct flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The Monterey Jet Center , a private Fix Based Operator is also located at the Airport.
Pebble Beach, California
A drive through the private enclave community of Pebble Beach and the Del Monte Forest along 17-Mile Drive is one of life’s few unforgettable visual experiences. Few drives will ever be as magnificent or memorable. The collide of coastal rugged natural splendor, emerald fairways of seven world famous golf courses, and magnificent architectural mansions is a site to behold. One not need be a golf fanatic to appreciate the harmonious marriage of golf course geography and coastal majesty in and around Pebble Beach.
The well traveled two lane 17 mile drive has seen many years of activity. Once a trail in which covered wagons carried guests from hotels to picnic grounds along Pebble Beach over a 100 years ago. Though a century has passed, some things remain timeless in this enchanted forest. Still today, tourists continue to enjoy the 20 stops along 17 Mile Drive and enjoy vistas of the restless sea. Golf continues to be the number one sport of the area for over 80 years.
From the legendary Lone Cypress to the famed eighteenth green of Pebble Beach Golf Links, your trip along 17- Mile Drive will leave you spellbound. Spectacular Pebble Beach estates punctuate but never overwhelm the picturesque shoreline. Discover nature’s treasures as you explore the serene majesty of Del Monte Forest home to a fortunate few Pebble Beach citizens. Here you’ll quickly experience the magic of a legendary scenic tour that’s home to, Seal and Bird Rocks, Fanshell Beach, Point Joe, and the colliding currents of the restless Sea. When your storybook tour is complete, an unforgettable dining experience awaits at one of the many gourmet restaurant as you contemplate purchasing a home in Pebble Beach.
Pebble Beach is not deemed a city but rather a corporation owned by the Pebble Beach Company. Pebble Beach is a unincorporated community in Monterey County. Approximately 4,531 residents experience the privilege of living in the Del Monte Forest and behind the private gates of Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach is considered a very affluent community which is home to many retirees and sophisticated business entrepreneurs.
The exclusive community of Pebble Beach has few businesses apart from those owned by the Pebble Beach Company (except the golf courses, Stevenson private school, one gas station, and a deli), most of the very exclusive estates are hidden behind mature trees within the Del Monte Forest. The ambiance of Pebble Beach is quiet, secluded, and romantically foggy. The community is home to many famous people including Al Bernardin (inventor of the Quarter Pounder,) Clint Eastwood (actor-director,) Greg London (singer-actor-impressionist,) George Lopez (comedian,) Alan Shepard (astronaut,) and Charles Schwab (stock broker.)
Residents of Pebble Beach pay homeowner’s fees for road maintenance and property taxes to Monterey County. The area is also partly administered by the Del Monte Forest Foundation, a non-profit organization designated by Monterey County and the California Coastal Commission, and comprising a volunteer board of 12 members working to preserve the open space within the Del Monte Forest. Except for two representatives of the Pebble Beach Company, all must be property owners and residents of the Forest.
The public schools serving Pebble Beach are Carmel High School, Carmel Middle School, and River School, all located in Carmel, and Forest Grove School, Pacific Grove Middle School, and Pacific Grove High School, all located in Pacific Grove. Pebble Beach is also home to Stevenson School, a coed half-boarding, half-day private high-school. The high school runs alternative radio station KSPB, which broadcasts BBC World Service when students are not operating the station.
Access to Pebble Beach Real Estate is available at five guard gates in Carmel or Pacific Grove the entry fee is $9.50 fee per vehicle. The community of Pebble Beach is comprised of 5 areas or sub-divisons each with it’s own ambiance and special characteristics. The five sub-divisions are as follows:
178 Lodge
179 Upper Forest, Sheppard’s Knoll, Ocean Pines
Prices for estates in each sub-division of Pebble Beach can vary greatly, ocean view and ocean front property will command top dollar. Homes with both golf course and ocean vistas are spectacular and highly desired by many home buyers. Explore the characteristics & lifestyle of each sub-division and quickly find Pebble Beach homes for sale in each area by clicking the links above.
Skylights should be a mandatory part of any home. The light, the atmosphere, the connection between the outdoors and living spaces should be fully exploited. More secluded ocean homes can be blessed with a stunning view of the night sky – when the city is far enough, the fascinating constellations show off. Looking at the surrounding universe through the skylight above the bed would be an evening routine I could easily get used to.
Most romantic bedrooms have that unique combination of details that create an atmosphere suited for special moments in two. Imagine having your bed under an awe-inspiring skylight. A rounded love crib under the stars, with a stunning view overlooking large expanses of water. Each time the sun shines, the bedrooms is flooded with natural light, while at night it becomes a beacon of light. No morning will ever feel the same waking up in this magnificent ocean view bedroom seen on Pinterest!
On the practical side, an entrance or hallway can be designed to filter natural light inside with the use of a carefully placed skylight. Shining down on an art installation or a an indoor water feature, blessed sunshine can create a dynamic light movement throughout the day. This lit space can be the one connecting two part of the house or it can light up a dark core from above. The example below is actually part of the Morning Star school in Mauritius, designed by NoCoffee Architects.
