See An Elegant Florida Escape With A Seashell-Inspired Palette

As Gail and Ron Fink neared the finish line of constructing their South Florida home, they were met with near catastrophe: A storm destroyed their stretch of coastline, leaving the pool and parts of the house teetering perilously on exposed concrete pilings. “We had a few setbacks,” Gail jokes, displaying the productive humor that carried the couple through the lengthy rebuilding process. Unexpected surprises now far in the past, the residence today—with the beach restored and property stabilized—conveys a casual yet elevated beach retreat that balances aesthetics and durability. “It’s timeless, unassuming and very much aligned with my personal taste,” says their interior designer, Ellen Kavanaugh.

For the couple’s Jupiter Inlet Colony abode, architect John Melhorn found inspiration in the area’s historic Cracker style. “Early settlers used the region’s slash pines to build wood structures,” he notes, “so we’ve referenced that here with wood siding and shingles.” Inside, Melhorn plastered walls for texture, chose tumbled and sandblasted travertine for flooring (a play on the exterior’s coral stone) and selected limewash paints for their patinated look. “They’re earthy materials used in a sophisticated way,” he observes, noting how the overall design blends whimsy with elegance. “The house doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

Other interior decisions carry this same ethos. “Gail wanted the home to feel serene,” Kavanaugh recalls. The overall mood was influenced by seashell colors, a palette that struck the designer while vacationing in Jamaica. “The seashells had the most calming tones—browns, soft pinks, pale ivory with amber—so I took them back to the office and used them to pull fabrics,” she remembers. Kavanaugh also conducted a study of materials to determine the perfect mix, mulling over decisions like: Does this table need to be rustic or gloss? “Finding balance is a process,” she muses. “When you have subtle, tonal colors, you can be bolder with finishes.”

The concept of water and reflection played a significant role in shaping the ambience, leading to results such as the living room’s aqueous, high-gloss ceiling, which reflects the pool. “We wanted the focus to be on the water when you walk in the room,” Kavanaugh says. “The pink-sand tones of travertine, cypress and ivory make the view of the ocean pop.” It’s a similar strategy in the kitchen, where cerused-oak cabinetry complements onyx countertops amid a statement-making, stainless steel cooktop hood. “That contrast gives the house the edge it needed,” she says.

Because the layout has a gracious flow, the interior designer paid attention to division and intimacy while threading connections. “You don’t walk into a room and see a bold pattern,” she points out. “The whole home is cohesive.” Casual woods, onyx and brass tones highlight the structure’s architectural details, which inspired refined furnishings in comfortable, durable upholstery with clean, organic lines—like the living room’s low-back, curved sofas, which keep the outdoor scenery the star of the show.

“This house isn’t cluttered with small pieces,” Kavanaugh says. “We chose large, impactful designs.” In the family room, a supremely inviting sofa pairs with cozy armchairs and a skirted ottoman, all in sandy hues, while the vaulted primary bedroom boasts a pink-velvet daybed placed aside a generous bay window. The dining room’s ivory fabric banquette coordinates with limewashed cypress beams and wall paneling, making for a textural visual feast. There are enticing guest spaces, too, including the grandchildren’s bunk room, adorned with tufted-raffia wallpaper—an urchin-like feel that subtly emphasizes the abode’s circular notes—and a glam bathroom with a fluted vanity on raised legs.

Tying together the outdoor areas was just as important, which is why landscape designer Keith Williams approached the grounds as a getaway encompassing the loggia, a cabana and a free-form pool with conch-shell pink tile. “The home has a contemporary, midcentury modern feel and fun shapes,” he says, “so we created a simple, tropical garden with coconut and Alexander palms, native green buttonwood trees and flowers like bougainvillea, gardenias and hibiscus.”

Despite weathering a turbulent process, the residence has become defined by its spirit for honoring nature, from its inception to completion—a testament to its resilience and effortless beauty. “This house is all niceties and no complexities,” Gail says. “Everyone who comes over falls in love with it.”