50 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MAY 2018
INSIDE JOB
A SUPREMELY SERENE By RUTH BASHINSKY
Modern coastal design has evolved
from the more traditional beachinspired
style where vibrant hues of
blue, the beauty of the ocean, and
natural organic elements reign.
Designers Amanda Wood, owner of
Wolf & Wing Interior Design, and
her partner, Keri Venti, pulled the
look off in this 3,000-square-foot
Long Beach home transforming the
space into a light, bright, and airy
retreat that is so serene one may
never want to leave.
“The homeowner wanted a cohesive
coastal modern style down to
every last detail,” says Moore. “The
homeowner had chosen a lot of
lovely elements but needed help
making them all work together.”
Both designers sought inspiration
from their surroundings — the
ocean hues, the sun-bleached white,
the natural light — and incorporated
natural materials and fabrics into the
decor along with nautical vintage
finds that were paramount for the
look they wanted to achieve.
“In the past, most beach houses had
more literal decor like sand dollars and
starfish,” Moore says. “Our approach
for this house was to use a palette of
colors drawn from nature with pops of
nautical colors, like the deeper blue and
yellow in the TV room. Textures like
woven pillows or the grasscloth in an
upstairs den reinforce the connection
to nature. Sea-derived decor that is less
literal and more modern — such as a
boat propeller and driftwood — round
out the coastal theme.”
This design project was particularly
special for both designers since the
home was devastated by Superstorm
Sandy and had to be rebuilt.
“The homeowner wanted to take
the lemons of the storm and make
lemonade: Her family’s dream
forever home,” says Moore.
Take the color
palette from the beach
and translate that into the
furniture. The sand color
sofa is just the right tone
for hiding stains.
The right
artwork sets the
mood and enhances the
look of the room. These
mesmerizing ocean prints
from Maine Cottage
work well with the
coastal motif.
There
are so many
different textures on
the beach to capture.
Don’t be afraid to mix it
up. These textural pillows
have different fabric and
patterns and work
great.
Select furniture
that has natural
fibers. This seagrass
coffee table with glass
top is a perfect
example.
This shade
of Hale Navy by
Benjamin Moore is
serene and has a perfect
blend of warm and cool
tones. Be sure to test the
color you decide on since
a color canchange at
different times of
the day.