Two exemplary uses of skylights in the bathroom come from different homes. The first one pictured above showcases a round bathtub accompanied by a tall, elegant faucet and the charming use of wood. Renovated by LENS°ASS Architects while maintaining its original charm, this bathroom adorns the farmhouse that opens towards the rural scenery in many occasions. Upstairs, this sky lit bathroom proves that history and contemporary design can be merged to shape an inspiring bathroom design.
The shower pictured below is part of the Hillside Residence designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop architects – a home that gathers views of the natural surroundings from different vantage points. Piercing through the clear glass, tree crowns are the only ones disturbing the privacy when someone takes a shower. Flooded with natural light from above, the breathtaking shower is halfway between indoors and outdoors.
When Isak Dinesen said that “the cure for anything is salt water – tears, sweat, or the sea” he was right. I could even see a quote like that in many bedrooms overlooking the sea and many people agreeing with the author. From the top of your bed, every evening, the sun can be seen descending to meet the horizon in an always unique representation. When the solar disc is barely visible and ocean waters become immersed in darkness, you lay your head down to rest, you can watch the sunrise from the terrace on the other side of the house in the morning.
Some people only dream it, others live it and then there are those who never notice it. The thin line of the still horizon seen through glass bedroom walls every morning. Ocean homes have the privilege to feed a wish that has already been accomplished, why not enjoy every minute at your dream home after spending so many years dreaming about it?
Ocean view bedrooms are an energy source for beach lovers – waking up every moment to amazing water views or the sunrise, or taking a few moments to see the sun set is not only a geographical privilege, but a spiritual one. Exemplary seaview bedrooms are like guides through the maze of creativity – some idea might spark up and you end up exchanging dreaming for living. Like the bedroom shown below, part of the Alvarez Beach House designed by Longhi Architects, it is just one of the five glazed levels of the residence. Clean modern lines define the interior design mirrored in the glass wall leading out to the terrace.
There is even more you can do to intensify the feeling of closeness to nature. Building a modern fireplace to go with your panoramic glazing brings one of the elements indoors. Below is the Otter Cove residence by Sagan Piechota Architecture. Overlooking Californian shores from atop a rocky cliff, the contemporary home cladded in stone boasts this spectacular bedroom – a union of stone, wood, glass and fire overlooking water – this is what a dream looks like in reality.
Depending on the bed’s position, the atmosphere changes. Maybe some like to rise their heads from the pillow for an energizing start of the day with the view of water at their feet, others prefer to sleep on the side and open their eyes to see the sea in the morning. Either way, the ocean is still there to wake up to. Dark-framed sliding doors accentuate the dramatic views, as we see in the crisp white bedroom of a splendid home on the market for $22.5 million.
Corner windows have an amazing way of creating a different perspective on the outdoors. A panoramic view is born with this idea of prolonging the viewing possibility “around the corner”. Orienting your bed towards the views captured through a corner window inspires contemplation, just like in the Birdview residence bedroom seen below. A collaboration between architect Doug Burdge and interior designer Tim Clarke brought to life a comfortable home showcasing relaxing private spaces with splendid views of the ocean and coastline beyond.
The Beacon House, pictured below, boasts a water view bedroom with panoramas filtered by trees. WOW Architects also designed an inspiring space for the desk at the bed’s head. Overlooking the vast ocean from its location at the southernmost part of Singapore, this amazing residence had to have a stunning bedroom – a view like that one could not remain on the outside.
About Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest for inspiring surrounding design.
Who isn’t addicted to Pinterest? Now that the holiday season is among us, we are on constantly looking to Pinterest for inspiration and have collected a ton of our favorite Beach Cottage Christmas photos to drool over. Today’s post is all photos from Pinterest. No words need to be used, just enjoy the inspiration and happy holidays!!! By Marie Rhoades
{Beach Cottage Christmas on Pinterest}
Thinking about home lighting doesn’t usually occur to me until this time each and every year. Maybe it’s the fact the table lamps and pendant fixtures are shining brightly more hours of each day. I’ve noticed that my eyes are straining to see more often lately so it’s time to move those table lamps around to get the most out of them.
Autumn is the perfect time of year to work on interior home projects like adding nautically-inspired wallpaper to a room. If you’ve finished your painting and wallpaper then why not add some new light fixtures? Lighting can create instant ambiance within a space; both by the light it emits and the beauty of the piece itself.
Many people probably feel that I have spent too many hours choosing the lights for our beach cottage. It is not for lack of decision-making, but the fact that a light can be a real focal point and needs to be functional for the space it is used in. Over the past decade, I’ve done 90% of my light fixtures shopping from e-Bay and found some fabulous deals. I have no problem in spending a bit more money for a light fixture since it is a practical and functional investment; however getting a good deal is still important. Table lamps…well, that’s another story.
I tend to find table lamps at garage sales, antique stores and the such. Since I steer away from matchy-matchy decor, it is fun to find one lamp here and one lamp there. If I pay a garage sale price then I can more freely experiment with painting the lamp, gluing on shells and ribbon to the lamp shades.
If you find a nautical light style that you like, then save to Pinterest, save a photo to your iPad, or print out the photo for inspiration while searching for one which fits your budget. I forgot one important thing – have fun and enjoy the days of Autumn!
