“They’re out-and-about people with really fun personalities,” says Washington, D.C.-based designer Tricia Huntley of her clients who came to Delray Beach in search of a warm-weather getaway from the colder climate in their hometown of the nation’s capital. And they found it in a sunshine-filled oceanfront condo, where the close proximity to the area’s bustling shops and restaurants was ideal for their active lifestyle. At the same time, they wanted their vacation home to offer serenity for themselves and their guests, including their three grown children.
To achieve that feeling of relaxation in the interiors simplicity was key. “They wanted a sense of modernity, but a livable, beachy version of that,” Huntley explains. “It was about combining clean and modern with soft and textural. And the subtle palette calms everything down. When you have such vivid views from outside, you don’t need to overwhelm things on the inside.”
Like many homes with sea views, the condo’s floor plan was designed to maximize those sightlines, resulting in lots of sharp angles. So Huntley used organic forms—round tables and rugs, globe lights, and furnishings with graceful curves—to take the edge off. “It’s subtle, but it softens the geometry,” she explains. “I like to repeat either shapes or a motif or a color to create a thread that unifies all of the rooms. It pulls everything together and makes people feel good about being in that space.” Therefore, beachy hues follow out to the terrace, as well, where sandy beige and vibrant turquoise assigned to modern furnishings remind the owners of their seaside surroundings. “The outdoor market has become so interesting,” Huntley says. “There are so many opportunities to play with color, shape and style. It’s not just about weather-resistance anymore.”
In the breakfast area adjacent to the kitchen, the designer took advantage of the angled walls by working with builders Garrett Graue and Rob McCoy to create a banquette that looks as if was always meant to be there. “You can look out the window from here, and the chairs are tucked into this little nook, so they’re not in the flow of traffic,” she says. In the foyer, however, she had Graue and McCoy tweak the floor plan. “We made it more symmetrical—an octagon versus a polygon like it was before,” Huntley says. “Foyers are very important. It’s the first moment you’re experiencing when coming home, and it’s the first moment friends are experiencing when visiting.”
Other interior detailing was added, as well, like tray ceilings in the living room and master bedroom. “When you have a big, open room and it’s one flat ceiling, it can feel like a big plane over your head,” Huntley says. “But if you can carve out a little bit more height and architectural detail, it creates a moment and plays off the seating arrangement.” Graue and McCoy worked tirelessly to heighten the ceilings and perfect the finished look. “You’re restricted by the slab and the deck above, so you only have so much space to work with, and you have to incorporate all of your air conditioning, fire sprinklers and lighting,” McCoy explains. “We squeezed out every inch of the ceiling height that we could.”
The trio also collaborated—along with Atlantic Architectural Millwork—to incorporate decorative moldings and trim throughout the condo, mostly in white oak with a special stain. “I love millwork because it adds substance to the perimeter,” Huntley says. “It gives an apartment a little gravitas and makes it feel more like a home. I was able to do the drawings for the millwork, and then Garrett and Rob would work with their shop guys, and they’d come back with just what I was describing. We had a dream team.”
The condo’s new millwork includes a distinctive wooden-grid accent wall that Huntley designed for the master bedroom. “I wanted to introduce some warmth into the bedroom without being precious,” she says. “I’d already used furnishings that were a little luxurious and feminine, but when it’s a married couple, you want to speak to both individuals. There’s a sense of wanting to bring warmth upward without feeling too feminine, and wood is such a nice way to do that. Also, they didn’t want a high headboard, so this helps marry the floor and the ceiling.”
Warmth and comfort indeed were the watchwords, from furnishings to finishes to accessories. The husband appreciates floorcoverings that feel good underfoot, so the rugs are soft and luxurious yet durable enough to handle sandy feet coming in from the beach. “Another note is the custom-colored Venetian plaster that Tricia put on the walls in the family room and in the main room,” Graue says. “The condo is so tastefully designed with transitional finishes. We’ve done ultra-contemporary to traditional old school, with Clive Christian-type cabinets and everything imported from England. But this was a style that spoke to everyone.”
Meanwhile, Huntley’s choices play beautifully off of the surrounding sea and sky. “There’s something so great about the light in Florida,” she says. “You can use a really quiet palette, and see all of the subtleties. The icy blues and greens and all of these warm woods look so beautiful in that light.”