The result is a tidy Cape Cod-style cottage with a sprawling back deck and covered dining pavilion that rests just steps from the water's edge. The three-story house easily hosts the entire family, with extra room for guests.
Bringing the Beach Indoors
Deborah, a Raleigh-based interior designer, added cosmetic touches, but her real influence can be felt in the clean and breezy interiors. The Hobgoods' updated home is awash in crisp cotton slipcovers, cool linens, deep rattan chairs, warm wood finishes, and cozy couches that one can sink into like a crab in the sand. "We enjoy a simple, classic feel, and I really like the idea of white and off-white," she explains. "Lots of the houses in this area are done in bright pinks, greens, and yellows. We wanted a quiet, tranquil surrounding, something a little more subtle and soothing.
"We also wanted a simple, natural look, so I incorporated a lot of natural textures such as sisal carpeting and rattan furnishings into the design," she continues. Indeed, the white slipcovers evoke images of sand and sails, while the natural tones and textures recall driftwood and sea grass. The slipcovers also allowed Deborah to repurpose many existing pieces.
Creating Casual Elegance
Deborah made two distinct seating areas in the extra-long living room by separating them with a decorative Chinese lattice screen. The spectacular ocean views serve as the focal point of one seating area. The second faces a fireplace vignette styled with a sling-back cane chair and a painted beach scene. The painting adds vibrant color to the neutral palette. Raffia-trimmed pillows, antique ship models, shells, and small nautical accessories reinforce the beach theme without overplaying it.
The crowning touch, however, is the robin's-egg blue French clock that graces the dining room. "When I found it in a Raleigh antiques shop, I knew it would be perfect. It provides just the right splash of blue against the white pine walls," Deborah says. The dining table, accented with two antique finials, is large enough to seat the entire family plus a few guests.