Click on each photo for more details…
Coastal Lighting at Caron’s Beach House
Light Fixtures at Ocean Offerings
Lighting at Outer Banks Trading Group
Handmade Lights at Peeniiwalli
Autumn has a special place in every heart – it either induces an awe-inspiring feeling with all its colors, textures and refreshing rains or a moody atmosphere with melancholic moments, but it never leaves anyone neutral to its passing. Mixing these emotions with fire creates an accentuation of each stand-still moment, allowing you to witness a moment that sparked up our evolution – taming fire.
Social get-togethers and candlelight dinners
Just place a bunch of different sized candles in the fireplace and you will be aware of this beautiful change from summer to winter that we call autumn. On the dining table, above the table prepared for a casual dinner or on the floor surrounding this blessed space, candles can help guide your feelings towards being thankful for what you have and we all know we need to be reminded of that.
Do yourself a favor and build a faux fireplace for candles
An interesting weekend project would catapult your living room into the world of modern space arrangement you see in other people’s homes. Think about building a modern faux fireplace that safely displays a collection of candles – it will definitely become the focal point in the room. Umbra were the ones who beautified the den in the photos below with an eggshell-colored mantle. Candles in autumn are perfect to compose a cozy atmosphere, where family and friends can relax together.
If you already have a fireplace, you are only a few candles away from exceptionally relaxing design solution. Gather fall produce to decorate your fireplace mantle, but don’t forget to give the decorated area a deeper dimension by adding two elegant candles to frame the space above the mantle. All you need to do is make sure fire is safely contained – it never hurts checking twice.
Nesting candlelight in transparent containers and branch nests
You probably use candles to decorate your beach home in the summer, when the evening breeze gently rushes over dancing flames. Taking an interest in fabricating an inspired atmosphere inside during the colder autumn days will go a long way when you feel the need to relax in a cozy atmosphere. A few nested candles can instantly change your mood and provoke you to daydream.
Any large candle will do
You might not want to transform your home into an altar-looking collection of spaces, but one single candle can do wonders for any corner of the room. I can’t stress enough that you need to be careful with fire, but a single large candle on the table, near a window (without curtains) or even on the floor in a corner of the room is a spectacle in itself. Gently dancing in the air currents, a candle mirrors every movement around it. Dynamic, yet softly warming a room, an oversized candle matched up with your favorite song and warm drink eases the way to a serene autumn.
Candles create the perfect setting for autumn romance
The bedroom becomes a movie set with a few candles burning their wax down while you and the one your love indulge in a romantic evening. Candles in the bedroom soften the light and exposes this room’s potential for romance. Cozy up near a candle set while waiting for winter to come so you can enjoy a real fireplace, with large dancing flames and crackling sounds that personify winter comfort. I could only dream of a fireplace in the bedroom …
Fall decorating means capturing the warmth of an earthy color palette, accentuated by natural textures. Candlelight is the perfect way to accentuate a detail and soften the appeal of a room, creating a decorating opportunity with a huge relaxation potential. Are you ready to light up candles and relax?
About Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest inspiring surrounding design.
Atalaya (Photo Credit: Jon Holloway)
Some of the finest art in the South Carolina Lowcountry will be on display, and available for purchase, this weekend at the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Just north of Pawleys Island, Atalaya, the ocean front castle, located in Huntington Beach State Park is the former home of the world renowned sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.
In honor of Mrs. Huntington’s contributions to the art world, this festival welcomes over one hundred local and national artisans to display their eclectic work including sculpture, hand blown glass, paintings, pottery, textiles and jewelry.
The festival takes place Friday – Sunday, September 28-30, 2012. I’ll be there stocking up on wedding presents and Christmas gifts! In the mean time, here’s a little history for you on the Huntington’s and their former ocean estate.
Oceanfront Luxury on the South Carolina Coast
The Huntington Estate
In 1930, New York residents Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington purchased a vast stretch of real estate on the South Carolina coast just north of Pawleys Island – land that once operated as four Colonial plantations. The following year, they began construction of a home they called Atalaya, (pronounced at-a-LIE-ya) a Spanish word for “watchtower,” on the oceanfront side of their property.
Archer, adored his wife, the renowned twentieth century sculptor, Anna Hyatt Huntington. Anna began sculpting in her teens and became one of the most talented and well-known figurative sculptors of the 1900s. A philanthropist, scholar and visionary, Archer’s passion was Hispanic culture. He traveled to Spain and Mexico as a young man and fell in love with the people, their languages, art and architecture. This is one of the reasons he built his winter home, Atalaya to resemble a Moorish fortress. He began Brookgreen Gardens, across the highway from Huntington Beach State Park, to exhibit his wife’s sculpture.
For Anna, Atalaya included indoor and outdoor studios. At about 40,000 square feet, the home covers almost an entire acre. This includes a large interior courtyard, bear pens, dog kennels, a library and an oyster shucking room. Interestingly, as large as the house is, the Huntingtons did not entertain here. The home served as a retreat where Archer and Anna could work on their pursuits uninterrupted during the winter months. Atalaya was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992, and is the only home/studio of an artist in the SC State Park System.
Atalaya is open year round for self-guided tours so that everyone can enjoy this oceanfront “castle.” When visiting the Pawleys Island area, make sure you visit Atalaya, and Brookgreen Gardens.
