Text by Claire Henry
Photography by Kelli Boyd

A bevy of blues enhances each space designed by interior designer Elizabeth O’Neal. Seen in the deep navy cushions and pillows in the window seat, sky-hued lamps by the sofa, and calming steel blue of the cashmere blankets throughout the living space, this gentle color impeccably mimics the seaside respite.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of work, school, and daily life, the chance to retreat to the Lowcountry is a welcome haven. This family of four calls Raleigh, North Carolina, their home, but a vacation property in Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina, allows them to escape reality whenever needed. To make their home away from home feel more familiar, they called in Elizabeth O’Neal, the interior designer who helped with their primary residence.
“It was a fun experience getting to do two back-to-back homes with this family,” Elizabeth says. Founder and principal of Elizabeth O’Neal Interiors, she was brought onto this getaway only two months after finishing the family’s Raleigh home. Taking cues from the first project, she incorporated some of the clients’ initial requests: textures, neutrals, and warm wood tones. “But here in this Palmetto Bluff home, leaning into the Lowcountry aesthetic was super fun,” she adds.

Ocean blues, seafoam greens, and playful details keep this abode feeling light and whimsical. Flooded by sunlight, each space was designed for rest and relaxation. Whether they are vacationing as their household or hosting family and friends, the cottage-size home optimizes space while maintaining style.
Built in the early 2000s, the home was a blank slate begging for interesting furnishings and playful wallpapers. “It was a good neutral canvas, but it definitely needed some pops of personality,” Elizabeth says. In the living room, a burled wood coffee table with scalloped carvings brings warmth to the cool-toned setting. Paired with rattan and woven furniture, the sky blue rug and accent lamp provide a depth of color and excellent texture.

A round lacquered table sits off the kitchen, a scene ideal for game nights and conversations at dinner. This fun, modern addition plays into Elizabeth’s theory that “people are a little more relaxed when it comes to a second home,” so getting her client on board with this different style was simple. Adjacent to the dining area, sleek, clean lines come forth in this all-white kitchen, enhanced by rattan light fixtures and counter-to-ceiling tile.

Without being too on the nose, Elizabeth includes many motifs that nod to the home’s locale. A seashell-trimmed mirror accents the breakfast nook, while an abstract oyster shell painting graces the formal sitting room. Pops of green from palm leaf accent pillows bring color to woven breakfast chairs.

In each bedroom, a nod to their marshland locale is evident. From grass cloth wallcoverings to straw-trimmed drapes and shell-inspired accents, the spaces were transformed into relaxing respites for each family member. The primary bedroom boasts a canopy bed in a washed wood tone, while draperies and a bolster pillow in Cowtan & Tout’s Atlantis round out the design.

Youthful cheer bursts from this bedroom, made to have plenty of room for the homeowners’ daughters or visiting friends. A misty blue shade echoes throughout: a wallpaper motif on the ceiling, a two-toned rattan mirror, supple bedding, and stripes along the oars pinned above each headboard.

Every oceanside home needs spectacular outdoor living spaces, and this one is no exception. The covered patio, although long and narrow, fits a couch and armchair comfortably, complete with lively accent pillows and a shell stucco floor. Trips to the house in the offseason are accompanied by long nights huddled around the firepit, cozied up with blankets in Adirondack chairs.
The coastal essence of the Lowcountry can be seen in every corner of this home, thanks to the vision Elizabeth had for this family’s vacation oasis. “It came together perfectly. It’s not overly feminine or masculine,” she says. “I feel like each room perfectly fits the personality of the people that live here.”

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