Rosemary Beach: Coastal Living Ultimate Beach House

Y’all, you seriously cannot imagine how thrilled Sister, Mother and I were to learn that our annual visit to Rosemary Beach would coincide with the 2012 Coastal Living Ultimate Beach House!!  It was absolutely stunning – and quite sizeable for Rosemary seeing as it covers almost an entire block.  We took loads of pictures on our tour and there are so many little details I’m already hoping to incorporate into future projects back home.  So let’s get this show (house) on the road…
 For the tour, the foyer was set up to sign in and pay admission ($15) but the light fixture and skirted table were both fantastic and set the tone for the rest of the house.
Turning right off the central foyer, you find the main living space of the house.  I loved the openness and all of the different seating vignettes.  The house sleeps something crazy like eighteen, so I imagine all these chairs would probably be put to good use with that sized crowd!  The paint colors come from a coastal “Ebb & Flow” palette from Pratt & Lambert.  The foyer and great room were both a waxed venetian  plaster finish that started with a Seed Pearl base.  All of the gorgeous (and mostly brass) lighting is from Circa Lighting.
I loved the table and mixture of fabrics in the living room.  So much so that I’m tucking away that table as a potential DIY for Honey down the road.  Seeing that barnacle made me extremely pleased with my $12 version picked up at Home Goods!
The other side of the living room featured a seating area arranged in front of the fireplace.
The far wall houses an exquisite little banquette dining area.  This was definitely one of my favorite spaces in the house.  We all drooled over the plates – so simple but so gorgeous.
Just off of the great room are the study, the office and the power rooms.  We loved how the sofa wrapped around the entire wall of the room. 
The office was really just a little nook.  But I mean really, it’s not like much work would be getting done with all the other fun distractions!

Anchoring the other end of the great room was the kitchen and scullery. Sister has been eyeing those exact lights for her kitchen for some time now.
  The scullery has an additional sink, loads of storage, plus two smartly concealed dishwashers, a fridge and a microwave.
If you head left off of the main foyer, you find the first of many gorgeous bedrooms.  The walls are in Moss Lake and of course the drool worthy chandy is from Circa Lighting.  I loved the drapes in this room and would like to do something similar when I get around to the baby’s big boy room.
The en suite was gorgeous in it’s own right!  I especially loved the mirror hanging over the window, the counter to ceiling glass tile and the counter vignette.  As in all of the baths, this one was appointed with brass fixtures.
The downstairs laundry room was smartly accessible from the guest suite, the master suite AND the courtyard.  I loved the substantial shelves and cabinet hardware.
The master suite is tucked away at the end of the hallway with splendid views of the courtyard and pool!  I loved the subtle herringbone wallpaper, the sea urchin mirror and the details on the pillows.
Head back to the other end of the main floor to find a rear foyer that opens onto a boys bunk room, second guest room, bathroom and the courtyard.  I loved the baskets ready for a day at the beach or errands on the bike.
They boys bunk room was just as cute as can be.  I adored the curtains, fabric choices, bedding (by Traditions) and vintage reptile prints.  It is painted in Dependable.
The second guest room and hall bath were both painted in Ever Classic.
We were absolutely shocked to find that the house had a remarkable upstairs entertaining space PLUS another guest room and girls bunk room!  Just at the top of the stairs, this sweet girls room sleeps six and had Mother, Sister and I day dreaming about what it would be like to have a slumber party up here!  We have an attic space in our house that could be finished off in almost an exact replica of this!  I mean, should we ever have the need to sleep six more, of course :-)  The trim paint in here is Hedgerow Mist.
  The upstairs guest room is painted in Manchester.  We loved the side tables and peeked underneath to see that they were simply wood cubes!


Just off the guest room is yet another bathroom, also painted in Manchester.
And the real coup de grac of the house was the expansive entertaining space overlooking the courtyard and pool.  Plenty of room for lounging on one side (adore the gallery wall of vintage prints)…
…and the most darling ping pong table you’ve ever laid eyes on completed the other side!
Everything from the paddles on the wall to the olive basket filled with balls had me racking my brain for where I could do this (and I have an idea!) I mean, swoon, right?!?! 
Just off the game room is another powder room – painted in Yucca Green.
The hall leads to an expansive wet bar…
…which opens into the most stunning home theatre you could ever dream of having.  We’re talking sisal wallpaper, chic curtains, Cirica lighting AND six upholstered double chaise lounges arranged stadium style in the room.  Yes, please!
The loggia, courtyard, outdoor kitchen and pool completed the outdoor space.  It was all just to die for.  Except maybe the crushed shell walkways – my littles would have that clogging up the pool in two seconds flat.

So that was the Coastal Living Ultimate Beach House!  I’d say it earned it’s title of “ultimate”.  If you find yourself anywhere in the vicinity of 30-A, Panama City or Destin, you really ought to hop on over and see it for yourself.  These pictures do not even remotely do it justice and I thought the $15 admission was quite reasonable compared to other show houses.  And after you’ve toured the house, stop in La Crema for some tapas, chocolate and wine.  Would make for a guaranteed splendid afternoon!
xoxo