Entering a home means meeting the owner for the second time – every detail, texture and color speaks about the inhabitant’s personal preferences, they way they like to receive guests and how much importance they give to comfort, style and organization. There are a lot of things that can be learned from visiting different homes and the best ones are those which leave you with at least an inspiring detail in mind.
Choosing to construct a bold focal point in your home can end up redefining the entire house, or at least the main social spaces. Custom built staircases present the opportunity of creating a spectacular overall feel, never failing to generate interest.
Showcasing a custom glass staircase in your home binds all decorative elements together while its deceptively floating appearance creates a picture-perfect space arrangement, allowing the surrounding display of furniture to shine through and colors to interact more vividly.
A combination of different building materials can assist the glass in transforming your interiors – pairing the glass up with metal or wood surprises the beauty of a bold statement without losing the powerful elements that bring comfort and warmth (wood) or are reminiscent of industrial design (metal). Pairing the glass up with carbon fiber leads to a futuristic display of materials, while a spiral staircase can add more character to this daring combination.
Carefully designed homes gravitate around a central focal point, so why not impress yourself and guests with the striking silhouette of an unconventional glass staircase, designed especially to accentuate the beauty of your home? Ocean homes benefit from the amazing possibility of opening up towards the sparkling water, making a glass staircase within a transparent staircase shaft a spectacular decorative element.
A multi-level home can be easily opened up to draw in natural light with the help of a glass staircase. Uniting two or more levels, a transparent set of stairs can make the home look more spacious and compose a light shaft drawing in light either from glass openings in the walls or skylights at the top.
Glass staircases delimited by transparent railings or subtle vertical strings acting as separators are the ultimate light-loving elements for a home. Constructing an elegant, glamorous interior design through their fine crafted details, these functional and decorative elements have led to improving technologies for creating glass used for structural purposes, while constructing a refined alternative to wood, metal or concrete staircases.
Modern technology ensures that glass staircases are as safe as they are beautiful. To add even more drama, LED lighting can transform your glass staircase into a glamorous, sculptural decorative element even at night, guiding your steps up and down with a subtle glow.
Addressing the need to have a brighter space and allowing views from one side to the other, glass staircases outshine usual focal points. Completely transparent or translucent, displaying a combination of glass and other materials and leading to next floors while displaying a very stylish architectural fashion, glass staircases can transform an average home into an elegant dream home, insisting on the striking composition of refined elements and paving the way towards creating a inspiring home.
About Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest inspiring surrounding design.
For whoever likes heading out to the ocean pursuing an extraordinary feeling, the yacht itself is a second home. Visited every time you need to escape the world, a luxury yacht like the Red Pearl promotes a luxurious lifestyle shaping many sailor dreams. Designers of MCP Yachts describe this fantastic project of theirs as an exquisite blend of classy elegance and modern technology:
“Red Pearl is the result of a highly customized project for a demanding Russian client. Exquisite painting, a fine piano on the game room, LED lightning and NAIAD zero speed system are some examples of the specific features in this project. The most modern construction technology bond together with a superb interior design and decoration to support maximum comfort, sophistication and safety to travel all oceans.”
On the outside, the luxury yacht Red Pearl cuts the water with a sleek shape and surprises with a bold yet elegant red tone obvious in its name. Recreational sailing transcends into the world of creativity, becoming an excuse to go out on the ocean more often. Accentuating the white foam with its pristine dynamic deck, the luxurious yacht imposes its unique look in any harbor.
The main deck provides a large space for entertaining, making evening trips across water memorable. A dining table seating up to 6 people comfortably invites you to enjoy the breeze and witness distant city lights reflect their glow across the mirroring surface. Dark-framed sliding glass doors open to reveal the living space and bar beyond. A set of stairs leads to the upper deck, subtly showcasing their wooden steps.
Inside, the feeling of coziness is only surpassed by a striking visual appeal. A sofa and two armchairs opposing each other are close enough to maintain a conversation going. As much as 10 people can dine inside, while the adjacent bar provides a continuous flow of beverages to keep you hydrated. Wooden floors define a corridor leading to illuminated stairs taking your further into the dreamy interiors.
The spacious upstairs presents itself as a classy collection of fine furniture, culminating with a black piano placed under the spotlight. If you’re in the mood for a challenging game of chess, the small rounded chess table welcomes you surrounded by four dark chairs. A sofa and bar ensure the comfort a traveler searches for when faced with such a luxurious recreational opportunity. The kitchen, on the other hand, is compact and carefully planned to ensure maximum flexibility. Long and narrow, the well-lit kitchen looks out to the water through two large windows.
The private bedrooms compose a fairy-tale atmosphere. In the first bedroom pictured below, soft smart lighting reflects in the glossy surrounding walls and furniture, while the large bed doesn’t seem to consume the space, rather offer an island of perfect comfort. Another bedroom mirrors the pristine bedsheets in a framed TV, constructing a more dynamic interior design. Dark wood adorns the white walls and defines a line in the ceiling, contrasting in style with the previous bedroom. A third bedroom showcases two separate beds, divided by a mirror and nightstand. Glossy gold-colored surroundings shape an inviting atmosphere. Cradled by the motion of the yacht, sleep will be comforting and dreams will wonder towards amazing lands.
Bathrooms are elegant and bright, with large mirrors constructing a visually larger space. Luxurious shower cabins featuring relaxing seats ensure long showers in two are followed by a comfortable sleep. In the morning, short showers will leave you feeling energized and lead you to the deck, where sunshine caresses sparkling waters all around the Red Pearl.
Fresh from the shower, the breeze wakes you up while the salty air fills your lungs. Glass railings avoid obstructing the views, so the line where water meets the sky is always visible. Enjoy sunsets or sunrises from an open deck, where two chairs can become the unforgettable picture-perfect moment for romantics. Sharing a glass of champagne watching the day turn into night is the perfect end to any sunny day.
And no yacht is complete without the captain’s deck – an elegant space in perfect harmony with the rest of the yacht’s design. The floor-plan will deepen your understanding of the yacht’s space arrangement. Is there anything missing from this exceptional display of luxurious lifestyle?
After seeing how high ceilings can have a powerful impact on our lifestyle, it’s time to go the opposite way and see how a mezzanine level can cut through this vast space to create a more intimate interior design. Designing an intermediate level to break the abundant space in half creates more space both above and below, allowing you to plan a room upstairs and use the space below as storage, for example.
This half way level between the floor and ceiling is known as a mezzanine level. This structural floor helps alleviate the sometimes impersonal feeling of a space that displays high ceilings, creating a cozier design preferred in many cases and increasing space possibilities in your home.
An existing high ceiling space can become the backsplash for a more compact lifestyle. If you need to increase the square footage of your home and don’t want to build additional spaces, building a mezzanine level is an inspired solution.
Although high ceilings help create a luxurious atmosphere, some people prefer living in homes with a less imposing design. Depending on your preference, an open living space with high ceilings can provoke the feeling of being outside, while mezzanines construct a balcony-like space keeping part of this space open, but allowing you to almost double the usable space and create a cozier feeling. The luxury of creating and improving your home is made of a set of personal choices adapted to the existing space possibilities.
Mezzanine levels are extremely helpful when transforming a formerly industrial building into a comfortable, modern living space. There are many examples of how barns, industrial structures or even churches were transformed into contemporary residences with the help of mezzanine levels.
Use this space for creating a special place in the house, with visual access to the space below – it can be a working space, dining space, bedroom or any extra room you might need. This new functional space should be carefully planned and constructed to avoid ending up with a crowded-looking room.
This new space can become the library you always dreamed about or an extra bedroom. Creative people can indulge in designing a hobby space within the home, with direct visual access to the space below. Sharing the same ceiling with the rest of the space, the mezzanine level should reflect this in its design.
Spiral staircases and bespoke stairs are the best solution for accessing mezzanine levels without taking up too much space. Projecting from the walls and partially enclosing the view from the floor below, mezzanine levels can extend halfway over the floor below or run along the building’s perimeter.
Supported by pillars or floating above the level below, displaying railings and accessed by a staircase, a mezzanine level remains and effective solutions to increasing floor space within your home and constructing that extra room you always dreamed about.
About Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest inspiring surrounding design.
Peaceful shelter, Shelter Island
Out at the end of Long Island where the land fishtails into the North and South Forks, a tiny dollop of of sand appears to have slipped between the two tines and split them.
Shelter Island is twelve square miles of beach accessible only by an eight-minute ferry ride. Twenty-five hundred people live there in the winter, and 25,000 in the summer. It needs no traffic lights.
The tenor of the island is distinctly different from the Hamptons, its tony neighbors to the south. “Shelter Island is friendlier. It’s less populated, lower key and more artistic,” said architect Cary Tamarkin, who just designed and built a second home there. “It’s just big enough to inspire a small group of artistically-minded people to make the hop over.”
His home rises on a foundation of spread concrete footings above a slight rolling berm on three-quarters of an acre surrounded by undevelopable bramble. The residence faces due southeast to Shelter Island Sound, which protects it from some of the harshest weather on the eastern seaboard. There’s also a constant and gentle breeze to shoo the bugs and keep things cool.
The home is, in essence, a cypress-wood box cantilevered on all sides, hovering gracefully over island and sound. Looking out to the water, the view peers back to Long Island with the Left Fork on its right, and the Right Fork just opposite. “It’s like a huge harbor with its outstretched arms around you,” Cary said.
There’d been a 1960s beach shack, “coming apart at the seams,” on the property when he acquired it. He waited three years to tear it down and begin new construction, working on designs for the new 2,800 square feet in the meantime.
“While the family was sleeping, I’d set up a ladder outside to see what the sound of the waves was at eight feet above grade,” he said.
The new cottage is three houses in one. Guest quarters with two bedrooms anchor it at ground level, and are connected by stairway to the main level above. There, kitchen, dining and living areas are separated by breezeway from master suite and children’s bedrooms. “Every bedroom gets to sleep to the sound of the waves,” he said.
He used 100-year-old cypress salvaged from the swamps and rivers of Georgia and Florida for its skin and structure too. Its beams measure sixteen inches tall by six inches wide and thirty-six feet long, and were meticulously crafted for the home by former shipbuilder George Velmachos with Wright and Company.
The design challenge, Cary said, was to accurately respond to the forces of the site – to take advantage of the sounds, the breeze, the light and the views.
“It’s all about outdoor living,” he said.
For more on architect and developer Cary Tamarkin, go to www.tamarkinco.com
Natural elements – fire and water – unite in a breathtaking spectacle offering ocean home owners unique moments. In the presence of flames consuming the air, our thoughts travel to undefined places only to return to their starting point fed with inspiration and composing new strains of thought. Lost in this natural desire to be in the presence of open fire, we created sculptural objects taming the element that allowed our evolution.
Deciding to incorporate an outdoor fireplace in your home proves to be as hard as it is rewarding. Fire helps guide your thoughts towards inside rather than outside, while the image of dancing flames on the background of what seems to be an infinite stretch of water composes one of the most breathtaking panoramas. Vividly constructing an architecture of pleasure based on the primary need for warmth and introspection, outdoor fireplaces take you back to a much-needed simplicity.
There are a myriad of outdoor fire features that can re-shape the landscape to suit your needs and wishes. Contemporary fire features can be used to define a special space of your house. For example, two fire cones can be placed on either side of the entrance, guarding it with an imposing character. Another way to enjoy the benefits of open fire is to have a long and narrow fireplace running alongside the terrace and displaying a line of flames constructing the atmosphere for an amazing evening. Fire bowls and sculptural fireplace designs customized to suit your space extend the comfort zone outside, furnishing the landscape with a duo of natural and man-made composition.
The warmth of fire chilled by a soft breeze creates an ethereal atmosphere – portable fireplaces encourage you to experience its warmth in any given space: the manicured garden, an ocean deck or directly on the beach.
Designer Elena Colombo’s outdoor fireplaces celebrate the elements through unique, uplifting shapes and materials. Her collections break the boundaries of design, taking you one step further through the power of flame-taming design. Custom designs shelter your personal style in unequaled shapes, all based on the rise of flames from a carefully constructed container exposing your personal style.
Refined outdoor fireplaces are inspired by natural surrounding details: the Lotus Bowl fireplace from Elena Colombo presents dancing fire rising from steel petals, while studio AK47 designed a fireplaces named Hole that constructs a refined enclosure in the ground for the flames to dance uninterrupted.
These are only a few examples of how design can create a different perception on life, but keep us focusing on what is truly important – the connection to our basic needs. Danger and relaxation meet in one defining action we all enjoy – watching flames rise up and dissipate in the air. Luxurious fireplace design helps capture the essence of comfort surrounded by carefully chosen palette of materials that celebrate an ancestral humankind need for being close to fire.
A place for quiet meditation or a social zone set around a sculptural fireplace – evenings will never be the same accompanied by a modern vision of the bonfire. Embedded in a table or flickering freely while rising from a geometric shape, fire is the perfect element to be tamed by creative designers.
About Ada Teicu: An architecture enthusiast, Ada shares finds from all over the world, constructing a spotlight on modern design. Expressing personal preferences on her blog – she loves uncovering new designers and find what makes acknowledged architects so unique. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest inspiring surrounding design.
Lounge on a breeze soaked deck with an endless view.
Sophisticated coastal charm abounds in this traditional ocean front home at DeBordieu, the very private beachfront community just north of Charleston, South Carolina. From sunrise to sunset, the views are nothing less than spectacular and are enjoyed from every room in the house. The wraparound porches provide the perfect place to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean while the private boardwalk leads directly to the beach.
Oceanfront entertaining is effortless with the floor plan’s gracious flow and open kitchen equipped with top of the line appliances.
The ocean front, main floor master suite features a “sleeping porch” and luxurious bath. Upstairs, a cozy den provides a wonderful gathering place for guests while the ocean front office offers a gorgeous view of the Atlantic.
Only the finest materials have been used in building and maintaining this 4,400 heated square foot home including Plato custom made wood cabinets, hand set bead board, and ROHL bronze hardware in the kitchen and master suite. Other features include a convenient elevator and added security with a private gate.
DeBordieu Colony is a very private community on the coast of South Carolina, between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, just south of Pawleys Island. In addition to miles of secluded beach, boat landing access to North Inlet, and a 24-hour manned security gate, the private, equity DeBordieu Club offers Pete Dye golf, a tennis center and an ocean front Beach Club with fine dining, a gazebo “tiki hut” bar, two pools, and a playground. Residents and guests of this charming South Carolina coastal community agree that there is truly no place quite like DeBordieu.
The Details: $2,800,000, 5 Bedrooms, ½ acre site with 100 ft. on the ocean. For more information, contact Troi Kaz, DeBordieu Colony Real Estate, 843-455-4523, TroiKaz@DeBordieu.com. Or visit the website at www.CoastalSCHomes.com.
Coral Reef Bowl
Sometimes “coastal” style is just about that one special piece, not an entire collection. Can you imagine this simple, organic sea-shaped white coral displayed all by itself on a fabulous antique credenza? Or imagine it as part of a creative shore table scape, dressing up a rustic driftwood-like buffet, or possibly hiding in a nook on a towering bookcase. The possibilities are endless for elegant beach style, for bringing in memories of the of the sea, warm sand, and wild waves. There’s nothing quite like adding a touch of the natural sea and shore to complete a coastal home.
The best part? This piece is not real coral, but it is so finely crafted with tiny attention to detail, that it looks like an incredible beach find. Using faux instead of real coral allows the sea to thrive and maintain its natural state, for many fish, turtles, and other sea creatures turn to coral for necessary survival needs.
Here are a few more examples for pretty artificial coral! Tried to find a few pieces for you in several colors, to complement any seaside room.
From Z-Gallerie - comes in Turquoise, Red and White too!
Fun! Red Coral Mirror from Clay Gray Home
Found at Studio Home
Mushroom Coral Pieces from Caron’s Beach House
Or maybe a pretty red “faux” coral lamp? Caron’s Beach House
Remember, if you truly are an ocean lover, real coral is a big no-no. It is possible to find unique, exquisite coral-like pieces for decorating your beach house. We need to respect our planet and leave the real coral where it belongs, on the reef.
About Caron White: Caron’s whole life has been spent the water, and living on the beach. A coastal, seaside lifestyle has always been her passion. More than anything, she loves to share it! Creator of a new original coastal home lifestyle retail website. She can also be found at her Everything Coastal Blog.
Washed ashore by the continuous dynamic nature of water, driftwood is one of the most inspiring materials an artist can work with. Deprived of the liberty to completely change the material they work with in order to keep the uniqueness of each piece, driftwood furniture designers strive to create modern driftwood furniture and décor using the material’s soft, time-stamped features.
Sculpted by the ongoing influence of water and sand into smooth versions of themselves, bleached by the sun and capturing the essence of long erosion in their fascinating texture, driftwood blocks can be transformed into attention-grabbing decorative and functional items.
In nature, driftwood provides shelter for birds and stand at the base of sand dunes, but once these wood pieces bearing the continuous movement of water are found washed ashore by creative minds, they are transformed into precious decorations or furniture items and are sent on their way to beautify your home.
Washed ashore, driftwood becomes the source for inspirational pieces of furniture and décor – mirror frames, furniture, hangers, sculptures and so on rekindle the beauty of wood first sculpted by the natural environment. This seems to be a fruitful collaboration between artists and nature that leads to constructing a personal connection with the product of natural forces. Drift lumber from shipwrecks and other man-made wooden objects can be salvaged to become useful again.
Aside the influence of water, sand and time, driftwood benefits from another interesting feature – its uniqueness. Each piece of wood was carefully defined by natural forces in unique shapes and textures, creating the base for the construction of a beach-reminiscent design.
Restless wave action shapes some amazing pieces of wood that can successfully be used to compose a large palette of products. Take as examples these beautiful furniture collections: The Tikibaq folding screen was designed by Bleu Nature to be used outdoors, lending surrounding space an imposing atmosphere, created by the material’s texture and the composition’s sinuous arrangement. Standing on a lacquered stainless steel base, the driftwood pieces shape an organic decorating item to use where you need to define the outdoor space.
Another design from Bleu Nature displays an inspiring collection of driftwood – the Qilak armchair and sofa (in the photo below) were created by the French manufacturers to bring an inspired combination of driftwood and modern design to any home in search of a beach-inspired design.
Baptized By Nature driftwood furniture collection by Catherine Op de Beeck (first three photos) captures the beauty of eco-friendly furniture design in a natural furniture collection displaying logs as the main focal point. Tables and shelves, towel racks, lounge chairs and vases all have these fascinating pieces of driftwood intersecting with other materials to shape modern designs incorporating aged driftwood in a unique collection.
Driftwood challenges the mind to guess each piece’s history and character. Abandoned pieces of wood find a new life under the attentive supervision of talented craftsmen, contributing to our understanding and acceptance of nature’s uninterrupted influence on our life.
Interior day-lighting is one of the most important features of a carefully designed house plan. Extending your budget to accommodate the use of skylights for natural illumination, or re-shaping the roof or a dark room to draw sun light in, can expose a whole different lifestyle. Surrounded by natural daylight, you will feel more energized, and when clouds rush above and seasons go by, you’ll understand the meaning of “after winter must come spring”.
Skylights are often a great solution for dark corners, unappealing rooms or even tall, boring staircases. Simple, with geometric patterns intersecting the glass or made out of a sequence of smaller windows, there is a bundle of skylight designs you can choose from. Consult a specialist to help increase the amount of natural light flooding the interiors and offer a new perspective on your old dark bathroom, for example.
Skylights can be chosen to become the focal point of a space – a centerpiece reminiscent of cheery sun-filled outdoors in the comfort of your own home. Bold shapes and luxurious materials can completely transform the interior design of your ocean home, not to mention help with natural ventilation.
Kitchens are known to be as welcoming as they are lit. Large skylights can be successfully used to create a dreamy cooking space. Imagine sunny mornings with family breakfasts and cups of coffee – what a way to start the day!
Rain showers and skylights are a perfect combination for relaxing every day moments, especially if your home is perched above the ocean. The view of an open sky changing from day to day, from sunny to clouded while you shower will remain with you during long working hours as a promise of continuation. The shower skylight also protects your privacy and has benefits taking you beyond the usual daily shower routine.
These passive daylighting sources are a high-quality, luxurious way of extending the amount of natural light reaching the interiors of the space. Roof skylights guide sunlight as naturally as it was intended to reach us – from above.
Some issues like forgetting to close the skylight before leaving home can be solved with help from automatically closing skylights which close at the first rain drop. This natural way of venting out heat build-ups and moisture excess has one more benefit for oceanfront homes – they allow the breeze to rush in and scent the interiors with salty ocean air.
Some spaces in your home may have poor natural lighting whether you lack windows or they’re not properly positioned. These rooms simply deserve to be reached by natural light. Installing a skylight will ensure the dark space will be able to enjoy the direct warmth of the sun and create a lighter atmosphere.
A home office blessed with a carefully positioned skylight can turn from the excuse of pale skin into the reason for your pleasurable work hours. Just imagine looking out the skylight at a nearby tree or seeing the passing of seasons while you invest in your future.
Each corner of the house can be adorned with skylights; it all depends on your expectations from a modern, comfortable lifestyle. Enjoy the possibilities!
On a tiny island off the coast of North Carolina, where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean, architects Chuck and Anna Dietsche have created a community where people are subordinate to their environment.
“It’s the objectification of man in nature,” Chuck Dietsche says about Bald Head Island. “You get the feeling of what the Garden of Eden was like.”
Instead of a desecration of the landscape with strip malls, asphalt roads and concrete towers, there’s a deliberately-created sense of harmony.
After Andres Duany created the island’s first two streets, Dietsche was named director of planning and development in the early 1990s. He created the master plan for the island’s 2,500 buildable acres, tucking homes into small groups behind the dunes and along the harbor, without violating the ceiling of the canopy of 800-year-old live oaks in the maritime forest.
“We created communities by having the houses closer together,” the architect says.
Accessible only by a 20-minute ferry ride, and with transportation on the island only by foot or golf cart, Bald Head provides a refuge for people and wildlife alike.
“You rid yourself of life on the mainland,” Anna Dietsche says. “You cannot believe how loud the birds and the winds are, because there’s no sound from traffic.”
Its protected wetlands and forests serve as habitat to sea birds, deer, foxes, raccoons, and alligators.
“It’s wild nearby, but you’re in a safety zone,” Chuck Dietsche says. “It’s designed as an ecologically romantic place.”
Owned and developed by members of the Texas-based Mitchell family of Mitchell Energy, Bald Head has set the standard for sensitive development. “They wanted an enlightened, neo-traditional built environment,” he says.
And they got it.
J. Michael Welton writes about architecture, art and design for a number of national publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Dwell magazine. He also edits and publishes an online design magazine at www.architectsandartisans.com.
Doubling height spaces can create an ethereal atmosphere By, Ada Teicu
I’ve seen a great deal of spaces – living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways or even bathrooms – become the focal point of the house because of their splendidly designed double-height. A luxury coastal home has the ocean’s proximity as an ally – large high spaces overlooking the water act as funnels for extraordinary views and mirror the immensity of azure stretches of water.
Double height space capture large amounts of natural light through the use of extensive glazing – natural sunlight bounces off light colored walls, creating an ethereal atmosphere, pierced by the choice of furniture, furnishings, decorations and wall décor. Dark walls offer a sense of comfort and help define the interior space.
Color can be used to capture your lifestyle’s playful side and give more depth to this high space. The atrium-like space can become an ode to the fascinating ocean views if you can create a bold transparency that seamlessly connects the interiors to the exterior.
In a large double-height space, furniture items do not have to be placed against the wall. Adorning the space with carefully selected functional furniture can become part of a smaller scale space arrangement, creating different zones in this wide open space.
At night, the space becomes part of a dramatic scene, so make sure the light chosen to compose the space at night is powerful enough to flood the whole space with artificial light or use dimmers to give the exact amount of light needed for each occasion.
Also allow the glazed space to resemble a lighthouse when seen from outside, with soft or bright light breaking the monotony of pure darkness. Ambient light should help soften the vertical qualities of the space and expose a high level of comfort and style. A play of solid and transparent can be created – if you want to include a vertical element, windows and long-standing wall decor can help you expose space possibilities, but be careful to keep the room elegant and help it surprise the beauty of an open space without creating the effect of a hollow, empty space.
Clerestory windows can reduce the amount of direct light and still help organize a natural light flow to reach the interiors. Depending on the house’s orientation, these architectural details are an important passive solar element helping your living spaces open towards natural light while maintaining a powerful sense of privacy. By shading these clerestory windows with roof overhangs or awnings, architects can balance the amount of sunlight and heat reaching the interiors. A double-height living space overlooking the ocean can become flooded with even more light by using skylights where needed.
This aired space can be transformed into a cozy one by allowing beams to transverse the room or using warm wood to define the walls of your double-height living space. Artwork or decorative wall hangings can help disguise the bareness of really tall walls, but if you need to minimize the height, use horizontal details (mirrors, paintings, even beautifully designed vertical wall lights).
You can choose to expose the beauty of wooden walls reaching up to the high ceiling or focus the attention on a splendid fireplace that can decorate a whole wall. In order to keep a luxurious overall feeling, choose carefully how you decorate the high walls – balance every detail to compose a space you can be comfortable in and also be proud of.
Marie Rhoades
Be inspired! Join Marie for coastal-inspired decorating ideas, beach home tours, favorite coastal shopping finds and color palettes which will beautify your world.
Mike Welton
Architects + Artisans is a sophisticated, well-informed curator of content and images that document the development of architecture, artisanship and sustainability for the 21st century. 
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